Railway, Dartford

The Railway began life in 1851, two years after the opening of the adjacent train station. The oldest of the photographs dates from around 1910 and shows that it was then trading as the Railway Commercial Hotel, and was probably part of the tied estate of London brewers Meux.

It was rebuilt some time after 1910 for reasons that have not yet come to light. It survived various takeovers, trading successively under the Friary Meux and Ind Coope banners later in the century.

It was closed in 2012, and demolished the following year, because it was in the wrong place at the wrong time, in order to make way for 'improvements' to Dartford railway station. It is difficult to see how the destruction of a traditional pub with much potential has helped to achieve this objective.

The Railway had been the headquarters of Dartford Folk Club during the 1970s, until they moved on to Dartford Working Men's club in search of better beer!