The first mention we have for this pub is in a will of 1689, when a messuage near to the White Horse was bequeathed. It then appears on Bradford's Coventry Survey of 1748-49, and in 1756 eight soldiers were billeted here.
Helpfully, an auction advertisement in Aris's Birmingham Gazette of 26th January 1807 gives a good description of the pub's location, informing us that "There are two Entrances to this very desirable Freehold Estate and Inn, the one to the Front in Hay Lane and the other a back Road from Bayley Lane, coming direct from the London Road into it, almost without a Turn, into the Centre of the City, and very convenient for the Reception of large wagons and Carriages.".
In 1992 Castle Yard was opened up as part of a restoration scheme. It was previously called White Horse Yard. This yard was mentioned in 1410-11 when it was referred to as 'castelbachous'. During an excavation in 1992 the castle bakehouse was found there.
The inn closed in July 1932 with £2,200 compensation paid to the owners and £950 to the tenant.
The White Horse has been in use since the fifteenth century and is common because of its widespread use. It was the symbol of the Kings of Wessex and is the traditional emblem of Kent. A galloping white horse refers to the Hanovers and dates from the accession of George I in 1714. It is also used by several guilds such as the Carmen, Coachmen, Farriers, Saddlers and Wheelwrights. |
