DEPTFORD  , a

south-eastern metropolitan borough of London, England, bounded N. by Bermondsey, E. by the river Thames and Greenwich, S. by Lewisham and W. by Camberwell . Pop . (1901) 110,398 . The name is connected with a ford over the Ravensbourne, a stream entering the Thames through Deptford Creek . The borough comprises only the parish of Deptford St Paul, that of Deptford St Nicholas being included in the borough of Greenwich . Deptford is a district of poor streets, inhabited by a large industrial population, employed in engineering and other riverside works . On the river front, extending into the borough of Greenwich, are the royal victualling yard and the site of the old Deptford dockyard . The first supplies the navy with provisions, medicines, furniture, &c., manufactured or stored in the large warehouses here . The dockyard ceased to be used in 1869, and was filled up and converted into a foreign cattle market by the City Corporation . Of public buildings the most noteworthy are St Paul's church (1730), of classic design; the municipal buildings; and the hospital for master mariners, maintained by the corporation of the Trinity House, which was founded at Deptford, the old hall being pulled down in 1787 . Other institutions are the Goldsmiths' Polytechnic Institute, New Cross; and the South-eastern fever hospital . A mansion known as Sayes Court, taken down in 1729, was the residence of the duke of Sussex in the reign of Elizabeth; it was occupied in the following century by John Evelyn, author of Sylva, and by Peter the Great during his residence in England in 1698 .

The site of its gardens is occupied by Deptford

Park of 11 acres . Another open space is Telegraph Hill (9z acres) . The parliamentary borough of Deptford returns one member . The borough council consists of a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 36 councillors . Area, 1562.7 acres .