Deptford St Nicholas facts for kids

Deptford St Nicholas
Geography
Status	Civil parish
1921 area	115 acres
HQ	Church of St Nicholas, Deptford
History
Origin	Part of Deptford ancient parish
Created	1730
Abolished	1930
Succeeded by	Borough of Greenwich civil parish
Quick facts for kids Demography
1801 population	6,933
1921 population	7,582
Politics
Governance	Deptford St Nicholas Vestry (1730–1855) Greenwich District Board of Works (1855–1900)

Deptford St Nicholas was a special local area in London, England. It was called a "civil parish." This area was created in 1730 because the population was growing. People needed a new church, so the Church of St Paul's, Deptford was built.

Before 1730, the whole area was just called Deptford. But then it was split into two parts: Deptford St Nicholas and Deptford St Paul. St Nicholas parish was the older part. It was located near the River Thames and included the important Deptford Dockyard. This was a place where ships were built and repaired.

Over time, how the area was managed changed. It started with a local group called a "vestry." Later, it became part of bigger councils. In 1889, Deptford St Nicholas moved from the County of Kent to the County of London. It stopped being a separate parish in 1930. Today, parts of the old Deptford St Nicholas area are in the London Borough of Lewisham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

How Deptford St Nicholas Was Created

Why the Parish Was Split

Deptford St Nicholas was officially created in 1730. This happened because an act of parliament decided to split the old ancient parish of Deptford. The main reason for this split was the construction of a new church. This church was the Church of St Paul.

A group called the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches helped build new churches. They did this to serve the many people moving into the area. The original Deptford parish was partly in Kent and partly in Surrey. However, the new St Nicholas parish was entirely within the Hundred of Blackheath in Kent.

Where Deptford St Nicholas Was Located

Understanding its Borders

Deptford St Nicholas was smaller than the other new parish, St Paul. But it had many more people living in it for its size. Its northern border was the River Thames. To the east, it was bordered by Deptford Creek.

This area was known as Lower Deptford. It was right next to the river. It included the important Deptford Dockyard. This dockyard was a busy place for ships and maritime activities.

How Deptford St Nicholas Was Governed

Early Local Management

From 1730 to 1855, the parish of Deptford St Nicholas was managed by a group called a vestry. A vestry was like a local council. Its members were usually important people from the church or community. They made decisions about local matters.

Joining a Bigger District

In 1855, Deptford St Nicholas joined with Greenwich and Deptford St Paul. They formed a larger area called the Greenwich District. This district was part of the Metropolitan Board of Works. This meant that the local decisions were now made by the Greenwich District Board of Works. The parish still elected people to represent them on this board.

Changes in County and Council

In 1889, Deptford St Nicholas moved from being part of the County of Kent to the County of London. This was a big change for London's local government. The Metropolitan Board of Works was then replaced by the London County Council. This new council managed the whole of London.

Helping Those in Need

The Poor Law Union

After a law called the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 was passed, Deptford St Nicholas joined a group called the Greenwich Poor Law Union. This union also included Greenwich, Deptford St Paul, and Woolwich. Their job was to help people who were poor or in need.

The parish elected three people to be part of the "board of guardians." These guardians made decisions about how to help the poor. Woolwich left the union in 1868. This system for helping the poor changed again after the Local Government Act 1929. After that, the parish no longer had a role in managing poor relief.

When Deptford St Nicholas Ended

Becoming Part of Greenwich Borough

In 1900, Deptford St Nicholas became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich. This meant that the Greenwich District Board of Works was replaced by the Greenwich Borough Council. The civil parish of Deptford St Nicholas then only existed in name for a while. It was mainly for managing the Poor Law.

The Final Abolition

In 1930, the parish of Deptford St Nicholas was officially abolished. This made the borough and the parish of Greenwich fully aligned. Later, on April 1, 1965, all civil parishes in Greater London were abolished.

The area that used to be Deptford St Nicholas became part of the London Borough of Greenwich in 1965. However, there were some boundary changes in 1994. Because of these changes, the former parish is now split. Parts of it are in the London Borough of Lewisham and parts are in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Population Over Time

How Many People Lived There?

Here's a look at how the population of Deptford St Nicholas changed over the years: