Deptford Wharf


Deptford Wharf in London, UK is situated on the Thames Path south-east of South Dock Marina, across the culverted mouth of the Earl's Sluice and north of Aragon Tower. The housing here, completed in 1992, is on the site of former railway sidings and riverside wharves, and before then docks and building slips.

Dock and Shipyard

The dock built was by John Winter in 1704 and belonged to the Evelyn family. Described in 1726 as having a great depth of water, and as being the best private dock upon the river.
William Dudman established the yard. To complete some contracts he went into partnership with Henry Adams of Bucklers Hard and William Barnard of Ipswich. When William died in 1772 his son John Dudman took over. From about 1808 the yard is shown as Dudman & Son. By 1814 the yard had five building slips and two double dry docks.
Between 1783 and 1812 they built 23 war ships and two East Indiamen. From about 1825 Gordon & Co ship builders ran the yard. Then in 1838 it was owned by A. Gordon.
By 1807 the wet dock was in use for convict transports by ship to Australia.

Ships built at Deptford Wharf

This is not a complete list of the ships built at Dudman's yard.
NameDate
HMS Carnatic1783
HMS Phoebe1795
HMS Sirius1797
HMS Lady Nelson1798
HMS Northumberland1798
HMS Renown1798
HMS Apollo1799
HMS Amaranthe1804
HMS Manly1804
HMS Calypso1805
HMS Sultan1807
HMS Royal Oak1809
HMS Duncan1811
HMS Indus1812

Railways

In 1846, the board of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway requested Chief Engineer Robert Jacomb-Hood to construct a branchline from to the River Thames at Deptford, where he was to also design, survey and manage the construction of a new dock system to replace the now closed Deptford dockyard. Jacomb-Hood instructed his recently appointed assistant Frederick Banister to design, survey and manage construction of the branchline and dock, which was completed in 1849.