SPITAL HOUSE. POSSIBLY MEDIEVAL - AN OLD INN WHERE COACHES CHANGED HORSES AND QUARTER SESSIONS WERE HELD IN THE OLD COURT HOUSE NOW USED AS A BARN. ALSO FAMOUS HOSPITAL OF SPITAL IN THE STREET (SEE PRN 50270,50981). {1} OPPOSITE THE CHAPEL, ALMSHOUSES AND SESSIONS HOUSE IS A FORMER INN, L-SHAPED AND SURPRISINGLY LARGE; THE REASON IS THAT THIS WAS A STAGING-POST ON THE ROAD FROM LINCOLN TO HULL. {2} IN THE EARLY C19 THE SPITAL INN - THE FORMER 'SWAN INN' - WAS A PLACE OF CONSIDERABLE BUSINESS, AS THE FIRST HALTING-PLACE OUT OF LINCOLN ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD. IN 1889 IT WAS A PRIVATE DWELLING OCCUPIED BY A FARMER. 'THE SWAN' IS MENTIONED IN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE HOSPITAL LANDS DATED SOMETIME AFTER 1574, AND IN 1598. {3}