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Picture source: Movement80

The White Horse was situated at 184 New Cross Road.

This grade-II listed pub dates back to around 1870 but there was an earlier building on site with a pub operating there from the 1850s if not earlier. The pub must be one of the most photographed buildings in New Cross over its long history, occupying as it does a commanding location at junction of two ancient trackways - the road from Dover to London (now New Cross Road) and the road coming off this to head towards Peckham and ultimately Westminster (now Queens Road, but known as Peckham Lane until later in the 19th century). When the pub first opened it was next to the tollgate that gave New Cross Gate its name. The building is owned by the Wellington Pub Company and their planning application to convert the upper storeys was turned down by Lewisham Council in August 2019 after more than 3,000 signed a petition. A major reason for the refusal was that with flats above it was unlikely that the pub's late night licence and music would be able to continue, a key element in making it a viable business. The owner/developer appealed against the decision and in October 2020 the Planning Inspectorate overruled Lewisham Council and granted planning permission. The Inspectorate accepted that the changes would mean an end to amplified music at any time, and with only 'live acoustic music (excluding non-handheld percussion)' allowed, and then only before 11 pm. But they argued that it would be possible for a pub to continue.

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Listed building details:

Public house. Circa 1870, shown on the 1873 Ordnance Survey Map. Polychrome brickwork with stuccoed dressings, slate roof concealed by parapet and brick chimneystacks. Corner building of three storeys; five windows to New Cross Road elevation and two to Queens Road, including a tripartite window. Elaborate parapet with curved panel to Queens Road, pedimented panel with brackets to New Cross Road and modillion cornice. Corner full-height pilasters and bands between floors. All windows are sashes with vertical glazing bars and horns. Second floor windows are cambered with keystones and two windows have cast iron flower guards. First floor windows have round-headed arches filled with stuccoed decoration with keystones above, roundels between the windows and cast iron flower guards. Bar front has fascia, end pilasters with double brackets and windows with ventilation grilles above divided by pilasters. Interior retains a bar partition and both bars have original panelled wooden counter.

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