Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1600 to 1967 34 St Margaret's St

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1600 AD to 2050 AD)
• INN (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1660 AD?)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NW 402:
(TR 14875771 sited from OS 1/1250 1974) Refurbishment and restoration of 34 St Margaret's Street following a fire resulted in the recording of a possible medieval timber-framed building. (1) 34 St Margaret's Street. Grade II. 17th century and later. (2-3)

The Canterbury UAD states that The White Hart was one of the largest inns in Canterbury and between 1660 - 1665 it was one of the first inns to be given a licence to sell wine. In 1670 the Carpenter's Company paid to Alderman Burges 'at The White Hart in St. Margaret's Street £8. 15. 11d.'. The White Hart was included in the Licensing List of Canterbury inns in 1692 and 1693 the Billeting List for soldiers gave the inn ten men - an unusually large number.

The large court-yard at the rear of the inn was used for many purposes, including baiting and boxing skills. Mr Enderby, in his notes on some of Canterbury inns, quoted from a Parish Book that, ' in 1687 a lion was baited in the yard'. Mr Burges was the innkeeper in 1871. It is not certain when the White Hart closed but the directory for 1970 states that the building was occupied by Vye and Sons, the grocers; the East Kent Federation of Women's Institutes; and Mr A W West, a chartered quantity surveyor.

In November 1984 after the building had been for many years the Hop Kweng Chinese restaurant there was a fire that gutted much of the building. The City Council accepted responsibilty for restoration. This imposing building is now the Tourist Information Centre, including Canterbury Bookings Ltd. In 2003, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce had offices there as well as the Tourist Information Centre. (4)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 ST MARGARET'S STREET (North West Side)
No 34 TR 1457 NE 4/268 3.5.67.
II GV
2. C17 and later. 3 storeys painted brick. Old+tiled roof. 3 C18 sashes with cambered arches, (1 blank on 2nd floor). Brick arches and wooden architraves. Modern shopfront. Rear elevation is weatherboarded.
Nos 27 to 36 (consec) and Church of St Margaret form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1486557724 (5)

<1> Cant Arch 11th Ann Rep 1986-7 25 (C Bowley) (OS Card Reference). SKE38486.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 232 (OS Card Reference). SKE40063.

<3> Hist Builds Survey Cant City Council/RCHME 57035 9 of 29 (OS Card Reference). SKE43893.

<4> Wilmot, E., 1992, Eighty Lost Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29747.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading