There are also signatures on the petition from supporters as far afield as Australia, the USA, Latvia, and the UAE, showing that the site and its history has vast importance internationally as well as nationally.
We will be bringing this support to the attention of the Mayor of London, ahead of his determination of the planning application for Convoys Wharf, but if you have not yet signed the petition, there is still time to do so. Supporting comments such as those we have printed below are most helpful, and if you have a particular affiliation which may add weight to your opinion, please include it.
A selection of the comments on our petition which show the high level of support for our proposals:
Dr Ann Coats
Secretary, Naval Dockyards Society
"The Naval Dockyards Society believes that, given the rarity
of Tudor, and the non-survival of Stuart naval storehouses, the Great
Storehouse, even in its below ground fragmentary state, provides valuable
tangible indication of the importance of Deptford Dockyard to Henry VIII and
Elizabeth, especially linked to the nearby royal palace at Greenwich. The
remains below ground of Tudor, Stuart and Georgian storehouses are fragmentary,
but convey a distinctive individual character, intrinsic interest and value to
the current community in Deptford and neighbouring boroughs. If that is all we
have left, fragments are still important signifiers of cultural heritage which
should be valued, as fragments of Tudor castles and Mary Rose are valued.
The below ground remains embody Deptford’s tangible and
intangible heritage and ought to give this project a unique character which
will distinguish it from many other new developments, inform the overall design
and improve its ‘brand’.
Much more can be accomplished to memorialise these
below-ground features and make them relevant to today’s residents and visitors
than by merely marking their outlines above ground. Footprints should not only
be preserved, but integrated."
Professor Mark Laird
Author and historian
"John Evelyn's Sayes Court is among the most important relic
sites as cultural and natural heritage. I have written about it on three
occasions and my new book, A Natural History of English Gardening, 1650-1800 will bring further attention to its significance as world
heritage."
Rob Benbow, Canada
Descendent of Admiral John Benbow
"My ancestor, Admiral John Benbow, was Master Attendant at
Deptford in 1696, where he lived at Sayes Court, entertained Peter the Great,
Czar of Russia, and sailed from Deptford engaging the enemy for crown and country. We would like to see the history of the Deptford Dockyards preserved,
and the plans scaled down to allow the preservation of history. This is the
most historical dockyards of the British Royal Navy and should be recognised as
such. Please review and adjust the
development plans to recognise this importance."
John Kempton
Vice chairman, Medway Queen Preservation
Society
"I fully support this petition, and believe that both the
development and the Build the Lenox project can work together for the
improvement of the area and for the local but also national benefit."
Justin Reay
Naval historian, and editor of Samuel Pepys' papers at the Bodleian Library
"As a naval historian and art historian, and editor of Samuel
Pepys' papers at the Bodleian Library, I am aware of the importance of iconic
sites to understanding our shared history. I am sure that the regeneration of
the site as proposed by parties to this petition will provide a lasting,
meaningful and worthy resource for future generations respecting our maritime,
horticultural and artistic history; the proposed development on this site will
not significantly add to the social housing stock in London and other sites are
available for that."
Andrea Zuvich
Historian and blogger at The 17th Century Lady http://www.andreazuvich.com/
"Deptford's Royal Dockyard is of great historic value and
redevelopment would significantly impact this...for the worse. I, as a 17th
century historian, urge you to reject plans for redevelopment. We must protect
our nation's history and heritage."
Jean Hood
Maritime and naval author http://www.jeanhood.co.uk/books.html
"Deptford should not be degraded and stripped of its rich
history, especially its maritime history, to make profits for foreign investors
and allow the government to tick
boxes re housebuilding figures.
You cannot reclaim history when it is gone, and too much has been lost
to the egos and balance sheets of those who know the price of everything
and the value of nothing. The
first maritime book I wrote was about an East Indiaman built in the late 18th
century at Deptford, just one of many merchant and naval ships to come from
that area over the centuries - ships that played a global role in the
development of trade, defence and offensive warfare. Its human community
provided many of the craftsmen who built the ships, the men who manned them and
their families who waited anxiously for them, and the wider population who
provided the services, from shops to taverns and brothels. Please leave
something of maritime London well alone."
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