Not to be confused with the White Hart on the corner of the next street – Eaton Street/Wharf Street, as can be seen on the above 1886 Map, there is the Old White Hart and White Hart.
July 1842 advert from the LM:
‘To be sold by auction Old established public house the Old Kings Arms, Metcalf St, complete with brewhouse etc.’
By the mid 1850s – when Robert Franklin became licensee – the name had changed to the White Hart, later the Old White Hart, perhaps to distinguish the two pubs of the same name.
In 1859, Franklin was involved in a long court case of alleged election bribes by the local parliamentary candidates. He also was taken to court in April 1864 charged with assaulting George Potts, who said he called at the pub for a jug of ale. Franklin refused him as he wasn’t sober, pushing him against the door. Franklin’s wife, Martha, joined in by kicking him, son James Franklin then jolted his head and Jane Carver – who was also in the – pub pulled his hair. As George Potts was deemed the worse for drink, the magistrates dismissed the case. All involved were to pay costs.
The Franklins left the pub in December 1867 after eleven years in charge.
Old White Hart, circa 1900. H. H. Parry (later to become Ruddles), had taken over the pub in 1899 after brewing its own beer for over fifty years.
In 1893, gossip and rumours were rife in the area as news leaked out of a death of a customer in the Old White Hart. Was it murder? George Gilbert was sitting in the tap room, when Sam Griffiths came in with his dog. The dog attempted to drink George’s ale out of his glass, at which Georges sent the dog away. Sam Griffiths took umbrage at this, pulled George up by his scarf then struck him on the side of his head, knocking him to the floor: within minutes he was dead. Sam Griffiths left the beer house but was later arrested and committed to trial at the assizes. There, arguments were raised as to whether the assault was murder or manslaughter. Eventually, after being adjourned to find a similar case previously upon which to base a charge, Griffiths was charged with manslaughter.
1899 saw J. Laxton as victualler, but within six months he was declared bankrupt. Some of his arrears had occurred from his previous pub, the Rutland Arms on Wharf St. Laxton claimed takings no longer covered his expenses.
The Old White Hart was to lose its licence under the compensation scheme in July 1907.
Thank you for using the photograph of the rear of Metcalf Street in your article. But It really should be credited to the photographer Tom Bassett (my Grandfather) kind regards – Laura Evans
Thank you. Edited!