The Original White Hart holds a unique place in English pub history, claimed by many historians to be the very first establishment to bear the name 'White Hart' - a moniker that would spread across Britain to become one of the most popular pub names in the country. The inn's name derives from a legendary tale involving King Henry VII, who is said to have caught a white hart (an adult male red deer) during a hunting expedition in the nearby New Forest. According to local lore, the king had the magnificent beast leashed and led back to Ringwood in triumph, where this coaching inn was named in honour of the extraordinary event. The white hart itself was a powerful medieval symbol, serving as the personal badge of King Richard II, and its adoption as a pub name carried deep political and royal significance. As a coaching inn positioned on the vital route between London and the West Country, the White Hart served as an essential stopping point for travellers, merchants, and mail coaches throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The inn would have provided fresh horses, accommodation, meals, and a gathering place for news and commerce. Its position in the heart of Ringwood's market square made it central to the town's commercial and social life, hosting market traders, local assemblies, and serving as a hub for regional business dealings. The building has witnessed centuries of English history, from the English Civil War through the Georgian coaching era to the Victorian period and beyond, adapting through each age whilst maintaining its essential character as a welcoming hostelry.