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Group please contact
Mike McConnell on 735057
Rough study Notes on the White Horse Inn Whepstead
The White Horse Inn was built in the
17th century as a farmhouse. The architectural details of the frame
suggest the farmhouse was built in the early 1600’s, maybe as early
as circa 1600. There are several examples of stop chamfer mouldings
on the beams in the downstairs bar and restaurant areas that are
all typical of the 17th century. One the first floor there is an
excellent example of a door with fielded panels and HL hinges
typical of the period. This style of door dates from the 17th
century and 18th century. The floors in the attic and on the first
floor have wide oak floorboards, which could be original 17th
century. The position of the fireplace is 17th century. The quality
of the timber frame indicates a high status house. Unusually the
timbers on the first floor appear of a higher quality than the
ground floor.
The White Horse was built on the
three-cell lobby entrance plan typical of the 17th
century. The front door was opposite the stack. To the left of the
stack was the parlour with a parlour chamber above and to the right
the hall that served as a combination of kitchen, dining room,
lounge and perhaps bedroom for lesser members of the family and the
odd labourer on the farm. Above the hall is the hall chamber.
Beyond the hall, there used to be a third bay where the 19th
century extension stands. This was the service end. An area used
mainly for storing foodstuffs and ale. You can see evidence in the
beam above the bar of the mortises and peg holes for the studwork
that formed the wall between the hall and the service end. The two
mortises nearest the rear wall are further apart. This indicates a
doorway that led on to the stairs to the room above the service
end, the service chamber. The service end was probably demolished
in the 19th century to make way for the new parlour and parlour
chamber/master bedroom. The floor boards in the hall chamber extend
across the threshold of the first floor door into the 19th century
parlour chamber, another indication of the missing service end. The
roof above the 17th century range is a 19th century
rebuild. But the attic space was obviously used in earlier times.
There is a winding stair beside the stack leading to the attic and
the floor is decked out with wide oak floorboards. Some of the
windows are in roughly the same position as the original opening;
others have been blocked up on the rear elevation. Most or all of
the door openings other than the one opposite the chimney are later
insertions including the one in the parlour that has been blocked
up.
The following is taken from "The
Bury and Norwich Post" newspaper archive. Dated January 31st
1860.
There was a fatal accident to a man
names Jolly aged 47 in the employ of Mr. George Rollinson of Rede.
The inquest was held at Whepstead White Horse Inn. George Arnold in
the employ of Mr. John Cooke of the steam mills at Bury, said he
had been to Hartest and was coming down the hill from Whepstead
towards the wash at the bottom when he saw deceased with a tumbrel
load of stones with three horses coming down Harram Hill, deceased
was hanging on the shafts trying to stop it but with the weight it
kept gathering on them, deceased fell down and the horse kept
running through the water and about 40 yards up the other hill.
Witness said he caught the horses and tied them up and got the
deceased into his cart to take to Whepstead White Horse when he
died. Enquiries were made at public houses on the road and there
was no evidence of having drink of any kind.
Verdict: Accidental.
Colleen
Antrobus