White Horse Inn

Performance Spaces

Overview

History

Bibliographic Sources

Events
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18th c. map of Norwich
Map of Norwich
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Venue Type & Location

Inn

Site Name: White Horse Inn
Location: Norwich
County: Norwich (city-county) in Norfolk
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location

Overview

By 1600, the White Horse Inn was a large establishment located on the NE corner of St Martin Street (now Palace Street) and Norman’s Lane (now Pigg Lane), on the parish boundary between St George Tombland and St Martin-at-Palace. Although the inn actually stood in the parish of St Martin-at-Palace, it was sometimes called 'the sign of the White Horse in tombland' (REED Norwich 117).

Little is known of the building's architecture.

Performance History

There are several records relating to performances at the White Horse, Tombland (also known as Powle's House) in the early 17th c.

Current Status

Long demolished.

History of the Venue

ca. 1568 Thomas Jackson proprietor of the White Horse Inn.

1587 John Bedyngfyld licensed to keep an inn at the sign of the White Horse.

1601--20 John Butcher, alias Powle, proprietor (hence the designation Powle's House).

by 1624 Thomas Marcon proprietor.

1760--1807 Continued to be licensed for operation as an alehouse.

Record Source

REED Norwich 117, 146--7, 150--1, 180--1

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Farrow, M. A. Index of wills proved in the consistory court of Norwich and now preserved in the district probate registry at Norwich 1550–1603. Norfolk Record Society Publications 21. Norwich: Norfolk Record Society, 1950.
  • Farrow, M. A. and T. F. Barton. Index of wills proved in the consistory court of Norwich and now preserved in the district probate registry at Norwich 1604–1686. Norfolk Record Society Publications 18. Norwich: Norfolk Record Society, 1958.
  • The History of the City and County of Norwich from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time. 2 vols. Norwich: John Crouse, 1768.
  • Lobel, Mary Doreen and William Henry Johns. Historic Towns: Maps and Plans of Towns and Cities in the British Isles, with Historical Commentaries from Earliest Times to 1800. 3 vols. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins P, [1969]-89.
  • Roberts-Smith, Jennifer. 'The Red Lion and the White Horse: Inns used by Patronized Performers in Norwich, 1583–1624' Early Theatre 10.1 (2007): 109–44.
  • Rodgers, Mary and May Wallace. Norwich Landgable Assessment 1568-70. Norfolk Record Society Publications 63. Norwich: Norfolk Record Society, 1999.
  • Tillett, E.A. St. George Tombland: past and present. A contribution to the history of a Norwich parish. Norwich: Agas Goose, 1891.