Place    From 1742 

Victualling Yard, Deptford

Categories: Armed Forces, Food & Drink

Place

An information board “Docklands Heritage – Deptford River Walk” gives a good introduction to the area so we have transcribed it:

"Alongside the Dockyard a Navy victualling and supply centre grew up on what is now the Pepys Estate. Navy victualling contractors used the site, known then as the ‘Red House’ {part of John Evelyn's estate}, in the 17th century, and in 1742 the Navy Victualling Office moved here permanently from Tower Hill. Over the next century the Deptford Victualling Yard grew into the largest Home Victualling Establishment. Ship’s biscuit, mustard, pepper and chocolate were all manufactured on site; in fact ‘Red House Biscuit’ became a common Naval term. There was a large slaughterhouse and meat-salting complex, together with a cooperage where barrels were made, and vast quantities of clothing, food, medical supplies and rum were stored. One of the rum vaults alone held 32,000 gallons! The Yard was renamed the Royal Victoria Yard after a visit by Queen Victoria in 1858, and two years later it grew to its largest extent – 35 acres. Although the Dockyard closed in 1869 the Royal Victoria Yard survived for nearly 100 years, finally closing in 1961.

A number of attractive Victualling Yard buildings, dating from the late 18th century, were retained when the site was redeveloped in the 1970s. They include the Gates and Porter’s Lodge, the Officers’ Houses and the Storehouse for rum, clothes and other supplies. Their presence maintains a visible link with Deptford’s Naval past.”

The first half of the information board is about the Royal Naval Dockyard so we have placed that text there.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Victualling Yard, Deptford

Commemorated ati

Officers' Quarters

Officers' Quarters This colonnaded range of buildings was constructed as quar...

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Victualling Department Admiralty

{In the belt that surrounds the anchor:} Victualling Department Admiralty Th...

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Other Subjects

Warrant Officer Robert William Long

Warrant Officer Robert William Long

Robert William Long was born on 16 November 1909, a son of Frederick Henry Long and Rebecca Long née George. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1909 in the West Ham registration distric...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
F. F. Baker

F. F. Baker

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
G. Shingfield

G. Shingfield

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Captain Edward Alfred Shaw

Captain Edward Alfred Shaw

Edward Alfred Shaw was born on 16 May 1892 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, the eldest of the ten children of the Reverend Edward Domett Shaw (1860-1937) and Agnes Shaw née Gilbey (1867-1944)....

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Harry Cator, VC

Harry Cator, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 9 April 1917, age 23, while serving in the East Surrey Regiment. "Although advancing over open ground under hostile machine gun fire he reached the trench and cont...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial