Above postcard 1920.

Photo taken 16 November 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by Dayoff171.

Above signs, June 1993.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

From the Morning Advertiser, Wednesday 18 July 1860.

In and near Rochester, Kent.

Messrs. Cobb are instruct to sell by auction at the "Crown Inn," Rochester, on Tuesday, July 24th, at one, in five lots, the following freehold properties, with early possession.

A freehold house, situated in Eastgate, Rochester, in the occupation of Miss Balfour; Three Freehold Cottages, adjoining the free Grammar School, Eastgate, Rochester, in the occupation of H. Lane and others; the "Darnley Arms" public house, at Cobham, the "Stone Horse" public house, at Higham, and a freehold Messuage and Forge, at Milton-next-Sittingbourne.

Particulars, with conditions of sale, may be had of Messrs Farefoot, Webb, and D'Aeth, Solicitors, 13, Clement's Inn; and of Messrs, Cobb, Surveyors and Land Agents, 25, Lincoln's Inn-fields, London, and Rochester.

From http://www.ghostpubs.com accessed 17 June 2015.

HAUNTED.

Recorded as having been built in the 12th century, this is the oldest secular building in Cobham. It connects by a tunnel to the church, used by smugglers hiding their contraband in the 18th century. The inn exhibits ghostly manifestations. These include Sir Thomas Kemp, from the 16th century, who spent his last night here before execution. In 1567, he and other Kent men met at Ashford as commissioners for the defence of the seacoast, with developed a system of signalling by means of beacon fires. In 1588, he commanded a band of Kentish men-at-arms during the attack on England by the Spanish Armada. Now, this is where records are somewhat awry and at differences. The ghost is also, locals knew, as Sir Thomas Kempe, created a Knight of the Carpet in 1546. It was Sheriff of Kent County for three terms. Sir Thomas may have been party to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, as were many Kentish aristocrats.