Above photo 1940. Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo 1940. Creative Commons Licence.

Above postcard, circa 1946, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Charrington's ledger. Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo, 2006 by Steve Thoroughgood.

Above sign left 1985, sign right 1999.

With thanks from Roger Pester www.innsignsociety.com.

The Scotsman, Friday 03 March 1939.

Car stolen from car park.

Court holds innkeeper responsible.

Judge Sir Gerald Hurst, K.C., at Dartford, Kent, yesterday, held that an innkeeper was responsible for loss of property from his or her car park. He gave judgement, with costs, to Roydon Percy Stewart, of Crayford, who claimed £52 damages from Mrs. Laura Titley, licensee of the "Black Prince Hotel," Rochester Way. At the previous hearing it was stated that the plaintiffs car was stolen from the car park.

The judge held that the car park was part of the inn, and therefore the respondent was liable at common law for the loss of the plaintiffs goods.

"The innkeeper's liability at common law for loss of this type," he said, "dates from an age when highway robbery was prevalent, and collusion between innkeeper and robber common. It's more recent extension, by virtue of the growth of car parks, is clearly a formidable burden upon all innkeepers, but the rule remains binding on me."

Birmingham Daily Post, Friday 03 March 1939.

Judges ruling in a claim for damages.

Judge Sir Gerald Hurst, K.C., giving reserve judgement in a case at Dartford yesterday, held that an innkeeper was responsible for loss of property from his or her car park. Judgement was given with costs to Royden Percy Stewart, of Crayford, who claimed £52 damages from Mrs. Nora Titley, licensee of the "Black Prince Hotel," Rochester Way, Bexley.

At a previous hearing it was stated that plaintiffs car was stolen from the car park and later recovered by the police. It's been painted another colour.

Police evidence was that between January, 1937, and November, 1938, eight cars have been stolen from the car park, and they have been three cases of theft from Cars.

Mr. Gerald Thesiger, for respondent, argued that she was not liable because of car was not "within the inn."

Sir Gerald Hurst held at the car park was part of the inn and, therefore, respondent was liable at common law for the loss of the plaintiffs goods. He said:- "The innkeeper's liability at common law for loss of this type dates from an age when highway robbery was prevalent and collusion between innkeeper and robber common. It's more recent extension by virtue of the growth of car parks is clearly a formidable burden upon all innkeeper's, but the roles remained binding on me."

The question of bailment, also raised by plaintiff, in the circumstances did not need to be decided, but he was of opinion that, having regard to our knowledge of the thefts from the car park, respondent should have warned guests of the danger and not have left the park unattended.