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19
acceptance of the steamship led to the building of larger ships with
bigger draughts. Gradually the building of such ships passed to
other and more suitable areas of the country with the result that
many local industries were seriously affected. Sailmakers and
repairers were no longer required; men engaged in the refitting, etc.,
of the sailing vessels lost their employment and concerns which
catered for the revictualling of such vessels saw their trade wither
away. Firms such as Messrs. Humphreys & Tennent, Deptford Dry
Docks, Thames Ironworks (John Penn's), Castle's Shipbreaking
Co., etc., were compelled to close down owing to competition and
the heavy rates and taxes imposed, whilst the world-famous firm,
Yarrow's, removed to Scotland for similar reasons. Such movements
of industry only tended to aggravate the unemployment problem in
the area.
The 1914-18 War brought a return of many industries to
Greenwich although the post-war period saw the closing of the
Foreign Animals' Wharf (commonly known as the Deptford Cattle
Market), the area being acquired by the Government for a Supply
Reserve Depot. Still later a further compensating movement began
when some of the larger buildings and dwelling houses were utilised
as new factories and commercial undertakings.
As a result of the recent War, housing problems have been
accentuated, but in certain instances some benefits have been
derived from the fact that many properties which have been
demolished by enemy action would, by now, have been unsightly
and particularly difficult problems for the Health Department.
With the advance of time many old buildings and houses were
demolished and improvements effected. The breaking up of large
estates, especially in the Westcombe Park area, has led, in the case
of the houses concerned, to many new units of accommodation in
the shape of flats and, in the case of the extensive grounds, to
spacious areas for the erection of houses of the villa type.
Very early in the 18th century Daniel Defoe described Greenwich
as "the most delightful spot of ground in Great Britain" and
in 1738, in a road book of the British Isles, this description was
given: "Greenwich on the Thames, 4 miles east of London Bridge,
a very delightful place." It can still lay claim to that title.
The Borough is well catered for in the way of parks and
open spaces, the largest being Greenwich Park with its historical
associations and surroundings covering an area of 185 acres.
Blackheath, one of London's most famous open spaces, forms the
southern boundary, 89 acres of which are within the Borough,
providing unsurpassed facilities for games, sports and amusements.
Excellent recreation grounds serve the Charlton area for in
addition to the Maryon and Charlton Parks, there is the L.C.C.