White Hart Hotel

The White Hart Hotel, formerly a coaching inn, dates to around the middle of the 18th century, with later 19th-century extensions to the rear. It is constructed of rendered stone rubble with a steeply pitched slate roof and late 19th-century brick chimneys. The original design features a central, wide entrance through-passage, with a service area to the right and the inn itself to the left. The room to the right of the passage was reportedly the original kitchen, and retains a blocked fireplace on the rear wall, as well as stairs originally leading to staff accommodation above. To the left of the passage is the main inn, extending to the rear to form an overall L-shaped plan. A main staircase, centrally located, provides access to visitor rooms above. The former kitchen on the right-hand side is now a dining room, with the present kitchen located in a small, early 20th-century wing directly behind. A wing, likely dating to the mid-19th century, was built to the rear left, and a stable range at right angles forming the third side of a courtyard. The building is three storeys and has an attic. The facade presents an almost symmetrical five-window range, with the windows more closely spaced to the right. Late 19th-century four-pane sash windows are present on the upper floors. The ground floor has varied window arrangements: three late 19th-century four-pane sashes to the right, a two-light sash to the left of centre, and a five-light horizontally sliding sash to the left. The entrance doorway, located to the right of centre, features large wooden, fluted Roman Doric engaged columns and an entablature with a bracketed cornice; it was originally designed as a porch with freestanding columns. The interior plan remains largely intact, aside from the blocking of a rear passage by a second staircase, which provides access to rooms above the service area. The original 18th-century main staircase is dogleg in design with a moulded string, turned balusters and a moulded handrail ramped over square newels. A panelled dado is present in the bar area of the left-hand room; the remaining joinery appears to be primarily late 19th century. The hotel remains largely unaltered and in use as an hotel. Its prominent, central position in Moretonhampstead and its virtually complete exterior make a valuable contribution to the townscape.