WHITE HORSE, Fishergate

WHITE HORSE

Fishergate

This was situated on the SOUTH side of Fishergate. It was roughly on the town-centre

side of what is now Chapel Street, and the rear of the property would be roughly where

Winckley Square now is. 

It does put into question the origin of the story that the Grey Horse acquired its name

from the fact that the 'White Horse' sign had become grey with dirt, and rather than

paint it, they changed the name!  Having written it, it does seem unlikely in any event? 

Next to it, on the town-centre side, stood Robert Carrs'

WHEATSHEAF  

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Later the "GREY HORSE AND SEVEN STARS"

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MINE HOSTS: 

1689              Alex Swanfrey

1732              William Hudson  (Property owned by him also)

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Distinct from the inn in Friargate at a later date, this inn

was mentioned in relation to the map of 1684.

It was still the "WHITE HORSE" in 1732, but at that date it 
had acquired the "7 Stars" appendage.(1732 Poor Rate records)

By the end of the 18th Century, with the grime of the

Industrial Revolution setting on it, the horse had turned

grey.

So, it is alleged, they changed the name to the "Grey Horse and Seven Stars"

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Lawrence Rawsthorne Diary, July 11th 1681, mentioned the "White Horse,"

but could he have meant the White Horse in Friargate? 

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Court Leet Record P.106

"Alexandr Swansey for seting his dogg upon ye townes bull, being then upon ye Marsh belonging to this towne, and thereby forcing into great confusion and disorder the Catte belonging to the Burgesses, inhabitants within this towne, upon ye Lord's day, to the evill example of others, and therefore to pay ye fine of xxs" 

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Letter from Thomas Stanley:
L.R.O.:   DDX 317/38
To: Tho. Rigbye Esq., at Middleton near Goosnorth.

"November 8th 1699 - I think our appointment
was to meet at ye White Horse in Preston on next
Satterday, but I have extraordinary stiffness fallen
out that I cannot for..........desire you would put it off
for that day fortnight, and I will not fail God willing
to meet you.
I am Sir, your obliged kinsman
and humble servant,
T. Stanley.
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There is clearly something that I've not de-ciphered correctly, 
but I think the gist of the message is there.
-
What it doesn't make clear was which 'White Horse' it refers to.
I think that this one is the most likely.

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Taken from "Nicholas Blundell's Diary" of July 20th  1713,

"I went to the bowling green at the sign of the White Horse." 

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