 (pic,
St. Paul's peace candle, Deptford Fun City High Street). Rocklands has a special part in multi-racial
history. Deptford is the oldest point of Black and White encounters in Britain
Black Royal Navy sailors were among
those in the Royal Hospital founded in 1694 and Black men were also among sailors treated
at the Dreadnought Seamen’s hospital (closed 1986) while Black boys attended the
Royal Hospital School.
Greenwich and Deptford have a huge sea-faring
history. The first Royal Dockyards were based in Deptford in the 15th century. The
General Steam Navigation Company at Deptford Creek (19th century) was one of the first
commercial steamship companies.
Slavery and
Abolition - The Invisible History
The first recorded instance of African slaves in
Deptford was in 1501 when Catherine of Aragon arrived in Deptford with two slaves from
Spain to marry Henry VII’s eldest son, Arthur. Though Bristol and Liverpool were the
docks where slaves landed, the South East of London, centred around Deptford, were the
financial core of the high seas, shipbuilding and the African/Caribbean commercial and
slave trade.
Much of the local architecture around Greenwich and
Deptford (i.e. Deptford Town Hall in New Cross, now used by Goldsmiths College) have
nautical adornment.
The barbaric slave trade enriched England for
centuries. It depopulated and impoverished Africa. The wealth generated created the
industrial revolution, lined the pockets of aristocracy and the City of London (notably
The Bank Of England), founded The National Gallery.
Centuries later, many in positions
of authority still appear to be cut from the same cloth and refuse to acknowledge or
apologies for this shameful but thankfully past part of British history. It is only by
confronting the past and laying it to rest that this society will truly move on. Rocklands
could be the place to start looking to the future. It is an important part of slavery
abolition, colonial liberation and multi-cultural self-respect and self reliance. To this
day it is a hive of creativity and individuality.
Britain has much to thank it’s Black history
for and in an age when millions of people are able to think beyond skin colour it’s
about time the establishment learnt to do the same. An important part of this project
would be to promote unity and positivity through music (which has always done this).
The arrival of the first slaves in Deptford was in
1535. It is now 2002. Both slavery and it’s abolition currently remain a hidden
history of South London though street names, statues and pubs in the boroughs of Lewisham
and Greenwich still prove links. It’s about time that true history was properly
acknowledged and celebrated. British society could do with a boost of positive thinking.
It’s time to change the script.
Olaudah Equiano and William
Wilberforce are two local heroes of slavery abolition associated with the Greenwich and
Deptford area. William Wilberforce led the parliamentary campaign to abolish slavery in
Britain from 1789 to 1807. Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in what is now Nigeria and was
sold many times over countless sea voyages .
He earned his freedom in the 1760s by careful
trading and saving, then campaigned vigorously against slavery, publishing his
autobiography "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" in
1789. The book became a best-seller and as well as furthering the anti-slavery cause, made
him a wealthy man by honest means. Equiano and Wilberforce deserve to be acclaimed and
celebrated more locally through monuments, street names etc.
South East London has a history steeped in the Slave
Trade and like the holocaust, this was no "minor detail" and we have the positive balance of a history also
steeped in abolition.
If we can acknowledge it, we will have even
more to celebrate, especially as this area is a core of cultural fusion (take a walk from
the top to bottom of Deptford High Street on a Saturday and enjoy the laid back vibe of
people from the entire globe living together in relative harmony). Deptford is still
capable of making it’s mark on history.
How do we raise money to benefit local people? After
school, nursery, OAP, street lighting, pretty-ing up the ugly bits, empty buildings to
homes etc? Millwall try to set a good example by trying to rid itself of violence,
racism and other Moron Hobbies. When the ground is not in use (football is ALWAYS on
though eh?) perhaps some events there. Like Arts facilities, Sports facilities of all
kinds are always good for helping keep young people off the streets and on to positivity.
As much sporting facilities as possible in the local area.
Anybody with an interest in sea-faring
should visit Deptford and Greenwich. Who would believe The Creek was once so important
when Brittania truly ruled the waves. There are a few hints in Deptford, but not the
amount of acknowledgement the area deserves. (pic, Deptford Creek 002)
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