The Old Swan Inn at Whoughton became one of the haunts of 18th-century highwayman Dick Turpin when he changed the scene of his activities from the great North Road to Watling Street. The legend was that at the Old SwanTurpin reversed his horseshoes in order to escape pursuit.
Turpin was said to travel to and from his exploits by an unfrequented route running over ancient tracks. This route led down the track way known as Bury Lane in Woughton past the Old Swan and down what was known as the Roman Road, across the patch of scrub covered waste known as No Man’s Land, and so on to Watling Street. Tradition said that Turpin’s ghost was still seen on dark nights writing a phantom horse along Bury Lane. Whenever Turpin is seen, he is writing the legendary Black Bess, without whom his ghost would be scarcely recognizable.
The Old was a convenient stopping place for Turpin on what was then an otherwise lonely route, Swan Inn and the landlord may have supplied him with information on travelers movements. A gloomy and unlighted room in the center of the building was once known as the prison room, and was where prisoners traveling in custody were confined for the night. Tradition, however, said that many a wanted man was hidden there by the landlord into the hue and cry died down.