Building record WFL 039 - 15th Century Timber Framed building with 18th to 20th century additions at The Swan Inn, The Street

The Swan Inn lies in the centre of Little Waldingfield, set back form the street frontage behind its car park. It was recorded as an Inn on the parish tithe map of 1839, with the T-shaped outline being present and is listed as a grade II 18th Century building. The present arraignment is more likely to date from the beginning of the 19th century and represents the transformation of a much older Timber framed structure. The main bar to the left of the modern entrance is the front bay of a late- 15th century wing, initially roofed at right-angles and containing at least three bays, of which two survive. The building was jettied along its entire side elevation, facing south-west. The front bay contained evidence of a large diamond-mullion window and an entrance door beneath its die jetty, along with an original chimney to the rear and a second window in its front gable. The unusual layout suggests it formed the rear courtyard of a larger house on the site of the car park. It is possible that the building survived until the 19th century, with he rear wing converted into a new house. This was done by adding a large extension to its back wall, re-roofing its front bay to match. The original crown-post rook was left untouched in the rear bay and the extension re-uses a number of timbers which may have been salvaged from the old house, including a high-quality carving of circa 1500. A detached outbuilding of 19th century date was also observed with the building and may have been a stable or carriage shed, and later converting into a pair of guest rooms in the late 20th century (S1).