THOMAS TRANTER, PUBLICAN, SWINDON

Thomas Tranter's signature from the 1911 census

Thomas Tranter was born in 1853 in the Cirencester area of Gloucestershire just north of Swindon. He first worked for the GWR but then became the landlord of the Fountain Public House in Old Swindon in 1881.


After about 14 years he moved down the hill with his family to New Swindon where for the next 20 years he was the landlord of the Forester Arms in Fleet Street.

For many years Thomas was the Chairman of the Swindon Licenced Victualler Association

During 1901, along side Albert John HORSELL of the RIFFLEMAN'S ARMS, he was representing Swindon on the association that looked to protect pub landlords called the National Trade Defence Association (Western Counties).

In 1903 Thomas' middle daughter, Annie Louisa Tranter, married local inn keeper WILLIAM ALBERT MASON.

He died in 1915 in Swindon aged 62 years. The bottle below is the only known example.

Gloucestershire Chronicle - Saturday 15 May 1915