Monument record MCC149 - White Hart Inn, 6 & 7 High Street, Colchester (site of)

Summary

16th century house, now demolished.

Location

Grid reference TL 99448 25185 (point)
Map sheet TL92NE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

RCHME survey of 6 & 7 High Street. 'Now the Colchester Club and formerly the White Hart Inn, about 40 yards E. of Head Street. The house was built probably in the 16th century but has been completely altered externally. Inside the building is a fine late 17th century staircase with close strings, turned and twisted balusters, moulded rails and square newels. There is also an original fireplace of stone with moulded jambs, four-centred arch and spandrels carved with blank shields and foliage. On the ground floor is a late 17th century panelled door. Condition-Good, much altered' (Note -Now demolished).<1>

DOE survey of No's 6 & 7 High Street. Grade III. Formerly the White Hart Inn, now the Colchester Club, with a modern ground floor, C17 staircase inside. (No de-listing date in Museum copy of greenback).<2>

Documentary record for the White Hart Inn. The White Hart Inn once stood on the High Street where, what is now known as bank passage, passed through it. The earliest reference to the Inn is 1437, when the inn keeper was fined for depositing dung at the back of the premises.<3>

The demolition of the White Hart Inn was observed by Leonard Gant of CAG c1963. He records ' The natural soil is compacted sand, which was found at a depth of 11feet. The one useful section revealed by spade trimming showed black filling to a depth of 10ft, with a narrow strata of Roman tile and carbon overlying a 6" vein of gravel. Through these layers, and penetrating 4 ft into the natural sand, was a massive wall, running east-west, built of septaria, Roman building tile, cobbles and shells, 24" thick, and built without splay or foundation on the 'natural'. The wall ran for some 20ft, and the material was not coursed. The abutting wall, itself of no recent date, had preserved the south face of this ancient wall. The material was bonded by a sandy mortar, and unfortunately, every vestige was removed'.<4>

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Monograph: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1922. Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England): Essex, (North-East). Volume III.
  • <2> LIST: Department of the Environment. 1971. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Colchester (Essex).
  • <3> Serial: Colchester Archaeological Group. 1963. Colchester Archaeological Group Bulletin 6, Part 2.
  • <4> Monograph: Jephcott, Jess. A. 1995. The Inns, Taverns and Pubs of Colchester.

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Record last edited

Jan 31 2017 9:06AM

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