Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

THE WHITE HEART INN: historic building

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Unknown date)
• INN (Now, Post Medieval to Unknown - 1837 AD)

Full description

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17C AND LATER. 2 STOREYS. TIMBER FRAMED. THE GROUND FLOOR BEING OF POINTED BRICK IN THE 19C BAR EXTENSION AND THE REST OF THE FRONT ELEVATION BEING HUNG WITH MODERN TILES. THE SIDE ELEVATION IS TILE HUNG, WITH BANDS OF FISHSCALE TILES AND 1 SLIDING SASH. TILED ROOF WHICH SLOPES TO THE GROUND AT REAR. 2 19C SASHES ON 1ST FLOOR. THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN GUTTED.

The Canterbury UAD states that this is a Fremlins/Whitbread inn.

This is a quiet, pleasant pub tucked away in the south-west corner of what used to be called 'The Chapel Churchyard'.

The long demolished church of St. Mary de Castro is shown on a map in the Cathedral Archives, dated 1642, very close to where the White Hart now stands.

In the 15th and 16th centuries the churchyard was shared between St. Mary de Castro and St. John's Church which stood at the upper end of St. John's Lane.

The White Hart was opened on 4th March 1837, probably built on the remaining rubble of the demolished church and rectory. In the cellar there is still a chute for sliding the coffins into the mortuary below.

The innkeeper when it opened in 1837 was George Harvey and in 1851 it is listed as being kept by John Jordan. In 1862 the licence was transferred to Ann Jordan, widow of John.

There was also a White Hart in St. Margaret's Street in the 17th century and another in Castle Street.

The present innkeepers are Mr & Mrs W K Short.

Wilmot, E., 1988, Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29737.

Sources and further reading