Have you ever wondered where ships for Nelson’s battles were dispatched? This is Convoys Wharf, a place of immense historical significance. It sits on the River Thames in London. Today, Convoys Wharf awaits redevelopment. Yet, its past echoes with tales of royalty, exploration, and naval power.
Convoys Wharf includes the site of Deptford Dockyard. King Henry VIII established it in 1513. It became one of the first Royal Dockyards. For centuries, this was a hub for building and maintaining Royal Navy ships. Convoys Wharf also covers much of Sayes Court. This was once the manor house and gardens of John Evelyn, the famous diarist. The current name, Convoys Wharf, dates back to 1984.
Let’s journey back to the 16th century. Imagine Queen Elizabeth I knighting Sir Francis Drake aboard the Golden Hind right here at Convoys Wharf. Picture Sir Walter Raleigh laying his cape for the Queen. Captain James Cook launched his third voyage aboard Resolution from this very dockyard. Convoys Wharf played a vital role in dispatching ships against the Spanish Armada.
In 1698, Tsar Peter I of Russia came to Deptford. He wanted to learn about shipbuilding. King William III granted him the use of John Evelyn’s Sayes Court. During his three-month stay, Peter and his entourage caused significant damage. Christopher Wren surveyed the property. He declared it “entirely ruined.” A statue at Deptford Creek commemorates Peter’s visit. It was gifted by Russia.
By the 18th century, the Thames began to silt up. Convoys Wharf became restricted. It was mainly used for shipbuilding and distributing supplies. From 1830 to 1844, it largely shut down. Shipbuilding resumed. However, in 1864, a committee recommended closing Deptford and Woolwich dockyards. In May 1869, Deptford Dockyard closed. It had produced about 450 ships. The last was the HMS Druid.
Later, the site became a foreign cattle market. In 1871, the market opened. But before refrigeration, cattle had to be imported alive. The market reached its peak in 1907. However, imports declined by 1912.
During World War I, the War Department took over Convoys Wharf. It became a Royal Army Service Corps Supply Reserve Depot. The War Office bought the Foreign Cattle Market and Sayes Court property in the 1920s.
During World War II, the yard served as a US amphibious vehicle base. A bomb destroyed a storehouse in the Royal Naval Victualling Depot. This tragic event killed many men. A plaque commemorated this tragedy.
In the 1960s, the Royal Naval Stores Depot moved to a new building within Convoys Wharf. It became a main air freight hub. The Depot closed in 1981.
News International later purchased the site. Today, Hutchison Whampoa Limited owns Convoys Wharf. There are plans to build residential units.
Though many historic structures are gone, the spirit of Convoys Wharf remains. Archaeological surveys reveal that much of the dockyard survives. Buried structures lie beneath the surface. In 2013, Deptford Dockyard and Sayes Court garden were added to the World Monuments Fund’s watch list.
The Lenox Project proposes to build a full-size replica of HMS Lenox. This ship would be constructed on the dockyard site. It would form the centerpiece of a museum. This is Convoys Wharf a site with layers of history waiting to be discovered.