White Horse

The White Horse is a former farmhouse dating from the C17th. It is now the only pub in the village.

The Building

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 17thcentury. 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.

For further information about the history of the pub please visit the Suffolk Camra website

>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.