Thames Ditton, The Swan Hotel c.1955
Photo ref:
T103018
More about this scene
The Swan is well known to boating people, and especially anglers. Among its many frequenters none was fonder of this riverside resort than Thomas Hook, who penned 'The Song of the Shirt'. The Swan's lawn commands a pretty view of the river and of the grounds of Hampton Court Palace. The Swan is Grade I listed. There is a public slipway to the right. Beyond the pub are the Ferry Works, originally built in 1879 by the engineering firm of Willand & Robinson. Owing to a large fire in 1888, the works were rebuilt using the then innovative 'saw tooth' roof design to allow light onto the shop floor. After Willand & Robinson moved to Rugby in 1911, Auto Carriers (makers of the AC cars of later fame) occupied the buildings. After the Second World War, invalid cars made of fibreglass were manufactured here for the Ministry of Pensions. A variety of firms now operate from here.
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A Selection of Memories from Thames Ditton
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Thames Ditton
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