The Easter weekend saw the Tall Ships Festival on the river Thames. The Tall Ships Festival is anchored along the Thames from Deptford Creek to Woolwich.
Deptford’s Build the Lenox project gave out information flyers about the project to build a replica of the HMS Lenox at Convoy’s Wharf on the Deptford river bank. HMS Lenox was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 18 April 1678. She was rebuilt at Deptford in 1701, remaining as a 70-gun third rate. There is a more complete history on the Build the Lenox website here
In 1513, King Henry VIII established the King’s Yard at Deptford to build ships for the Royal Navy. For four hundred years Deptford was the central power house of the nation’s navy, and hundreds of warships and countless trading vessels were built here, including ships built for exploration, science and empire, such as The Golden Hind. Other famous vessels such as the Mary Rose, Discovery and Endeavour were refitted here.
Build the Lenox is an inspiring project based in the London Borough of Lewisham which aims to show how heritage can influence and lead regeneration. Celebrating the history and heritage of Deptford through education and training. The project also has considerable tourism potential.
Lewisham Councillor Alan Hall sad: “Deptford is changing and we need to remember and appreciate the maritime and nautical past. The Build the Lenox project is exciting recognising the importance of Deptford’s past whilst building and training for the future.”
For more information go to http://www.buildthelenox.org/
