Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. 48 Northgate

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)
• INN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1692 AD? to 1911 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 204:
No 48 Northgate [TR 15215830 sited from OS 1/1250 1971]. Grade II. A timber-framed building altered. (1) No 48 Northgate. Large timber-framed building. Southern part is a hall-house of 14th - 15th century with a 15th century and a 17th century wing at the rear. (2)

The Canterbury UAD states that The White Swan Inn was so called when named in the Licensing List of 1692 and in the following year the Billeting List offered the inn four soldiers.

In 1812 the innkeeper was Elizabeth Barwick (widow) and in 1838 it was Mrs J Wilby. In 1849 the lease of the inn was sold by Flints for £20. Two years later the lease was transferred from Mrs Wilby to George Adams. The directory of 1888 named Mrs Mc Conelly as the keeper of the inn. The White Swan closed in 1911.

An article in Kent County Journal for Oct-Dec 1947 on 'Coaching Days' stated 'Once again the highways and byways of Kent have heard the clatter of hoofs ... As the century old Stage Coach Canterbury Belle' ... Rumbles on its journeys from an ancient hostelry near the site of the old North gate and Hospice of St. John to local resorts. The inn is the house of The White Swan a posting inn. Its mullioned windows and weatherbeaten bricks have witnessed the comings and goings of the Stage Coach since early in the 17th century...' (3)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 NORTHGATE (North West Side)
No 48 (House of the White Swan) TR 1558 SW 3/147A 3.5.67.
II GV
2. A timber-framed building altered. The front elevation is 2 storeys pebble dash with imitation timber-framing. Renewed tiled roof. 4 C18 sashes on the lst floor with glazing bars intact. The ground floor has restored casements. The rear elevation is plastered and has 2 gables. Adjoins St John's Hospital Gateway to the South West.
Nos 46 to 48 (cinsec) and Gatehouse to St John's Hospital form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1521358304 (4)

<1> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 153 (OS Card Reference). SKE40006.

<2> Hist Builds Survey Cant City Council/RCHME 57031 3 of 9 (OS Card Reference). SKE43862.

<3> Wilmot, E., 1992, Eighty Lost Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29747.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading