History

The White Hart was first mentioned in 1504 making it the oldest exsisting public house in Manningtree, parts of the building date from around the early sixteenth century with additions occuring in the seventeenth and eighteenth centurys. During the 18th century the building was refaced with brick, as were many of the buildings in the High Street. In 1797 the rateable value of The White Hart was £12, Making it second in importance to “the Packet”, which is no longer a public house but “Townesends” situated on the east end of the high street. In 1809 a maltings was added and in 1830 the central hall was divided up to make a cartway, billiard room , ballroom and bar.

In the past The White Hart has been used for a number of things, in the 1560’s the self appointed “Witch Finder General” Matthew Hopkins held some of his witch “Trials” and grisly Interrogations here. Also records show that in 1771 it played host to the Parish Annual Easter Dinner, in 1773 a Lamb and sheep show was held in the grounds and in 1783 the Annual meeting of the Society for Prosecuting Horse Thieves was held in one of the rooms at the White Hart. In 1890 the Mistley Masonic Lodge used the White Hart as thier meeting place, some copies of menu etc have been located. 1882 the local Inland Revenue Office was set up in one of the rooms at the Hart, this happily is no longer the case! And finally in 2004 The White Hart was visited by “Most Haunted” team from Sky TV which held a ghost hunt within Manningtree for a weekend, The white hart has a phatom horse according to Mr Derek Acora.

Manningtree and the surrounding villages are well know for the River Stour. During the summer months visitors flock to the river for the views, wild life and sailing. In the past the river served as a living for many of the locals and smuggling was not uncommon, many buildings in the High Street, have cellars and tunnels stretching to the River which were reportably used for the smuggling of such items as Gin, Rum, Tobacco and Snuff.