Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A building survey by Canterbury Archaeological Trust in January 2015 noted that the White Horse Inn (Now just The White Horse) has existed since 1610.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Post Medieval - 1610 AD? to 1800 AD?)
• PUBLIC HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1610 AD to 1937 AD)
• RANGE (Post Medieval - 1610 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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A building survey by Canterbury Archaeological Trust in January 2015 noted that the White Horse Inn (Now just The White Horse) has existed since 1610. (1)

Though it was not in the study area, it was used as a reference for the George Hotel but was unrecorded in the HER. (1)

A 16th Century Range on the West of the Study area of this survey is recorded to be extant today and is thought to be an adjunct to the White Horse Inn and to have been used for industry and storage as opposed to accomodation. (1)
The range is described briefly in the report as follows:
"A brick-built early post-medieval range, of two storeys, survives along the western
boundary of the main plot (Dwgs 1-4; Pls 5 to 16). Concealed, for the most part,
behind later structures, its steep, pitched roof provides the only conspicuous,
outward clue to its early date. It is now in poor condition, much altered and
depleted, but a good part of its original fabric survives, including its massively
built, oak roof. It is most likely of late sixteenth-century date.
Very likely, this range was built as an adjunct to the White Horse Inn, whose
existence is firmly attested within a few decades of its construction. The range
appears to have been raised abutting the southern end of a short west wing, which
projected from the rear of the inn, and which would be demolished early in the
twentieth century along with the main range along the street-frontage (see below).
The range was about 11.8m long by 4.8m wide, falling roughly into three unequal
bays, south to north. The upper storey was relatively low (1.63m high) and was
originally open to the roof. The range appears to have been used for industry or
storage, rather than accommodation, although few features are present to suggest a
precise function."

The Inn is thought to have become a butcher in the 17th or 18th Century. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2015, Former Cranbrook Engineering Works, Cranbrook, Kent, Interim report on the standing buildings (Unpublished document). SKE30900.

Sources and further reading