THE WHITE HART HOTEL Bailgate, Lincoln

The White Hart Hotel, Lincoln

The Meaning and History of The White Hart Hotel

The White Hart Hotel has stood proudly in the heart of uphill Lincoln since the 14th century, nestled between two of England’s greatest landmarks — Lincoln Cathedral, founded in 1072, and Lincoln Castle, built in 1068 by William the Conqueror. For more than six hundred years, this grand old building has been part of the city’s living history, welcoming travellers, royals, and locals alike.

The name “White Hart” carries royal and mythic meaning. The word hart is an old English term for a mature stag, and the White Hart was the personal badge of King Richard II. He is thought to have taken the symbol from his mother, Joan of Kent, also known as “The Fair Maid of Kent.” Some say it was also a clever play on words — Rich-hart.

The white hart appears throughout English history and art. In the Wilton Diptych, one of the earliest portraits of an English king, Richard II is shown wearing a golden white hart jewel, while the angels surrounding the Virgin Mary all wear white hart badges. In English folklore, the white hart is often linked with Herne the Hunter, a ghostly figure said to roam the forests with antlers upon his brow.

Today, the White Hart remains one of the most popular pub names in England, standing as a reminder of the country’s deep connection to its myths, kings, and creatures of legend.

The White Hart Hotel itself has witnessed countless chapters of Lincoln’s story. Its history reaches back to 1387, when it was founded in honour of King Richard II’s visit to the city. Over the centuries, the building has evolved — from a medieval inn serving travellers and coachmen, to the elegant hotel it is today. The Orangery, once a busy coaching yard filled with horses and wagons, is now a calm and stylish dining room.

The hotel has also played its part in major moments of British history — through the reign of Richard II, World War I and the creation of the first military tank, the Battle of Britain, and the daring exploits of 617 Squadron, the Dambusters.

Today, it remains one of Lincoln’s most exclusive venues, offering 49 luxurious rooms, fine dining made from local ingredients, and facilities for weddings, events, and celebrations. Looking to the future, plans are already in motion for an indoor Vitality Pool & Spa, complete with gym and sauna facilities, to be added to the Eastgate Coach House Wing.

There are also proposals for a Sky Lounge and Roof Terrace, offering breathtaking views of the cathedral’s west front and panoramic scenes across the historic city below.

The White Hart stands at the centre of Bailgate, an ancient cobbled street filled with independent shops and restaurants. This area of Lincoln has been at the heart of local life since the days of the Romans, when conquerors transformed the settlement from a small Iron Age hamlet into one of the most important Roman towns in Britain.

The White Hart Hotel, surrounded by such layers of history, continues to represent the spirit of old Lincoln — timeless, enduring, and deeply atmospheric.

The Ghosts of The White Hart Hotel

For all its elegance, The White Hart Hotel is also known for something else — its ghosts.

It often begins with laughter. Guests staying along the corridors have reported the unmistakable sound of children playing late at night — high-pitched giggling, the patter of small feet running from room to room, and doors quietly closing where no one stands. The sound has been heard most often near Room 27, where guests have described laughter echoing down the dimly lit hallway before suddenly vanishing into silence.

When questioned, staff at the front desk can only offer a knowing look. No children are ever staying on that floor, yet the sounds return again and again.

The hotel’s long history seems to have left behind more than memories. Many visitors have spoken of a shadowy man lingering in the Orangery — his face always hidden by a cloak or arm. Legend says he was once a highwayman, burned during a failed robbery when a coachman thrust a torch at him in defence. The horses bolted into the night, the passengers fled in terror, and the highwayman was left to die beneath a blackened sky. To this day, he appears in photographs — but only from the chest down, as if the spirit world refuses to show his face.

Another presence is known as the mop-cap girl, said to haunt the north-east stairwell. Small, pale, and frozen in fear, she wears an apron and a simple cap. Local tales claim she was a child murdered by the inn’s rat-catcher long ago. She never speaks. She only watches, trembling in the half-light.

High above Bailgate, a former owner still paces his old quarters, wringing his hands and muttering the same phrase over and over: “Help me… help me find my ginger jar…”

Then there’s Room 14, which carries an air of sorrow that even time can’t erase. A guest once ended their life there, and the sadness seems to linger. Staff avoid the room whenever they can.

Across the road, in the old staff accommodation, not all spirits are so grim. A young soldier in Napoleonic uniform has been seen quietly standing on the top floor. A woman in a crinoline gown — thought to be his lost love — once appeared to a child who lived there, tucking him in at night before disappearing into thin air. On another night, a burning log rolled from the fireplace and began to smoulder on the carpet. The boy’s father awoke just in time, alerted by a mysterious bang. Had he not stirred, the house might have been lost to flames. Perhaps, in this case, the ghosts were protectors.

In the long-sealed passages beneath the hotel, a figure dressed like a 17th-century clergyman has been seen walking purposefully toward where a tunnel once led to the cathedral. One investigator claimed to have seen him pass straight through a solid wall, as if time itself had thinned for just a moment.

And finally, there is the cat — a friendly tabby, long gone but not forgotten. Guests have reported feeling it brush against their legs or jump onto the bed at night. In the morning, they sometimes find the imprint of a curled-up body in the blankets, though no living cat roams the hotel.

The White Hart Hotel is grand, historic, and full of life — both past and present. Some guests come for its luxury and beauty. Others leave with memories they can’t explain.

Because at The White Hart, not every visitor checks out.