White Hart Arcade
The White Hart Arcade: From Coaching Inn to Covered Shopping Walkway
Long before it became one of Launceston’s most charming shopping spots, the site was home to the grand White Hart Hotel, a Grade II‑listed coaching inn dating back to the early 18th century Positioned on Broad Street, just steps from the castle and old town square, this inn served travellers along the busy route into Cornwall – complete with stables, post-chaises, and overnight accommodation for visitors.
One of its most striking architectural features is a mid-12th-century Norman doorway, believed to have been relocated from Launceston Castle (or possibly the nearby priory) when the front of the hotel was rebuilt in red brick around 1767 .
This ornate entrance remains in place today – a tangible link to the building’s medieval connections.
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the White Hart was a bustling hub for stagecoach travellers. In 1787, it was a regular stop on the mail coach route between Exeter and Falmouth; by 1771, it already had its own post-chaises and horses, a high-end transport service at the time .
Its large assembly rooms, parlours, and stables marked it out as one of the town’s premier hospitality venues.
The 20th century saw the White Hart’s role begin to shift. A stable fire, ownership changes, and eventually the decline of coaching inns transformed its fortunes. In the latter half of the century, parts of the site were redeveloped and repurposed – notably the old stables and coach housing – which became the enclosed shopping area now known as the White Hart Arcade .
Today, the arcade retains the character of its past while serving modern needs. With a glass-covered roof, it retains a vestige of its former function as a sheltered stop for weary travellers – now home to independent shops and pedestrian thoroughfare. Its Norman doorway stands proudly as a centerpiece, welcoming visitors into a space that’s both historic and contemporary.
In essence, the White Hart Arcade merges two eras in one: the elegance of a Georgian coaching inn and the vibrancy of a cozy modern shopping precinct. It stands as a perfect example of adaptive reuse, honoring Launceston’s past while serving its present.