Spoken English

The Deptford I Knew
Daisy L. Williamson

Page 5

The company was gradually becoming mechanised and the machines would do the work of ten people. One night in 1928 it was burned to the ground. “Arson” we were told. The fire was the biggest that London had seen up until that time and it lit up the whole of the river. People came form miles to see it. Thirty five engines took care of the blaze. Adjoining the tin box factory was a large paper firm which supplied the newspapers, this also caught alight and it was six weeks before it was eventually extinguished. Sadly many people were made redundant and the site was later taken over by a cold meat storage business.

Hard life was accepted but most people were proud. “Neither borrow or lend” was the saying, and most of all “keep your own council” in other words “mind your own business and let the neighbours tend theirs”.

CHURCHES

Every church tolled its bells on Sunday which was a joy to be heard. During the war it was said that in future It would be the warning of an invasion. Sadly this is still so and we now only hear the bells on special occasions.

Two prominent churches grace the district of Deptford. Twelfth century St. Nicholas still stands. In its time so little has changed. Two large stone skulls adorn the gates. I often wonder if this feature was added later as it is believed that many bodies from the great page are interred there.

Page 6

The church did suffer some damage during the blitz on London. Our other great church is St. Pauls which gracefully towers over the High Street. St Pauls is seventeenth century with beautiful surrounding steps and a crypt. Once again bodies were interred in its grounds and crypt, these were eventually removed and the grounds landscaped and made into a park. My parents once explained to me that a small part of the church was used as a mortuary for the purpose of postmortems.

FOUNDERS

“Who were Rachel and Margaret McMillan?” newcomers would ask. The two ladies were sisters and friends of our present queens grandmother Queen Mary wife of George the fifth. To benefit the working class they were founders of the Rachel and Margaret McMillan nursery which was set up for children between the ages of two and five years, The nursery was tended by trained nurses and then in later years by teacher. We felt privileged on many occasions to witness Queen Mary on her visits to the nursery.

Lady Florence opened an institute in Deptfords Broadway, it was to be a teenage club with mainly roller skating on offer. It is not greatly known but just before the opening, several officials visited the centre to give their approval when one woman fell down the very steep steps and we were told that as a result f the accident she dies. Consequently this delayed the opening for several weeks.

The Deptford I Knew
Daisy L. Williamson

Page 3

Backing horses was illegal but this did not stop the men, they would write down their choice on a small slip of paper and seek out an employee who was known as the “bookies runner” who would be heavily fined if caught.
Another pleasure that the men would indulge in was a bit of gambling. They would disappear to the local railway arches out of the sight of their wives just to toss a few pennies. As unbelievable as it seems today, it was still against the law and therefore a “lookout” was necessary.

Like Hyde Park Deptford had its places for political arguments, ours was Deptford Broadway. Crowds would gather form all areas for heated discussions led by a well known lady speaker Kath Duncan. My Mother said that the same place had been used in the late eighteen hundreds by a dentist to pull out teeth while the sound of a band would stifle the screams of the unanesthetised patient.

Deptford High Street was a very popular shopping centre and was always busy with not just its own residents but visitors from outside the area, The Managers would stand proudly at their shop fronts to welcome customers. Their starched white aprons ever popular. Butchers would complete their dress with a straw boater hat. After nine o’clock on Saturday evenings they would auction off all leftover meat for a few coppers. The policy of shopkeepers was “the customer is always right” that was always to be the rule for assistants who would lose their job if not applied.

Page 4

Deptford High Street became known for a famous murder, the murder of an elderly couple who lived above the shop which they owned. Two brothers named Stratton were convicted and hung for the killings and it became famous because it was the first murder to be solved using finger prints. The shop involved is still in the high street today.

Another incident that has no proof but was popular belief during world war one is that small tunnels under certain shops housed German spies. The shops were to become useful many years later when they opened their cellars as the bombs fell. During the blitz of 1939-1945 war hundreds would queue for food and be hurried down to the shelter as the sirens screamed. This was made possible by small openings in the pavement which were pulled out to reveal steps passing down under the shops.

FACTORIES

Several factories existed in the district and wages were the equivalent of between one pound seventy five pence to around two pounds per week. On particular factory stood almost at the side of the Thames, it was a tin box factory and the workers would clock on at eight in the morning and work through until six pm on weekdays and from eight until one on Saturdays. Many women were employed. A ho**er would sound at five to eight punctually and again at eight indicating that the gates were now closed and anyone who had not been fortunate to have got inside before then were unable to earn a wage that day.

I came across a ten page booklet that my grandmother published probably about thirty years or so ago about her memories of Deptford in South East London where she grew up. I grew up just up the road from Deptford so I know the area very well, and I find it fascinating that more than hundred years have passed since many of the events happened that she writes about. I'd be very happy if anybody wants to share their thoughts. Here are the first two pages:

The Deptford I knew
Daisy L. Williamson
Page 1

Deptford’s profound history equals that of Greenwich. This small oblong district runs parallel with the River Thames, once the main trading artery of London. Many foreign ships made their way to Surrey Docks for unloading where hundreds of men waited hopefully at the dock gates for a days work. For years workers were chosen on a casual basis but this was later changed and while regular men were issued with a small metal disc known as a tally, other took their chances.

Proof of the district’s naval connections can be seen on buildings and streets named after famous admirals. On his visits to Deptford, Lord Nelson stayed at a house in Aubrey Street, this was portrayed by a plaque until recent times.

It was also believed that at the Water Gates, Sir Walter Raleigh laid his cloak for Queen Elizabeth but this has recently been denied and rumour is that honour goes to Greenwich.

Sadly things went into a decline and Deptford became known as a tough area. Poverty was rife and certain parts became known for their criminal activities. Police would never walk singularly there. Nevertheless, at that time the criminal’s policy was ‘never rob your own’. Ordinary people were able to walk the streets in safety. Another unwritten law was ‘respect to your elders’. Break these rules to your detriment.

Page 2

1914-1918

It was believed that bombs did not fall on London during the first world war, but Deptford and the Old Kent Road were indeed hit and several people were killed. A man on a bicycle would rise around the district calling “take cover” and later he would shout “all clear”. At the age of five I saw a German zeppelin blown out of the sky.

With the war over we were promised a land fit for heroes. Ironically, poverty was worse. The heroes returned from France but were reduced to having to sing in the streets. Mostly limbless and blind, their pitiful efforts rewarded by passers by throwing a few coppers into their caps.

Most families sought help from local pawn shops to supplement their wages. Men suits were pawned on Monday morning and redeemed on Friday in time for the husband’s weekend pint of beer.

Women would be forced to take on the responsibilities. Some took in washing and others would go to the better class areas to scrub steps. On Sunday mornings many women in order to save on gas would surround their joint of meat with potatoes in a large baking tin and take it off to the local bakers oven where all the food was cooked together and returned and hour later for about one penny.

Do you speak English to a native level of fluency? Do you have some time to spare? Do you get a buzz from seeing people improving with your help? Would you like to teach with Spoken English using direct teaching methods? No previous experience necessary.

Beginner's course for speaking in English.
+54 9 261 423 1606 (whatsapp)
www.spokenenglishmendoza.com

Do you speak English to a native level of fluency? Do you have some time to spare? Do you get a buzz from seeing people improving with your help? Would you like to teach with Spoken English using direct teaching methods?

Time to start studying again !

Hello😊
Desde Spoken English queremos agradecerles a nuestros estudiantes y profes por formar parte de la Familia Spoken👨‍🏫👨🏻‍💻
Otro año se va y uno nuevo llega nuevo de metas y buenas expectativas!
Les compartimos algunas fotos del brindis de fin de año con algunos profes y estudiantes que pudieron asistir👏

Entender y hablar Inglés de la manera más efectiva📚
Te esperamos🗣

Estamos a su disposición 🗣

Te esperamos!

🛑INSCRIPCIÓN ABIERTA🛑
Stage 1( nivel inicial)
Nada similar a un método tradicional. Callan method es 4 veces más rápido y efectivo.
Profesores nativos🗣
Te esperamos🥳

Yes?
No?