The origin of the name Chequers has several possibilities. Some say there is a connection between the
rare Chequers or Wild Serbis tree, a native forest tree bearing edible berries from which a strong beverage
may be brewed. Some believe this oldest of English trees was so called because its bark resembles a
Chequer Board - possible, but the pub connection goes much deeper and further back in time....
The Egyptians drank beer and used the Chequerboard sign - the sign of Ossaris, one of their gods, to
denote a tavern - a place where one could get a drink. This in turn was taken up by the Romans, and so in
the days before people could read, a Chequered sign, even if the pub was called The White Horse, meant
that it was a pub, a similar idea to the barbers pole of later years.
We have many more village pictures on show at the Chequers which you can view. All of the images on this
page can be viewed in larger format by clicking on them.
The Chequers History & Swinford
Always a warm
and friendly
welcome
Chequers Swinford 2012
Call +44 (0)1788 860318
Swinford, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
LE17 6BL
Refusing To quit...
Gilbert Orton, wheelwright, Swinford
was charged with refusing to quit the
Chequers Inn Swinford, and being
drunk and disorderly. Complainent (G.
Langham) stated he had before had
occasion to warn defendant about his
bad language, and on the afternoon of
25th it was so bad he had to order him
out. He refused to go, and the police
were sent for. P.C. Barnett stated that
he found defendant sitting in the tap
room and as he refused to go he was
ejected.- Fined 15s, and 12s 6d. costs.
Leicester Chronicle Dec 8th 1900
Letter regarding the devastating fire
in the village 1740
Swinford Hunt - Racing March 1874
Fatal Accident...
On Monday an inquest was held at the
Chequers Inn, Swinford, before the
Coroner Mr Harrisonn, touching on the
death of John Chamberlain, aged 67, a
carpenter in the employ of Lord Braye,
of Stanford Hall, and residing at
Swinford. It appeared that on Friday
morning deceased was in Stanford Park
during the prevalence of the storm. Two
other men were there and saw a tree
blown down, but they heard no cry, and
did not go near the fallen timber. On
Saturday they heard that deceased had
not been home during the night, andon
search being made for him he was
found lying dead under the tree. Mr.
Fagge, surgeon of Lutterworth, was
sent for, and on examining the body
found that the back was injured. He
was of the opinion that death was
instantaneous, and caused by the tree
falling on the deceased. - Jury returned
accidental death.
Leicester Chronicle Sat 22nd Oct 1881
Petty Sessions
Thursday August 27th 1857.- Before
Revs. J. P. Marriott and E. Elmhurst.
Charles Morton, butcher, of Swinford
was charged by Thomas Strange
Norton, farmer and grazier of Yelvertoft,
with assaulting him at Swinford, on
August 24th. This was a quarrel
between two respectable tenants of
Lord Bray’s, who had met at the rent
paying at the Chequers Inn, Swinford. It
appeared that the complainant had
been struck by defendant, but under
such aggravating circumstances that
the Bench, after a very patient hearing
of several respectable witnesses,
dismissed the case, ordering
complainant to pay £2 costs.
Leicestershire Mercury 29th Aug 1857
