White Hart?

Sean Howell · #1 (**permalink**) 26-10-2009, 08:52 PM

There are many pubs around with the name of 'the white hart' and I was just wondering what a white hart is?

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 26-10-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Howell

There are many pubs around with the name of 'the white hart' and I was just wondering what a white hart is?

Its a lane..

pammosley · #3 (**permalink**) 26-10-2009, 09:36 PM

I believe it is another term for a White Stag

thunder · #4 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:15 AM

A Hart is an old-fashioned, probably obsolete term for a Stag. Mainly an heraldic term, usually referring to a Stag on someone's coat of arms in pub names, so may not necessarily refer to an actual white animal - you would have to delve into the family history to discover the origins. One of Richard II's badges was a white hart lodged (at rest) from his mother, Joan of Kent. Edward IV also had a white hart as one of his badges.

henrya

Dutchess · #5 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:22 AM

This article gives a fair bit of info:

How the magical white hart inspires legends (as well as the name of a thousand pubs) | Mail Online

(Apparently The Red Lion is the most common name for a pub in this country )

hth

D.

James M · #6 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:24 AM

yes rather like your avatar

paulthomas · #7 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 02:15 PM

In old terminology a Stag has 8 points on his antlers, a Hart has 10 points and a Great Hart has more than 10 points.

Rob Chace · #8 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:33 PM

I was always led to believe that the white hart was a white fallow buck. Fallow were introduced by the Normans for hunting. The male red or Sika deer are known as stags, all the rest are bucks.
Old terminology for red deer may be different though.
Rob

rona · #9 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 09:16 PM

We have several herds of Fallow that contain white hinds but I have never seen a stag.

paulthomas · #10 (**permalink**) 28-10-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rona

We have several herds of Fallow that contain white hinds but I have never seen a stag.

A hind is a female Red Deer. Female Fallow Deer are called Does. Male Fallow Deer are called Bucks. The white colour variant in Fallow Deer is common. White Red Deer are extremely rare.