The exact age the of Swan and Cemetery is doubtful. It could possibly have been a farm in later years of the eighteenth century but we certainly know it was selling beer in 1838. At that time it was called The Old Swan and the innkeeper was John Knowles. He stayed there for many years and the census of 1851 says he was 73 years of age and had a family of 3 daughters and a son, all unmarried and working. He was obviously a man of substance, with twelve acres behind the pub and he could stable three horses and two of his own. Travellers up to six could obtain rest and refreshment. The proprietor apparently considered his domain slightly superior and changed the name to the Swan Inn.
While the poverty stricken unfortunates worked amid the grisly surroundings of the institution, they were daily faced with wealth and prosperity. On the other side of the road stood Heaton Grove an imposing mansion wherein resided on the of most influential families of the day the head was Richard Hacking Justice of the peace, chairman of the Bury improvement Commissioners and partner in the firm of Walker and Hacking one of Bury’s leading industrial concerns.
He was also an originator of the town’s first railway. In 1844 an Act was passed for the Manchester, Bury and Rossendale Railway, and he became one of the directors. The present Redvales Road was a narrow winding road which gave access to Redvales House and was known as the coach road between there and the Swan stood the Mile House one of the few private houses on the roadside which probably got its name because it situated about a mile from the town interesting to note, in later years around 1870, the housed was divided into two, and in the front potion lived “Owd Jim Knowles” who was the son of the original John Knowles of the Swan, Jim apparently never married and worked during his life as a block printer. The Commissioners, steadily improving the town’s amenities had been considering the laying of a Cemetery.
Come and join our resident quiz master every Wednesday for our free to enter fun and friendly weekly quiz. Free refreshments are provided (sandwiches and home-made chips) to keep the brain cells charged.
