The Angel Inn

William Powley was a bricklayer before he took over the pub in 1789. His widow Mary continued the business after he died in 1809. She stated that “Orders for Bricks and Lime would be attended to and charged at the very lowest price.”

Landlords:

• William Fosdike 1822
• Alice Varley 1830
• Henry Rix 1836
• Henry Hubbard 1838
• John Brett 1839-1841
• James Porter 1845-1846
• William Tiffin 1851-1852
• George Dickerson 1854-1892
• Nichols 1897

George Dickerson began his working life as a chimney sweep and continued with that occupation when he became landlord of The Angel in 1854. During his 40 year tenancy he also farmed 31 acres, employing one man and remained a chimney sweep. He died in 1895. Members of the Dickerson family also managed the Red Lion just down the street between 1881 and 1956.

The Angel closed for business in 1898 and within two years a Commercial and Temperance Hotel was set up in the same building and Walker’s Temperance Hotel and Restaurant on the west side of the Marketplace closed down. There was already a relationship between the town hotels.

The east side hotel was run by Henry and Annie Carter. He was a market gardener, originally from Wiltshire, a member of the Swaffham church choir and a bellringer. He died at his home “The Old Angel” in 1940 aged 75.

1897. The white house is The Angel. The brewery registers the landlord that year as being Nichols – but that is the name of the bootmaker next door.

• The white house in the background is the hotel.
• Plowright machinery in the foreground.