Macabre history

In the town centre of Romsey there is a poignant reminder of the Middle Ages, reflecting the historic past of the royal borough.

The town’s original Conservative Working Men's Club occupies a period building standing on the site of the old Swan Inn, one of the oldest licensed premises in the town.

The macabre link not shared by the much older Abbey standing not a quarter mile away is that historical records show that in 1642 two soldiers of Cromwell’s Army were hanged from the wrought iron sign bracket on the wall on which the old Swan Inn sign and its modern link with the Conservative Club now hangs.

The Abbey itself dates from 907 AD although the Normans built the current abbey that dominates the town between 1120 and 1140 on the site of the original Saxon church.

King Henry I granted Romsey its first charter which allowed a market to be held every Sunday, and a four-day annual fair in May. In the 13th century, Henry III permitted an additional fair in October. Over 400 years have passed since 1607, when King James I granted Romsey its current royal charter of incorporation which created a borough with a mayor, six aldermen and twelve chief burgesses forming a corporation.
But returning to that macabre link but with a lighter note, a placard on the wall of the Conservative Club records that the bracket itself is a good example of old Hampshire wrought iron work.