Kentish Mercury, Saturday 14 May 1881.

Transfer of public houses.

Mr. Ruddle, a London solicitors, attended before the Bench, and ask for a protection order for the "Mitre," Dartford Bridge, stating that the public house referred to was being taken down in consequence of the bridge improvements. It had been sold with the covenants to rebuild. If, when rebuilt, the justice is granted the licence, it had been arranged by the Metropolitan Board of Works that the "Rose and Crown," an adjoining house, should come down. Before we build in the "Mitre," they were anxious to know the views of the Bench, as to the probability of a licence being continued to the incoming tenants, Mr. Frank Barnes. During the hearing of the application, it was stated that of the three public houses involved in the construction of Deptford Bridge, viz., the "Plume of Feathers," the "Mitre," and the "Rose and Crown," that on the completion of the improvements only one licence house would be allowed.

The Justices retired, and after consulting together for about 5 minutes, returned into Court, when the Chairman announced that the Bench declined to pledge themselves or give any opinion on the point. Mr. Ruddle could apply at the proper time for a renewal, and until then the Justices would hold themselves perfectly free to exercise their judgement on the application.