Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Deptford is a historic naval town in Kent. It lies on the south bank of the River Thames and forms a south-eastern suburb of London. The earliest reference, from 1293, is to 'Depeford', the 'deep ford' being across the River Ravensbourne along the Roman road Watling Street. In time the ford was replaced by a wooden and then a stone bridge (now Deptford Bridge) and was the site of the battle of Deptford Bridge (1497). Henry VIII founded Deptford Dockyard in 1513 and within a century Deptford had become a major port town. Deptford and the docks are associated with the knighting of Sir Francis Drake by Queen Elizabeth I aboard the Golden Hind, the legend of Sir Walter Raleigh laying down his cape for Elizabeth, Captain James Cook's third voyage aboard HMS Resolution, and the mysterious apparent murder of Christopher Marlowe in a house along Deptford Strand. St Paul's, Deptford (1712-1730) was designed by gentleman architect Thomas Archer. The town is within the council area of Lewisham.

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Kent
Lat, Long: 51.478306,-0.02608
Grid Reference: TQ 3717 7733
Council Area: Lewisham CA
Strategic Authority Area: Greater London SA
Police Area: Metropolitan PA

GBPN ID: 12973
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Deptford,_Kent_12973

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