MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)'s photos

St Nicholas Church, Deptford Green

St Nicholas Church, Deptford Green

Sir Francis Drake In 1581 Queen Elizabeth I commanded that Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind be drawn into a creek near here at Deptford as a perpetual memorial for having 'circuited round about the whole earth'. On 4th April 1581 she banqueted on board the Golden Hind and 'consecrated it with great ceremonie, pompe and magnificence eternally to be remembered' and forthwith knighted Drake on his ship in recognition of the honour that he had brought to England by his discoveries and circumnavigation in the years 1577-1580. His achievements included discovery of open sea from Atlantic to Pacific below South America, opening of English trade in the far east and claim to the western region of North America for England naming it Nova Albion (New England) and thereby linking it with claims to the east coast and encouraging subsequent colonization of the eastern seaboard. Drake's voyage fostered the principle expressed by the queen 'that the vse of the sea as of the ayre is common to all, and that the publique necessitie permits not it should be possessed'. Presented by The Drake Navigators Guild, California Quadricentenniel, 4th April 1981.

Also called the Queen's Stairs. "Drake’s galleon, The Golden Hinde, was moored at Deptford when he received his knighthood in 1581. When Queen Elizabeth I visited to bestow the honour onboard, Sir Walter Raleigh placed his coat down at the top of these stairs to keep her feet dry, pretty much marking himself out for all time as the archetypal gentleman." thelondonphile.com/2011/12

Canary Wharf on the opposite side of the river

Looking across the River Thames at the Isle of Dogs. The round brown building is Orion Point, a residencial tower.

Some sort of community space near Aragon Park

This is in Aragon Park, set back a bit from the river. I couldn't find any explanation of it, but I wonder if it was done by Michael Rizzello. The raised structures seem to be the docks, St Nicholas Deptford and the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

Found this description: Circumsphere in the Thames Circumsphere - Chris Marshall & Stephen Lewis. This globe like structure was constructed from more than a mile of galvanised steel rod. It supports a number of steel disks, that show the route of Sir Francis Drake's circum-navigational voyage around the earth. The voyage was completed at this waterfront in 1581. Circumsphere is mounted on a Dolphin; the name given to many small mooring structures that sit out in the river Thames, that provided low-tide moorings for ships, barges, tugs and lighters. Source: www.flickr.com/photos/captiveimage/33919514482

Looking across the River Thames from Deptford

Looking across the River Thames from Deptford

I just learned that these structures, which are for mooring of small boats during low tide, are called "dolphins".

Marking the boundary between the parishes of St Mary's Rotherhithe and St Paul's Deptford. Dated 1819.

Just north of St George's Stairs

At the entrance to Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe

At the entrance to Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe

Local residents Phyllis Pearsall, who devised the A to Z, the actor Michael Caine, and Barry Mason, cycling and nature enthusiast, are featured in this portrait bench along the national cycle network as it goes past Greenland Quay.

Local residents Phyllis Pearsall, who devised the A to Z (map book for London), the actor Michael Caine, and Barry Mason, cycling and nature enthusiast, are featured in this portrait bench along the national cycle network as it goes past Greenland Quay.