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To: Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham

Give Us Back Our Bloomin’ Anchor

01/02/18 THE ANCHOR IS BACK!

We’re proud to say that the Deptford Anchor has finally returned, to resume its role as an iconic landmark.

The petition is now closed as the wishes of hundreds of Deptford people have finally been honoured.

Congratulations! WE ALL DID IT!

Deptford Is Forever & The Deptford Society

Please return the Deptford Anchor to the south end of Deptford High Street.

Why is this important?

For 25 years, the anchor – a gift from Chatham Dockyard – was the only visible reminder of Deptford's rich, unique and international maritime history.

High Street renovation works required the removal of both the anchor and its plinth, but a survey carried out prior to these regeneration works found that 84% of respondents wanted it to remain in Deptford.

Since the completion of the renovation works, and more than three years since its removal, the anchor has still not been reinstated and the council has not made any plans for its future.

The former setting of the anchor, on a low plinth, made it attractive to street drinkers, and their presence was one of the reasons given for its removal.

Now the drinkers gather in Giffin Square instead, next to the school and library. Removing the anchor has swept away Deptford’s history, but the social issues persist. There is an empty space where the anchor once stood as a proud reminder of the Royal Dockyard.

Our anchor can be reinstated without a plinth. The landscape architect responsible for installing the anchor in 1988 has said the plinth is not essential. There are many examples of anchors without plinths across London and the UK.

Deptford began as a small fishing village and grew prosperous from its position on the river. The anchor serves as a reminder of the skills, industry, trade and international links so significant to the town’s history. We therefore demand that the Deptford Anchor is returned – without a plinth – to its rightful place, marking the gateway to the river where the town was born.

(Petition originally fronted by Peter Collins, former Chair of the Deptford Society, in association with Deptford Is Forever)

Photo shows the anchor in 'storage' in the crumbling Olympia building at Convoys Wharf
Deptford, London

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

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Updates

2018-01-31 14:54:56 +0000

Petition is successful with 4,216 signatures

2017-06-26 15:41:54 +0100

Petition is successful with 4,202 signatures

2017-06-23 16:33:02 +0100

Petition is successful with 4,198 signatures

2017-03-28 13:25:11 +0100

Petition is successful with 4,187 signatures

2015-11-03 15:05:54 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2015-11-02 16:38:54 +0000

500 signatures reached

2015-11-01 07:40:29 +0000

100 signatures reached

2015-10-31 20:43:10 +0000

50 signatures reached

2015-10-31 17:21:47 +0000

25 signatures reached

2015-10-31 16:03:10 +0000

10 signatures reached