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White Hart

Broad St
Boxford
SUDBURY
CO10 5DX

• (01787) 471960
• Send an email to the Pub
• thewhitehartboxford.co.uk/

Social Links

• Visit White Hart on Facebook

Opening Times

Owner

Suffolk Chefs Ltd

About the Pub

After two years of closure the pub reopened in March 2020 managed by a new landlord who formerly ran the Fleece across the road.

Open seven days a week the pub offers home-cooked food using locally-sourced ingredients.

The 17th century pub is famous world-wide as once being the home of George 'Tornado' Smith, the famous Wall of Death motorbike rider, who thrilled crowds around the world with his daredevil act – often with his pet lion on the handlebars.

The building originally dates from the 16th century. A substantial Victorian brewery was also once located on the same site in the late 19th cent.

Historic Interest

The White Hart is located in an area which was originally a detached part of the parish of Groton. This part was amalgamated with Boxford on 25th March 1885. Former commercial inn & posting house. A report in the Ipswich Journal** in Nov 1830 states that : <blockquote>Yesterday was married, at Groton, by the Rev. Henry Studd, William Parmenter, Excise Officer, of Boxford, to Sarah Ann Atterton, widow, of the White Hart, Groton.</blockquote> A report in the Bury & Norwich Post** in 1874 (Jan-20) after John Moye senior had retired from the White Hart, stated that when the cart he was driving overturned, his pony fell on top of him & killed him. He died on 17 Jan. <em>(He was landlord of the pub for about 30 years)</em> <strong>Tornado Smith</strong>, born George William Smith, was the son of a former landlord. He has been acknowledged by the British motorcycle industry as the first Englishman to perform the spectacular <strong>Wall of Death</strong>, a highly dangerous form of motorcycle entertainment, which was popular during the 1920s & 30s & was then performed at holiday venues such as the Kersal in Southend. Tornado Smith also performed the stunt in the pub garden & elsewhere & was particularly famous (and unique) for a while in featuring a lioness sat in his sidecar during the act. The lioness, called Briton, was later buried in the pub garden. A report in the Hadleigh Weekly News*** on 01 Aug in 1980 states that : raids have been made on 4 local pubs Fox & Hounds, Groton, Landlord Mr Tim Wood; White Hart, Boxford, Mr Mick Moore, The Compasses, Boxford (Stone Street) , Mr Tom Evans & The Angel, Stoke by Nayland, Mr Ian Blanshand.

Changing cask ales

This pub serves 3 changing beers.

Updated on 14/12/2020
Last surveyed on 08/09/2020
Branch responsible is West Suffolk & Borders

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