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The Black Swan is a 
In the late-18th century, the house was converted into a pub, although much of its interior survives intact from the 1670 alterations, particularly in the entrance hall, the Smoke Room, and a room upstairs with a
public house
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
in the city centre of York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
, in England.
The building lies on Peasholme Green
Peasholme Green is a street on the eastern edge of the city centre of York, in England.
History
The street was established by 1000, as part of an important route leading east out of the city. It was first recorded in 1269, the name "Peasholme" ...
, on the site of an important Mediaeval house which had been occupied by various Lord Mayors of York
Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or a ...
and Members of Parliament. In 1560, Martin Bowes
Sir Martin Bowes (1496/97 – 1566) was a very prominent and active civic dignitary of Tudor London whose career continued through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.C.E. Challis, 'Bowes, Sir Martin (1496/7–1566)', ''Ox ...
rebuilt the property, and in 1670 Henry Thompson made substantial alterations, rebuilding parts in brick, and altering the interior. Early in the 18th-century, the house was owned by Edward Thompson.
In the late-18th century, the house was converted into a pub, although much of its interior survives intact from the 1670 alterations, particularly in the entrance hall, the Smoke Room, and a room upstairs with a trompe l'oeil
A trompe is a water-powered air compressor, commonly used before the advent of the electric-powered compressor. A trompe is somewhat like an airlift pump working in reverse.
Trompes were used to provide compressed air for bloomery furnaces ...
painting. Externally, the central section of the facade is timber-framed with a jettied first floor, dating from 1560. To its right is a brick and timber extension from 1670, and to the left, an extension built in 1940, with a wing of 1670 behind.
By the 1930s, the pub was owned by the Tadcaster Tower brewery, which undertook a major renovation intended to preserve the building's historical character. The pub later came into the ownership of Bass. In 1954, it was grade II* listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
.
One tradition claims that the Black Swan is linked to St Cuthbert's Church by an underground passage. The pub is also said to be haunted by several ghosts. Since 1978, it has hosted a folk music club, and since 2003, an annual folk festival. In 2009, it was voted Folk Club of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music, with the aim of raising the profile of folk and acoustic music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British ra ...
.See also
* The Swan, York, a pub on Bishopgate Street, York * Old White Swan, historic pub on Goodramgate, YorkReferences
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Swan, The, York Grade II* listed pubs in York Grade II* listed houses Houses completed in 1560 Houses in North Yorkshire Timber framed buildings in Yorkshire Timber framed pubs in England