The Swan

The Swan is a coaching inn, dating back to the 16th century, largely rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries, with a front range added in the late 18th century. It has since been converted into offices. The building is constructed of brick, with painted front elevations, tile roofs to the rear, slate to the front range, and several brick stacks. It is arranged in an L-plan and displays a Georgian style.

The building is three storeys high with a five-window range, and a taller, symmetrical six-window range to the left. The front range has top modillioned brick cornices. A segmental-headed carriage entry, located at the left end of the right range, features a rusticated arch with a key and hood, now containing a late 20th-century infill. Windows have sills and rubbed brick flat arches over 12-pane sashes, with small-paned horizontally sliding sashes to the second floor. The ground floor has two windows with 12-pane sashes and one smaller window. The first floor features a lunette window above the entrance, with radial glazing bars and a recessed apron, and a blind window (the fourth window) on the second floor. The left range has similar detailing, with architraves surrounding the central pair of windows on each floor. The ground floor has two 12-pane sashes and four 16-pane sashes, the centrally positioned pair incorporating friezes and cornices; two windows lack their upper glazing bars. The first floor has eight-over-twelve-pane sashes, with four windows missing upper glazing bars. The second floor has eight-pane sashes. There are two gable-end stacks and three cross-axial stacks. A scrolled wrought-iron sign bracket is positioned above the entrance. A hipped end and a large French window are features of the right return, and a two-storey rear range has a gabled end wing, with varied segmental-headed casements and an entrance. The rear elevation has varied fenestration, including a large, small-paned stair window.

Internally, it is noted that the building contains chamfered beams and some panelling. The Swan was one of the two principal coaching inns in Lichfield, serving the London to Holyhead and Carlisle route. It has historical associations with the 18th-century Tory party, and notable visitors included Elias Ashmole, Dr Johnson, and Boswell.