Great beer and a great atmosphere since 1841.
We’re lucky to have a fairly comprehensive record of the White Hart’s history from the past couple of hundred years. Below is a list of every owner known since the pub became the White Hart, 170 years ago.
1841-1847
Mr David McBurnie
He was the first to give the hotel the White Hart name and he held the licence for 6 years.
1849-1856
Mr Joseph Bowman
He held the licence for 5 years and the 1851 census shows he lived here with his wife and two sons.
1857-1892
Lost Records
All court licence records have been lost and all surviving duplicate licences for these periods have been checked.
Census 1861
Catherine Lynn (34)
The 1861 Census shows that she lived here with her 3 sons and 1 daughter. Her son William (8) worked as a labourer.
Census 1871
Mr Richard Kirk
The 1871 census shows that he lived here at the hotel with his wife and his 2 sons, along with 2 maids.
Census 1881
Mr James Laidlaw
The 1881 census shows that he lived here with his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters. Also recorded living there was a maid.
1892-1919
Mrs Margaret Harris
The record shows a conviction in 1909 that resulted in a fine and several days in prison. Unfortunately, no court record survived to say what the conviction was for. Harassing a maid, possibly?
1920-1926
Mrs Mary Murphy
Held the licence for 5 years.
1927-1930
Mr John Raffel
He held the licence for a short period before dropping dead at his pumps, and his ghost still occasionally walks here!!
1931-1943
Mr Peter Smith
Managed to keep the hotel running during most of the war years, in spite of the shortening of opening hours and rationing.
1944-1946
Mr David Anderson
All records other than licence records have been lost relating to this owner.
1947-1954
Mr Robert Peters
In 1950 Mr Peters was ordered to carry out repairs to the building or lose his licence.
1955-1967
Vaux Breweries Ltd
Carried out major improvements including a new first floor dining room.
1967-1968
Mr Colin James Campbell
Was only here for less than a year when he saw the ghost and left soon after.
1968-1974
Flt Lt Mervyn McCord RAF VR
In 1973 he was granted a licence for one amusement machine with prizes.
1974-1975
Mr James O’Hare
The only information is that he was a sales rep from Ayrshire.
1975-1979
Joseph Johnstone
Retired in 1979 after a short ownership.
1979-1988
Gaetlano Campanile
Lived in the premises.
1998-1989
Mr Frank Gilfedder
Survived the White Hart for less than a year.
1989-1997
Mr Robert W. Little
Retired 1997, and so the White Hart was kept in the family for the first time by selling ownership to their eldest daughter, Susan.
1997-present
Mrs Susan McMillan
The still-present owner of The White Hart Hotel.