The Canterbury UAD states that the earliest information found so far for this inn is its listing in Pigot's Directory for 1828 where it gives Mary Gillman as innkeeper. Pigot's Directory for 1832-34 lists James Gilman as innkeeper and for 1840 Thomas Taylor. The inn was situated immediately adjacent to (west of) St. George's Church.

In Bedwells Directory for 1888-89 the innkeeper for the White Lion is A. Bushby. The inn appears to have been rebuilt in c. 1890 but retained the same name.

In Kelly's Directory for 1931 and for 1939 the licencee was W. P. Clayton, unfortunately the inn was destroyed by enemy bombing in 1942 along with St. Georges Church.

Pigot & Co., 1828, Pigot & Co's. London and Provincial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29961.

Pigot & Co., 1832, Pigot & Co's. Commercial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29960.

Ordnance Survey, 1874, 1st Edition Map of Canterbury 1874 (Map). SKE30106.

Bedwells, 1889, Bedwells Directory of Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE29988.

Kelly's Directory, 1931, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE29963.

Kelly's Directory, 1967, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE30014.

Taylor, W. E., 1990, Recollections of Canterbury before the 1939-1945 War, notes by William Edward Taylor (Unpublished document). SKE30015.