Deadman’s Dock was a wharf in Deptford.
When the wharf was originally built in 1704, bodies were frequently washing ashore due to its position at the bottom of the curve of the Thames.
The dock was built by John Winter for the Evelyn family. It was described in 1726 as having a great depth of water and as being the best private dock upon the river.
William Dudman then established a yard in partnership with Henry Adams of Bucklers Hard and William Barnard of Ipswich. When William died in 1772, his son John Dudman took over. From 1808 the yard is shown on maps as Dudman & Son. The Dudman surname was a near homonym to ’Deadman’. By 1814 the yard had five building slips and two double dry docks.
By 1807, the wet dock was in use for convict transports by ship to Australia. Additionally, between 1776 and 1857, prison ships were used to house convicts in the area. The prisoners would labour at the docks in the day and return to their floating jails at night.
This website does not sell maps. Instead it offers a subscription service via Substack.
The monthly subscription price is set in euros and the price is €5 - about £4.25 in UK sterling. |
Deadman’s Dock was a wharf in Deptford.
