By Bill Exley

• The White Hart Inn : - There was some speculation from local feedback, during my researches in the mid 1980's, as to the existance of a 9th Pub in Blunham and upon further investigation , I found there was a White Hart Inn - (Beerhouse ? ) . It was somewhere in Blunham but to date the excact location still remains a mystery. Now , with hindsight (a unique talent to have) - I could have said at the time , "where abouts was it ? " - The tenants as recorded were a William Astell and son Richard (c1737) , as mentioned in the Luton & Bedford archives : Ref - PM2846 . Also see my refs - The Wheatsheaf - or ref 12 in Misc & Mash - for the Alehouse / Beerhouse origin.

  The White Hart Pub, old site in nearby Gt. Barford village is just a mile away and also researched, but no match on names was found here. Thirsty workers 'could' have done a mile walk, or Pony & Trap, also some Blunham fields nearly reach the river Gt. Ouse at Gt. Barford and their old White Hart site. - (22/05/2, 021)
• It would have been a short walk over the bridge for a 'quick drink' at The Anchor, or just around the corner , The White Hart pub. rather than returning right back to the Blunham Pubs, around the square and the High St. - Or, "the 'Gaffer' won't walk in here. " - For local interest, The Anchor Pub occupies a commanding view overlooking the River Gt Ouse and bridge , which takes one up to Kings Lynn, Norfolk and the sea. There is a gateway opposite The Anchor, being the entrance to River Cottage in it's own large site overlooking the river Gt. Ouse, where Barbara Cartland wrote her romantic novels during 1941 to 1949 .
• There was no match of names from information seen for both White Hart pubs : also there is no mention of a White Hart Inn within a '1903' report by a Mr Swaffield - in my Wheatsheaf research. : Also there no mention of a 'White Hart Inn' within some nice Nostalgic Blunham Memories, written by Jim Ellis in 2011 - (at 89yrs old) about his visits as a boy in the 1920's / 30's to The Crown in Blunham.
• For the Blunham White Hart Inn : see the link & Ref - https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Blunham - it is on record but where in Blunham ? (c1737) - Select - 'Blunham Index of Pages' and find Blunham Pubs / by scrolling the L.H.S. col.

  First ref ; via one of the following 'past' village characters , - Mr Rex Clarke and Len Sirkett of Grange Road, or Mr Albert Sims (Father of Alan Sims) of Barford Road : At this momrnt they are away at a Big Party amongst the Stars - and Enjoying a Pint at the Free Bar - I will ask them where this Pub was when we meet again - . (13/10/2022 / Mr Blex)

Last revision made by Bill Exley on - * - 13th Oct, 2022

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