11 Facts About Deptford Dockyard

Deptford Dockyard was an important naval dockyard and base at Deptford on the River Thames, operated by the Royal Navy from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries.

Important new technological and organisational developments were trialled here, and Deptford Dockyard came to be associated with the great mariners of the time, including Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh.

Deptford Dockyard grew to be the most important of the royal dockyards, employing increasing numbers of workers, and expanding to incorporate new storehouses.

Deptford Dockyard became increasingly sophisticated in its operations, with £150 paid in 1578 to build gates for the dry dock, removing the necessity of constructing a temporary earth dockhead and then digging it away to free the ship once work had been completed.

Deptford Dockyard ordered that the Golden Hind be moored in Deptford Creek for public exhibition, where the ship remained until the 1660s before rotting away and being broken up.

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Deptford Dockyard stayed in nearby Sayes Court, which had been temporarily let furnished by John Evelyn to Admiral John Benbow.

Deptford Dockyard was associated with a large number of famous ships and people.

Nevertheless, Deptford Dockyard continued to be used for experimental work: in 1822 HMS Comet, the Royal Navy's first steam-powered ship, was launched there.

Vessels launched at Deptford were fitted out at Woolwich Dockyard, where the navy had established its first steam factory.

Nevertheless, although Deptford Dockyard ceased operating as a building yard, part of the site was retained and remained in operation as a naval store depot, overseen by an Inspector of Naval Stores.

Deptford Dockyard planted the area with shrubs and trees taken from his grounds at Wotton House, erected a bandstand in the centre and another building to the side to serve as a museum to his ancestor Sir John.