by Dorothee Schröder
A Riverside District
Deptford lies on the south bank of the River Thames and forms part of both the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Lewisham.
A Deep Ford
The name derives from a “deep ford” across the River Ravensbourne. This was the point where the ancient Watling Street, the road from London to Dover, crossed the river at what later became Deptford Bridge on Deptford Broadway.
The Royal Dockyard
Deptford Dockyard was England’s first Royal Dockyard, founded by Henry VIII in the mid-sixteenth century. It remained in operation until the late nineteenth century and was a major centre of shipbuilding, even attracting Tsar Peter the Great, who came to study naval construction.
Sir Francis Drake
It was in Deptford Dockyard that Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard his ship, the Golden Hind.
Christopher Marlowe
The Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe was killed in May 1593, during what was described as a drunken brawl at the house of Eleanor Bull in Deptford Strand.
John Evelyn and Peter the Great
The diarist John Evelyn lived at Sayes Court from 1620 to 1706. In 1698, Tsar Peter the Great stayed there as his guest for around three months during his visit to England.
Early Railway History
Deptford railway station is one of the oldest suburban stations in the world. Built between 1836 and 1838, it formed part of the London and Greenwich Railway, the first suburban railway service.
A Student Community
Today, Deptford is home to many students from nearby institutions such as Goldsmiths College, the University of Greenwich, Bellerbys College and the Laban Dance Centre.
Radical Arts and Music
The Albany Theatre is a community arts centre with a strong tradition of radical community arts and music. Its roots lie in a charity founded in 1894 to improve social conditions in the area, and it famously hosted a series of “Rock Against Racism” concerts.
Deptford Market
Deptford Market runs along Deptford High Street and is regarded as one of London’s liveliest street markets. In 2005, the High Street was described as “the capital’s most diverse and vibrant high street” by the Yellow Pages business directory.
Cover picture: A view of part of the Royal Dockyard, Deptford (left) and the Royal Victoria Victualling Yard (right) in 1859 (Source: The British Library/Wikimedia Commons)
