Ye Olde Swan has stood in the village since the early 17th century, and was allegedly favoured by Dick Turpin, as a hideout whilst preying on the coaches travelling along the Watling Street. Earthwork traces of the medieval village remain but in a later century the community was resituated at the edge of the village, with the centre being left to decay. From thereon Woughton became known as ‘on the green.’ Now in private ownership, ‘Cairn Cottage’ once accommodated the local post office and a village shop. In 1974 the parish was reshaped to include Simpson and the Woolstones, and during a re-ordering of the church the pews were removed, to be sent to a church in Nottinghamshire.
YE OLDE SWAN: A HIGHWAYMAN’S HAUNT
Of an L shaped plan, ‘Ye Olde Swan’ has stood in the village since the early 17th century, and several original beams remain despite the many intervening alterations and restorations. As for other associations with the past, undoubtedly the most famous is that regarding Dick Turpin, who allegedly favoured the inn as a hideout whilst preying on the coaches travelling along the Watling Street. Indeed, even in recent times a room of dungeon like proportion was shown, having supposedly been his lair. As a ruse to confuse his pursuers, at the inn he is said to have reversed the horseshoes of his mount, although by tradition the boulder from which he climbed onto his horse was under a curse, and not only would none of the locals touch it but also any workmen engaged on restorations, who invariably chose to paint around this supernatural stone. Opposite the inn, today Turpyn Court now reminds of the highway past.