A view of the High Street from the Riverside Gardens, showing the police station, the Cross Keys public house, the Playhouse and the White Hart public house.

There is evidence of a licensee of the Cross Keys as far back as 1749, but it is unclear if these are earlier, unconnected premises. The Cross Keys, though, was one of only four surviving in Bexley known to have issued tokens, which were a form of currency.

The White Hart, too, is considerably older than many of Erith's pubs with the earliest recorded licence being granted in 1715.

The present day building was erected in 1902, and the police station was built in 1908.