Kentish Gazette, 27 January, 1779.

"White Hart Inn," Sevenoaks Common Kent, adjoining his grace the Duke of Dorset's Park.

To be let, and entered on immediately.

That well-known, long-established, and good accustomed inn, known by the "White Hart," on the Sevenoaks common, Kent; consisting of very genteel and convenient apartments in the house, good stabling for 50 horses and 16 acres of land, in excellent condition and adjoining.

The whole fitted up afresh, and put into very good order, within those few years, at a very comfortable expense, and enjoying a very flourishing trade, in the occupation of the late Robert Palmer, deceased; together with which maybe had, if approved of, a very desirable Farm, containing onwards of 100 acres of very good land, in very good condition, and at a very moderate rent.

This Inn is altogether commodious, pleasantly and advantageously situated, being on the Turnpike Road from London to Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles from Tunbridge Wells, 14 from Bromley, 24 from London, and within 1 mile of Sevenoaks Town.

From the Kentish Gazette, 27 June 1848.

Walter.

In London, on the 17th inst., rather suddenly, Mr. James Walter, of the "White Hart Inn," Sevenoaks Common highly and justly respected.

Kentish Gazette, 19 February 1850.

Fire.

On Monday evening se’nnight about 9 o'clock, a fire broke out in the buildings of the "White Hart Inn," at the common near this place, in a lodge occupied by Mr. Ring, of Sevenoaks, who holds the farm; the flames soon communicated to the coach-house and granary of the Inn, but there being a good supply of water, by great exertions, and the assistance of the Sevenoaks fire brigade with their powerful engine, the fire was got under after having totally destroyed the granary, a lodge, and a portion of the coach houses; the property which belongs to Earl Amherst, we understand was fully insured. The origin of the fire is involved in mystery.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 6 March 1866.

Attempted Murder.

A most determined attempt to commit murder was made at the “White Hart” public-house, Sevenoaks-common, on Saturday night. It appeared that a number of railway men were in the tap-room of the “White Hart,” and in company with them was a person named William Slangsbay, who gets a living by acting as a barber to the navvies. Whilst this man had been sleeping, some practical joking had taken place, and he, supposing that William Tyson was the offender, suddenly caught hold of him and attempted to cut his throat. Fortunately, however, his object was not successful, but he cut from the ear downward for about four inches, and the arteries were exposed. Had the razor entered the sixteenth part of an inch deeper, death would have been the result. Dr. Charles was speedily in attendance, and rendered the necessary medical aid, and the would-be murderer, who was not permitted to leave the house, was handed over to the care of the police.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 13 March 1866.

CUTTING AND WOUNDING.

The attempt to cut a man’s throat last week, appears to have been the result of “practical joking,” as will be gathered from the following statements, which were taken as evidence before following M. Lambarde, Esq., on Thursday, when William Slingsby was charged with cutting William Tyson with razor, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The prosecutor, who is a labourer on the new South Eastern Railway works, was in the tap-room of the “White Hart” public-house, Sevenoaks-common, with several of his mates, on the previous Saturday afternoon, and prisoner, who gains a living by acting as a barber to the navies, was also there. He appeared, however, to have been in a state which, for a time, prevented him pursuing his vocation, and during that time he lay asleep in the room, and practical jokes were played on him. It appeared also that in the same room, on the previous Saturday, a party of navies had stripped him naked and tool all his money from him, and doubtless, as he was an Irishman and evidently very excitable, exasperated him. After he woke from his sleep and was standing by the fire, the prosecutor Tyson wert towards the fire for a light, and he was pushed against the prisoner, who seized him by the thumb and bit it severly, and, according to the prosecutor’s statement, while he was showing his thumb to a labourer named Rawlins, the prisoner “chopped” him down the face with something. Rawlins, however, who was called, said that he noticed the cut down the cheek after the prisoner and prosecutor had been tusseling together in the corner. Dr. Charles, assistant surgeon on the railway works, who performed the necessary medical operation; described the wound, which must have been inflicted by some sharp-edged instrument, as a razor or a knife, as being four inches long, and extending from a little below she left ear along the jaw towards the angle of the mouth, but it was not dangerous in itself. The prosecutor had been under his care ever since and was going favourably. The barber was taken into custody by Ransley, 77, K.C.C., who found on him three razors, on one of which here were marks of fresh blood. The prisoner entered into a statement of the manner in which he had been treated by the navvies, and that as he had the razor in his band preparing to shave a man, when the prosecutor struggled with him, the wound was accidentally given and he was not aware of it until afterwards. He was committed for trial at the assizes.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 20 March 1866.

CROWN COURT. THURSDAY.

(Before Chief Baron Pollock).

Unlawful Wounding at Sevenoaks.

William Slingsby, 38, barber, was charged with cutting and wounding William Tyson, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, on the 3rd March. Mr. Channell prosecuted.

The prosecutor, who appeared with his face bandaged, said that he was at the “White Hart Inn,” Sevenoaks-common, on the day in question. When he went in prisoner was asleep. Several men were “playing games” with prisoner. Witness had nothing to do with it. Some three or four hours after he got up to light his pipe. There were some men against the fire. One of them fell against witness, and witness fell against prisoner, who fell into the corner. The prisoner bit the thumb. Witness said, “See where this barber has bit my thumb.” Prisoner then cut him down the face with a razor.

Dr. Charles, surgeon to the labourers on the South Eastern Railway, said he dressed the wound, which was an incised one, about 4 ½ inches in length, and a quarter in depth. It was not serious.

The jury found the prisoner guilty of unlawfully wounding, but recommended him to mercy, on the ground of his having received provocation.

Three months’ Hard labour.