MōSaF London - Walking Map of Deptford by mosaflondon

WALKING MAP OF DEPTFORD’S LANDMARKS WITH HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION

SLAVERY

WALKING DEPTFORD'S LEGACY OF

Uncovering the Forgotten History of Deptford

Deptford, in South-East London, has a long connection to the triangular slave trade even though much of it is rarely discussed. The Royal Navy had an important dockyard here. Naval ships built in local yards gave convoy protection to slavers at the behest of monarchs for more than 200 years. The first ever British slaver, John Hawkins, enriched Queen Elizabeth I with profits from slavery. He lived and worked in a naval house in Deptford. The town subsequently built many of the cutting-edge vessels that trafficked human beings across the Atlantic for profit. The ships returned with cargo from slave plantations, including sugar which was harvested by enslaved people working in harrowing conditions. The sugar was then processed in sugar houses. There were several in Deptford. Many of the area’s principal citizens, businesses and institutions were actively involved in the slave trade and its allied industries.

Notable Figures from Deptford’s Past

THOMAS CLARKSON

A leading abolitionist who wrote part of his landmark treatise The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Aboliton of the African Slave Trade by the British Parliament at Hatcham House in the hamlet of Hatcham near New Cross. He also visited vessels anchored at Deptford to question sailors about their knowledge of the trade. Even after the trade was abolished in the British empire in 1807, Clarkson continued to campaign for the complete abolition of slavery. The house was demolished in 1869 and its exact whereabouts remain unknown.

OLAUDAH EQUIANO

Equiano’s autobiography states he was kidnapped from what is now southern Nigeria when he was about 11 years old. He was shipped to the Caribbean and then to Virginia. He was sold on several more times. He arrived in London with his naval master and was trafficked again from Deptford Strand. He eventually bought his own freedom and became involved in the abolitionist movement in London in 1786. Here he became an outspoken critic of the whole plantation and enslavement system.

Hidden Histories

Eighteenth-century Britain is often depicted as refined, glamorous and rich. That is not how the enslaved people in Deptford experienced it. We know little about them other than the traces left behind in newspaper advertisements. These brusque statements, drenched in outrage and entitlement, are uncomfortable to read. MōSaF presents a selection of them as the awful truth, an imperfect glimpse into the reality of Black people’s lives in our neighbourhood during the period.

Run away the 9th of September last from on board the Ship Alexander, lying in the lower Wet Dock near Deptford; a Negro Man named Lime-house, aged 32 Years, born in Guinea, smooth faced, with short thick Fingers, about 5 Foot 6 Inches high. Whoever brings him to Capt. Richard Bond at his House near Ratcliff-Cross, shall have a Guinea Reward.

A Well-set Negro, commonly call’d Sugar, Aged about Twenty Years, Teeth broke before, and several Scars in both his Cheeks and Forehead, having absented from his Master, whoever secures him, and gives Notice to Benjamin Maynard at the Angel and Still at Deptford shall have a Guinea Reward, and reasonable Charges.

RUN away on Sunday Night the 11th inst. from on board the Truman, now in Mess. Well’s Dock, Deptford, a Negro Slave, named Theodore, speaks the French Tongue, born at Martinico, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, had on when he run away a blue Jacket, and a green one under, wearing a Hat and Wig.

Whoever apprehends the said Negro Slave and brings him to Mr. Comyn, at his House in Paradise Street, Rotherhith, shall receive three Guineas Reward with reasonable Charges.

It is imagined he may attempt escaping on board some of the Foreign Ships now in the River; the Clearing Officers at Gravesend are requested to examine the said Ships.

Whoever harbours him will be prosecuted.

Person disposed to buy a Negro Boy or Girl; the Boy about 14 Years old, the Girl about eight, both well-proportion’d; the Boy is able to wait at a Gentleman’s Table, the Girl handy in the House, and works with her Needle. For further Particulars, enquire of Mr. Samuel Downes, Distiller, in Deptford

A selection of other advertisements mentioning Deptford’s enslaved citizens can be found at runaways.gla.ac.uk/database

The MōSaF Map provides a historical snapshot of how, and exactly where on our streets, Deptford's citizens were involved in the trade. It marks out places where the fight for abolition took place. It is not an exhaustive summary but the start of a process of calling out the people and institutions in our city involved in the trade in humans. The wealth it created should be acknowledged and the human cost remembered.

Deptford Strand 1 Borthwick Street

Stand to face 1 Borthwick Street SE8 3GH. To the left-hand side of the building there is a small cobbled pathway with a long wall running northwards. Follow the path and pass across a short stairway at the end to the Thames River. At the river’s edge you will look out over Deptford Strand, which is the stretch of river immediately in front of you off shore.

John Hawkins was the first Englishman to profit from the Triangular Trade in enslaved people. He sailed from Deptford Strand. Hawkins’ coat of arms includes the image of an enslaved man. Olaudah Equiano was sold by his former ‘owner’ from a naval vessel, moored off the Strand. Equiano had already been enslaved for eight years and spent a further five years as a slave in the Caribbean. He bought his freedom and became a leading abolitionist.

To get to stop number 2 retrace your steps south down Watergate street and take the first right, past the Dog & Bell pub.

The King’s Yard Corner of Prince Street and New King Street

Hoardings protect most of the site of the old King’s Yard at 116 – 118 Prince Street, SE8 3JD. There are wide entrance gates to a brownfield site called Convoys Wharf.

This was once the home of an important Naval dockyard. John Hawkins was Treasurer to the Navy and lived and worked at the Yard. Many naval vessels were built or repaired here and at private dockyards nearby. Before 1807, the Royal Navy helped to convoy slave ships for the Royal African and South Sea Companies.

To get to stop number 3 – continue west along Prince Street until you come to Sayes Court Street. Turn right and walk forward into the garden.

Sayes Court Park

Sayes Court Park, very near SE8 3LN, is all that remains of the extensive estate of John Evelyn. It contains a renowned mulberry tree.

John Evelyn, the famous diarist, lived at Sayes Court manor. He was an intellectual, gardener and government official involved in the management of the Caribbean slave plantation system. He owned Royal African Company shares.

To get to stop number 4 retrace your steps to number 2 and turn right down New King Street.

Hughesfield Estate New King Street

On your left there are several blocks of four and five storey red and brown brick buildings which include

7 – 13 New King Street SE8 3H&J. There is a large car park at their centre. This estate is named after the patrimonial lands of the Hughes family which held property all around here into 19th century.

Five generations of the naval Hughes family either lived, worked or took profits from land held in Deptford. They moved from rank of humble Royal Navy captain to the Lords Bergholt and were variously Admirals or Vice Admirals of the Red, White and Blue. The second Lord Bergholt was Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands Station in the Caribbean between 1783 and 1786.

To get to stop number 5 continue south on New King Street until you get to the main Creek Road. Turn left and follow it until you come to McMillan Street. Turn left. Passing a large 1930’s housing estate on your left you come to St Nicholas church at Deptford Green.

St. Nicholas’s Church Deptford Green

St Nicholas church, Deptford Green is at SE8 3DQ. It has a skull and crossbones gateway. The church is likely to be closed though you should be able to walk in the grounds.

This is the ancient parish church of Deptford. It has memorials to many naval families and to slave traders such as Edward Fenton. The church was endowed with money which came from the profits of slavery.

The burial register records people of African and Caribbean descent including Affee (1676), Jane Williams (1690) and Richard Murray (1696).

To get to stop number 6 retrace your steps until you get to the Methodist Church on the corner of Creek Road and Watergate Street. Cross the road into Deptford High Street.

Albury Street

Walking south on Deptford High St take the second left into Albury Street. Along the street at SE8 3PT you can see many old houses with their original doorways.

Albury Street was known as Union Street. In 1742, an enslaved African woman called Flora escaped from a house on this street. She was described as having ‘black strokes’ on her face and arms ‘after the Manner of her country’. These are scarification marks with specific meanings in West African culture.

To get to stop number 7 retrace your steps to Deptford High Street and turn left.

St. Paul’s Church Mary Ann Gardens

Walking south on Deptford High street you come to the Grade I listed church of St Paul’s Deptford. The church is likely to be closed though you should be able to walk in the grounds. Mydiddee's grave is a small flat stone to the right of the main pathway as you walk to the entrance of the church.

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Inside there is a grand memorial to James Sayer, Admiral of the White, commending his protection of Barbados which was a slave plantation economy. Mydiddee, a Tahitian who was brought to England by Captain Bligh, is buried in the churchyard. Bligh was sent to the South Seas to find breadfruit to feed slaves in the Caribbean. In 1730, the church was endowed with South Sea Company (SSC) annuities. The SSC traded in enslaved people.

To get to stop number 8 continue south on Deptford High Street.

Barker’s Congregational Chapel, Deptford High Street

Pass under a railway bridge and you immediately come to SE8 4NS, Tomi’s Kitchen. It shares the old site with modern day Poundland.

This non-conformist church, along with many of the non-established churches in the country, held abolitionist meetings. One abolitionist speech delivered here was published in 1830. There were other non-conformist churches in the area, including a Quaker chapel where abolitionist Sarah Lay (née Smith) was minister of the congregation.

To get to stop number 9 continue down Deptford High Street until you reach Deptford’s anchor and New Cross Road. Cross it at the traffic lights and go into the small road immediately ahead, Tanner’s Hill.

Tanner’s Hill

This small triangle of very old buildings near SE8 4PJ lies at the bottom of a long thin road which housed sugar and shipping related industries for Deptford.

It was the home of sugar-based businesses like George Marshal’s. He insured his sugar mould chimney pot manufacturing outfit together with two houses, a kiln, utensils and wearing apparel.

To get to stop number 10 continue up Tanner’s Hill until you cross a railway line. Turn left at the Royal George pub, Thornville Street and walk a short block until Lucas Street.

Lucas Vale Corner of Lucas Street and Thornville Street

From the junction of Thornville Street and Lucas Street (‘That Place in the Park’ is on a corner) look left and you will see the style of housing of ‘Deptford New Town’. Very many streets with terrace housing like this run down the hill to the east and south.

The Lucas family made their fortune in the rice trade in Carolina. Enslaved Africans had specialist knowledge about rice growing and the Lucas family exploited their skills and labour. The family reinvested their profits from slavery to build Deptford New Town.

To get to stop number 11 walk, or take the 21/231 bus to New Cross Gate. Nearby is Deptford Town Hall, now part of Goldsmiths, University of London.

Deptford Town Hall New Cross Road

The easiest place to see the statues on the front of Deptford Town Hall SE14 6AF is standing in front of a small row of shops at 301 New Cross Road and looking across the street

ETTA

ROL

EDWAR GOSTERWOOD

Deptford’s Town Hall, built in 1905, is adorned with three statues of men connected to the slave trade: Francis Drake, explorer and privateer, who persuaded Elizabeth I to invest in slaving trips to West Africa; Robert Blake, General at Sea at the time of Cromwell who began the plantation system in the Caribbean; Horatio Nelson, famous Admiral and defender of the slave trade. The fourth statue is the representative figure of an admiral from the early 20th Century.

Thank you for walking the MōSaF Map. We hope you have found it revealing and will join our campaign to have a museum for slavery and freedom built on the banks of the Thames in Deptford.

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About MōSaF

The Museum of Slavery and Freedom, London

MōSaF is a community group with strong roots in Deptford, south east London. Our backgrounds are culturally diverse. We have experience in community development, education, charity work, management, academia and journalism.

Our aim is to reveal a forgotten part of Deptford’s history. Though only a stone’s throw from Royal Greenwich, our story is a very different one. It deserves as much attention as the usual tales of kings, queens, famous diarists and wealthy merchants.

Visit mosaf.org.uk or contact us at info@mosaf.org.uk.

The material for this map was collected by Helen Paul and Sue Davies. The MōSaF Arts Programme is devised by Empathy & Risk and curated in collaboration with Looking Forward.

Further reading: Longest Journey: A History of Black Lewisham by Joan Adim-Addo. Rice to Ruin by Roy Williams and Alexander Lucas Lofton. The South Sea Bubble by Helen Paul.

References available online.

© MōSaF London (2022). MōSaF (www.mosaf.org.uk) is a non-profit organisation based at Action for Community Development, 9 Deptford Church Street, SE8 4RX. Its partners in the realisation of this map are the arts-led organisation Empathy & Risk (www.empathyandrisk.com) and the curatorial office Looking Forward (www.lookingforward.online). Supported by SHAPESLewisham, Lewisham’s Creative Enterprise Zone. Design & artwork: Greg Bunbury.

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