 Until the arrival of the railways, the Swan was one of the principal departure points for travel to the north of England from London.John Taylor stated in his "Carriers Coſmographie" (1637) that "The Carriers of Mancheſter, doe alſo lodge at the two neck’d Swan in Lad lane (betweene great Woodſtreet, and Milk-ſtreet end) they come every ſecond Thurſday