The Swan is known to have been open between at least 1761 and 1838, when it was mentioned in reports in both the Ipswich Journal and the Bury & Norwich Post** as follows:

This day (January 6th) Thomas Fonnereau and John Henniker, approved for representing the Borough of Sudbury in the ensuing Parliament were met a mile or two out of the town by the Mayor and Aldermen and a great number of gentlemen and freemen who ushered them unto the Town hall amid a great concourse of people, an elegant entertainment was provided for the company at the Swan Inn and the whole day was spent in great harmony and good humour, drinking many loyal jovial toasts.Ipswich Journal, January 10th 1761

A most awful instance of sudden death occured at Sudbury on Thursday last, Mr E.Allen of Ballingdon Grove, a merchant, was spending the evening in the Swan Inn when he exclaimed he felt unwell and dropped down dead, this is the second sudden death in the Swan in three months.Bury & Norwich Post, April 18th 1838