White Hart

WHITE HART

House, in use as an inn until the early 20th century. Late medieval origins, remodelled in the 17th century, extended in the 18th century, refashioned at the right (west) end in the circa early 19th century, with 20th century renovations. Cob on stone rubble footings, plastered on the front and rear left elevations, roughcast to the rear right; roof hipped and rounded at the left end, gabled at the right end, thatched to left of centre, slated to right of centre; front lateral stack with a tall stone shaft rebuilt in brick at the top, rear left lateral stack serving a corner fireplace, right end stack.

Plan: North-facing. Single depth plan, 5 rooms wide with a through passage in the centre, lower end to the right (west), very small 6th room at the left end (formerly a second entrance). Lean-to at right end. The higher end consists of a hall, heated by the front lateral stack, and an inner room parlour heated by a corner fireplace with an unheated room at the left (east). Of the 2 rooms below the passage one is unheated and the extreme right west end room is now a kitchen, heated by a probably 19th century stack. The development of the house is complex. It originated as a late medieval open hall house of jointed cruck construction, the medieval house extending westward from the thick east wall of the room heated from the front lateral stack. Only one bay of the medieval roof survives, and it is not clear how far the house extended to the west. The front lateral hall stack was added in the 17th century, probably before the hall was floored, judging from the height of the fireplace lintel. The inner room is probably an early 18th century addition and may be contemporary with the introduction of a straight run stair within the hall, parallel to the through passage. The room at the left end could be a post 18th century addition: it includes access to the Well. The evolution of the lower end is puzzling. There is no evidence of early stacks and the first floor walling is thin, probably 19th century. The roof construction is consistent with an early 19th century date. It would seem that the lower end has either been largely rebuilt or was possibly single-storey and in semi-agricultural or agricultural use until the 19th century. The right (west) end stack has a bread oven and is still in use as a kitchen.

Exterior: 2 storeys. Very long irregular 6 window north front curving to follow a bend in the road. Recessed front door to right of centre, the rounded chamfered timber doorframe late 16th or 17th century, the jambs mortised into the lintel with a good late 16th or 17th century plank and cover strip front door with strap hinges. The lateral stack, to the left of the door, has a rounded bread oven bulge. 2 fine early 18th century ground floor windows, one to the hall and one to the parlour; paired 12-pane sashes to the hall with thick moulded glazing bars and old glass, scratched with several names and dates, the earliest date 1723. The parlour window is a 2-light casement, 9 panes per light, with similar glazing bars and old glass. Other windows are 1-, 2- and 3-light casements, mostly 20th century except for one 2-light 19th century small pane casement to the right of the front door. The rear elevation has 1-, 2- and 3-light 20th century casements and two 1980s glazed porches.

Interior: Extensive 20th century restoration has involved the replacement of most of the ceiling beams, although some early carpentry and joinery does survive. There is a section of probably late 16th or 17th century plank and muntin screen between the passage and the hall. The hall preserves a good, probably early 17th century open fireplace with neat dressed stone jambs and a chamfered stopped timber lintel very close to the height of the ceiling. The stair within the hall is enclosed with wide, probably 18th century horizontal boarding. The inner room has two 18th century 2-panel doors, one with a narrow applied moulding to the panels and a chamfered crossbeam. The partition walls of the lower end rooms have been exposed, they are timber stud construction with brick infill, the timbers of slender scantling.

Roof: Over the hall one late medieval smoke blackened jointed cruck truss survives, below a later roof. The truss formerly had a diagonally-set ridge, the jointed crucks are side-pegged. Some smoke-blackened rafters also survive in situ to the front of the house but cut off above the purlin, those on the south side are re-used. The slate roof is supported on early 19th century king post and strut trusses.

An interesting evolved house of medieval origins on a prominent corner site in Alswear.