Deptford's Community

Deptford has been a settlement since at least the Roman occupation of Britain. Its great expansion took place with the establishment of the Royal Naval Dockyard. The town grew to house between 10-12,000 people by the time of Peter the Great's visit in 1698: thus it became one of the largest provincial towns in England. Housing was built for the shipbuilding population who were largely skilled and literate workers.

When shipbuilding ceased the dockyard continued as the Royal Navy's victualling depot and new industries developed and, in their turn, waned. Today Deptford is a rich multicultural community with a strong sense of identity. Major employers have departed and work is generally found elsewhere. However, many families remain and can trace back several generations in Deptford. New communities from the Caribbean, south east Asia and, more recently, Africa have added to the local culture and the colourful trading.

Deptford is also the home to a growing arts community. Goldsmiths College is nearby in New Cross, part of the former Metropolitan Borough of Deptford. St. Paul's is close to the Laban Centre, a leading conservatoire for professional contemporary dance training in Europe.  A short walk from St. Paul's is a branch of the Rose Bruford College, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive providers of training in theatre and related arts anywhere in Europe.

Hales gallery is mentioned elsewhere but its success demands further note here. When first it was suggested that a contemporary art gallery be established beneath an up-market cafe in Deptford High Street the idea was greeted with little hope for success. Now Hales is an important part of the international scene and an indication that Deptford still has a significant role to play.

This page can only be a very brief note of a few of the many elements that make Deptford special: it cannot end, however, without reference to the lively market on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays.