White Hart, Boxford

The Grade II Listed 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 : "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." 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. (He was landlord of the pub for about 30 years) Tornado Smith, 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 Wall of Death, 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.