History Deptford's namesake was a deep ford which intersected the Ravensbourne River at the point where Deptford Bridge now stands. Deptford holds a colourful history; from its mention in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, to being home to novelist Joyce Cary, and even for a brief period, Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia.  St.Peters Church - Deptford  Deptford High Street
The area is best known for its nautical and maritime thread going back to the reign of Henry VIII who established a naval dockyard. In more modern times trading and commerce were it's main modus operandi. To this day some fine 18th Century merchant houses remain off the High Street. The area changes rapidly as Londoners decide to live on or near the river which sees an increasing amount of speculative housing development. Many of the old river-front warehouses are being turned into expensive apartments. No mention of Deptford is complete without refering to the Laban Dance Centre on Creekside. Now world regarded both for the quality of the courses run and the landmark Herzog and de Meuron designed 2003 building which won the prestigious Stirling Award for Architecture.  St.Pauls Church - Deptford  Laban Centre The present market Parkers involvement is largely in the St. Johns Conservation Area of Deptford which is a small self-contained handful of roads between the main arterial Lewisham Way and Brookmill Road. Predominantly a mix of early Victorian flat-fronted terraces on 2 floors merging into later bay fronted houses with some over 3 floors. Most houses remain as just that with a very limited number of converted flats. The area attracts a mix of buyers who possibly do not need to live with the larger physical scale of Brockley and New Cross properties. Communications are fine; buses on the two main roads that border the area go up to town and a station running to London Bridge and Lewisham and then to the suburbs.
 St.Johns - Albyn Road  St. Johns - Lind Street |
