Deptford

1:13pm Wednesday 20th June 2007

Deptford's fishing and shipbuilding industries may be in the distant past, but it remains a vibrant area of south-east London.

Named after a deep ford which crossed the River Ravensbourne, Deptford changed from a small fishing and boatbuilding village in mediaeval times to a major dockyard, founded by Henry VIII in 1513 to build ships for the Royal Navy. Many sailors and trademen settled in the area. A Victualling Yard was established alongside in the 18th century.

The dockyard and other related industries turned Deptford into a prosperous town, but this did not last and Deptford became a place of overcrowded housing and high unemployment.

London's first railway, from London to Greenwich, was built through Deptford in 1836, but the growth of the railway led to Deptford being swamped by development.

The dockyard closed in 1869, becoming a cattle market until 1913. The area is now Convoy's Wharf. The Victualling Yard remained until 1961 and is now occupied by the Pepys Estate.

Deptford suffered bombing damage during the Second World War and large areas were redeveloped in the 1950s and 1960s.

Unemployment struck again when many of Deptford's larger firms closed down in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1999 the Docklands Light Railway station opened connecting Deptford to the Docklands and Lewisham.

The centuries-old Deptford market is still going strong, taking place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Deptford's bustling town centre also offers a range of small, independent shops.

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