Above photo, circa 1900, also showing the "Cross Keys" (centre.)

Above photo, pre 1902.

Above photo, 1902.

Above photo 2006 by Dave Patten Creative Commons Licence.

From The Morning Post (London, England), Friday, July 22, 1842; Issue 22311.

FATAL COLLISION IN ERITH REACH BETWEEN THE ROYAL WILLIAM MARGATE STEAMER, AND THE ELLEN SAILING BARGE, OF WHITEFRIARS, LONDON.

Yesterday afternoon the inquest was held, pursuant to adjournment, before Mr. Carttar, at the "White Hart Inn," Erith, Kent, upon the body of John McMillan, late in the employ of Mr. Limpas, an extensive barge owner, of Water-lane, Fleet-street, who met his death from a collision on the river. The facts have already appeared. After a great deal of conflicting evidence the room was cleared for the jury to consider their verdict, and in somewhat more than an hour the doors were again thrown open, when the foreman announced the following verdict, namely, "That the deceased had lost his life by accident; but at the same time the jury were of opinion that a good look out had not been kept on board the Royal William, and that some person ought always to be upon the paddle-boxes of all steamers when in the river."

The jury had there fore agreed to a deodand of 50/- upon the Royal William Margate steamer.

From https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com accessed 21 September 2018.

I took the two photos above yesterday afternoon; they show the nearly completed conversion of the ground floor - the former bar area of the "White Hart" pub in Erith High Street into a brand new African restaurant and bar, which is scheduled to open on the 16th of September 2018.

The upper floors were converted into a number of luxury apartments, and have been occupied for around six months already. There are some concerns about the ground floor restaurant/bar - until very recently a drinks and music licence application was on display in the window by the entrance to the bar area. It detailed the proposed opening hours of the establishment, and this led to widespread concern amongst local residents. The original licence application stated that the restaurant/bar would be open from 10am until 5am the next morning, and serving alcohol until 4.30am.

My personal opinion is that this is just a "fishing trip" by the bar owners - they don't actually expect to get this application granted, but they are seeing what they can get away with. Bearing in mind the "White Hart" is located in a conservation area; it has retirement apartments behind it, and sheltered housing very close by, I would not expect the licensing authorities to treat this current application sympathetically. Nevertheless, since the "White Hart" has now publicly announced that it plans to open to the public on the 16th of September, it may be that feedback from local people needs to be amplified.