Deptford has a long naval history – but much of it is little talked about. EMILY FINCH met the local campaigners who want to tell the story of the area’s links with slavery. On a cold winter’s morning in 1762, a teenage boy was forced off his master’s ship and sold back into slavery on […]
Emily Finch
Posted inNews
‘I want to start crying’: Residents who fear bankruptcy slam Robert Jenrick’s cladding fund
August 2022 update: Optivo announced in May 2022 that it would cover remediation costs for leaseholders at Norfolk House in Deptford, including waking watches and fire alarms. This story is from February 2021 and does not reflect the current situation. Residents living in flats wrapped in unsafe cladding and insulation in two SE London developments […]
Posted inNews
Norfolk House: Shared-ownership residents fear £3 million bill to replace unsafe cladding
August 2022 update: Optivo announced in May 2022 that it would cover remediation costs for leaseholders at Norfolk House in Deptford, including waking watches and fire alarms. This story is from October 2020 and does not reflect the current situation. Buying a shared-ownership flat was meant be a way to escape London’s often ruthless rental […]
Posted inCoronavirus Stories, News
Property guardians kicked out with four weeks’ notice despite eviction ban
A government ban on evictions during the coronavirus lockdown gave some protection to private renters – but not all. EMILY FINCH meets property guardians in New Cross who face losing their homes at the end of this week. For Henry Smith and his neighbours, the letter telling them to leave their homes within 28 days […]
Posted inCoronavirus Stories, News
Sharing laptops in lockdown: How communities helped people stay connected
When schools and shops closed suddenly in March, many children were left without ways of accessing their lessons, while many older people found they did not have the technology needed to access services online. Two community appeals have helped bridge the gap for those who were left behind by the lockdown. Teachers, parents and students […]
Posted inCoronavirus Stories, News
Coronavirus and ‘our village’: Fear and hope on Deptford’s Pepys Estate
When coronavirus struck on the Pepys Estate, by the Thames in Deptford, it caused fear – then locals started to rally round. But there are now worries about the future. EMILY FINCH spoke to residents about their experiences. In early March, fear spread through the Pepys Estate in Deptford when posters appeared overnight warning residents […]
Posted inCoronavirus Stories, News
Balcony shows and online gigs: How SE London’s musicians adapted to lockdown
Summer is usually the busiest season for The Kimberleys, a folk duo from Blackheath. This year was looking to be no different with a packed tour diary and gigs planned in all corners of the country. But when the government imposed a lockdown on March 23 following the spread of Covid-19, the couple dutifully retreated […]
Posted inCoronavirus Stories, News
‘We couldn’t just do nothing’: The boatyard company that made 10,000 visors for key workers
There are a few signs that the South Dock Marina in Rotherhithe is finally creeping back to normality. On Friday, a welder fired embers into the air while repairing a rusted hull and a carpenter put the finishing touches onto a new porthole that he had carefully assembled. For the last three months, workers have […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.