The White Hart in St. Margaret's Street was once one of the largest inns in Canterbury. It is recorded in the City Archive between 1660 and 1685 has being one of only four inns at this time with a licence to sell wine, only four inns at a time were allotted licenses to sell wine at this period.

In the accounts of the Carpenter's Company of 1671 wine was paid for at this inn and in 1676 there is an item 'pd to Mr Alderman Burges at the White Hart in St. Margaret's ... £8. 15s. 11d. In 1671 the innkeeper was Nicholas Burges.

Its coach yard was used for many purposes and in 1729 the Kentish Post advertised the holding of trials of skill (boxing).

In 1931 the site No. 22-24 St. Margaret's Street was occupied by Fred. Finn & Son Ironmongers. It is now (2002) occupied by the Volume One Bookshop. (1)

A watching brief conducted in 2016 revealed evidence for a previously unknown feature associated with the building during the mid-late 19th century. This took the form of a 'coal hole', for the depositing of coal directly into one of the cellar rooms beneath the building, rather than being delivered to the front of the building.
A cobble carriageway was also identified through the watching brief, this may have been utilised by the White Hart Inn to provide stabling for horses during the 17th century or potentially earlier.
Background information on the site site states that Fred. Finn & Son Ironmongers also purchased the building opposite (No.22), and that a subterranean passageway was formed between the two buildings in order to allow goods to be easily transported between them. Part of this passageway still exists in the cellar of No.24, however it is blocked at the far end, so no longer in use. (2)

<1> Enderby, H. M., 1950, The Inns of Canterbury Parts I & II, Lecture to the Canterbury Archaeological Society (Unpublished document). SKE29964.

<2> 2016, 22-24 St Margaret's Street, Canterbury, Kent. Archaeological Watching Brief Summary Report (Unpublished document). SKE55643.