Constructed as a feather factory, the Trinity Street building is an amazing Neo-Italian architectural gem from the height of Boston’s industrial wealth, proudly topped by an enormous but elegant swan statue.

Feather processing has a long heritage as a fenland industry and by 1900 there were five factories in Boston. The Swan House business was founded in 1826 by Timothy Anderson, though the original factory was on Pen Street, after his death in 1948 his wife Fanny Susannah Anderson took over management along with her son Charles Francis Anderson. Fanny was so involved with the business that when it became a limited company in 1863 it took on her name, F. S. Anderson & Co. It was a rare example of a Victorian company branded with a female’s name.

The feathers had to be heated before they could be used in mattresses and pillows but this created several problems. The process was a constant fire risk and produced an awful smell, meaning feather factories were often located away from the main residential areas of towns to minimise their impact, which is partly the reason why the Anderson factory was moved to Trinity Street.

Commissioned by Fanny, Swan House was constructed by Sherwin & Sons in 1877 at a cost of £16,000 after the previous Trinity Street factory burnt down in 1876. This was especially unfortunate as a large new extension had just been added to the factory, with the insurance for it having only been set up the previous week!

The building was designed by William Thomas as a neatly compact factory, with all the necessary premises held within a single block.

During the late 1870’s and 1880’s there were a few minor scandals centring around Fanny’s son Charles and whether Charles Anderson had in one instance falsely declared bankruptcy or continued business despite supposed knowledge of his insolvency. The inquiry into whether he knew about his delicate financial position took several years due to Charles’ varying health. His mother also had to file bankruptcy at the same time citing her son’s failure as the reason. Between 1886-87 it seems the large factory stood almost empty, the worth of stock had declined from £9000 to £300 in under a decade. After Charles declared insolvency, his wife Frances Susannah immediately restarted the business after borrowing money from her friends, which was very unusual at the time and even commented on in court.

During the 1890’s the factory merged with the London and Continental Feather Co Ltd.

The Trinity Street factory was reported to have been purchased in 1899 by Messrs. Simpson and Son, furniture and bedding manufacturers from the Boston marketplace, for £3100. By the time of the sale, a staff of around 60 people were employed, with additional clerks and travellers on the books.

However, it is unclear if this sale went ahead as the building quickly became known as E. Fogarty and Co Limited somewhere between 1899 and 1900, so-called after a minor shareholder of the Anderson company, Edward Fogarty. It appears that between 1898 and 1900 Edward Fogarty had sued the London and Continental Feather Co Ltd, which ceased to operate in 1899, for debts owed and their failure to deliver several quilts despite payment.

By 1913 E Fogarty & Co Ltd employed several hundred people at Trinity Street, however, the business took a knock during the First World War when all production was suspended due to shipping lines being disrupted.

The iconic swan was removed in 1942 after a bomb landed on nearby James Street and made it unsafe. A new swan was placed on the building in 1951, which was just as big as the original at 6 ½ ft in height and width but much lighter.

Swan House continued to be connected with the feather industry until it was converted into flats in the early 21st Century.