a parliamentary borough of England, in the counties of Kent and Surrey, at the junction of the Thames and the Ravensbourne, three miles from London, and contiguous to Greenwich. The lower town, next the river, consists of narrow irregular streets and ill-built houses; but the upper town is superior in these respects. By the Reform act, Deptford unites with Greenwich, &c., in returning two members to parliament. Pop.(1851)27,896. It contains an extensive naval arsenal, victualling office, and dockyards covering an area of 31 acres; private dock-yards; two large hospitals for decayed shipmasters and pilots, or their widows, well-endowed and regulated by the elder brethren of Trinity House; also, a well-endowed charity school, dispensary, barracks, savings-bank, and a royal naval school incorporated in 1840. See Dock-Yards.