DEPTFORD, (Kent) 4 m. 1-half from London, has a bridge over the r. Ravensbourn, near its influx into the Thames, where it
once had a deep ford, from whence the name. The manor was anciently in the family of the Says, from whom it took the name
of Say's Court; tho' it has bel. since to the Evelyns, whose seat is near the dock, and was the residence of Peter I. Czar
of Muscovy. 'Tis divided into Upper and Lower-Deptford, both together containing above 1900 houses, and has 2 Chs. Here is
a noble dock, of above 200 years standing, with store-houses for the use of the navy, one of which, the victualling-
office, built in 1745, was, by accident, burnt down in Jan. 1748-9, with a great quantity of provisions and other stores.
This was to have supplied the place of the old office on Tower-Hill, whose lease was near expired. The little ship in
which Sir Francis Drake sailed round the world, was, by Q. Elizabeth's order, laid up in a dock here, for a monument. Here
is a place incorporated by K. Hen. VIII. in form of a college, for the use of the seamen, commonly called Trinity-House of
Deptford-Strond; and a foundation bel. to it, built at different times, of which the old part contains 21 houses, and the
new 38, for decayed pilots or masters of ships, or their widows, the Men being allowed 20 s. the women 16 s, per month.
The Red-House on the N. W. side of it, was a noted collection of warehouses and storehouses, but, in July 1739, they were
all consumed by a dreadful fire. This T. which was formerly called West-Greenwich, will, probably, be soon called East-
Rotherhith; for tho' the space bet. both used to be reckoned 2 m. and over marshes, never like to be inhabited, yet now,
what with buildings and docks, &c. on the Thames side, bet. both places, they are in a manner joined.