Blackwall [Map]

Blackwall is in Essex.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Jan 1661. So after a cup of burnt wine1 at the tavern there, we took barge and went to Blackwall [Map] and viewed the dock and the new Wet dock, which is newly made there, and a brave new merchantman which is to be launched shortly, and they say to be called the Royal Oak. Hence we walked to Dick-Shore, and thence to the Towre and so home. Where I found my wife and Pall abroad, so I went to see Sir W. Pen (age 39), and there found Mr. Coventry (age 33) come to see him, and now had an opportunity to thank him, and he did express much kindness to me. I sat a great while with Sir Wm. after he was gone, and had much talk with him. I perceive none of our officers care much for one another, but I do keep in with them all as much as I can. Sir W. Pen (age 39) is still very ill as when I went.

Note 1. Burnt wine was somewhat similar to mulled wine, and a favourite drink.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Feb 1661. That being done, he and I back again home, where I met with my father and mother going to my cozen Snow's to Blackwall [Map], and had promised to bring me and my wife along with them, which we could not do because we are to go to the Dolphin to-day to a dinner of Capt. Tayler's. So at last I let my wife go with them, and I to the tavern, where Sir William Pen (age 39) and the Comptroller (age 50) and several others were, men and women; and we had a very great and merry dinner; and after dinner the Comptroller (age 50) begun some sports, among others the naming of people round and afterwards demanding questions of them that they are forced to answer their names to, which do make very good sport. And here I took pleasure to take the forfeits of the ladies who would not do their duty by kissing of them; among others a pretty lady, who I found afterwards to be wife to Sir W. Batten's (age 60) son.

Evelyn's Diary. 16 Jan 1662. Having notice of the Duke of York's (age 28) intention to visit my poor habitation and garden this day, I returned, when he was pleased to do me that honor of his own accord, and to stay some time viewing such things as I had to entertain his curiosity. Afterward he caused me to dine with him at the Treasurer of the Navy's house, and to sit with him covered at the same table. There were his Highness (age 28), the Duke of Ormond (age 51), and several Lords. Then they viewed some of my grounds about a project for a receptacle for ships to be moored in, which was laid aside as a fancy of Sir Nicholas Crisp (age 63). After this, I accompanied the Duke (age 28) to an East India vessel that lay at Blackwall [Map], where we had entertainment of several curiosities. Among other spirituous drinks, as punch, etc., they gave us Canary that had been carried to and brought from the Indies, which was indeed incomparably good. I returned to London with his Highness (age 28). This night was acted before his Majesty (age 31) "The Widow", a lewd play.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Aug 1662. So took barge at the dock and to Rochester, Kent [Map], and there Captain Cocke (age 45) and I and our two men took coach about 8 at night and to Gravesend, Kent [Map], where it was very dark before we got thither to the Swan [Map]; and there, meeting with Doncaster, an old waterman of mine above bridge, we eat a short supper, being very merry with the drolling, drunken coachman that brought us, and so took water. It being very dark, and the wind rising, and our waterman unacquainted with this part of the river, so that we presently cast upon the Essex shore, but got off again, and so, as well as we could, went on, but I in such fear that I could not sleep till we came to Erith, Kent, and there it begun to be calm, and the stars to shine, and so I began to take heart again, and the rest too, and so made shift to slumber a little. Above Woolwich, Kent [Map] we lost our way, and went back to Blackwall [Map], and up and down, being guided by nothing but the barking of a dog, which we had observed in passing by Blackwall [Map], and so, [Continued tomorrow]

Pepy's Diary. 12 Jul 1664. By and by comes Mr. Coventry (age 36), and after a little stay he and I down to Blackwall [Map], he having a mind to see the yarde, which we did, and fine storehouses there are and good docks, but of no great profit to him that oweth them for ought we see1. So home by water with him, having good discourse by the way, and so I to the office a while, and late home to supper and to bed.

Note 1. For "owneth". This sense is very common in Shakespeare. In the original edition of the authorized version of the Bible we read: "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle" (Acts xxi. I i) Nares's Glossary.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Sep 1664. So home to dinner, and then to the office, and down to Blackwall [Map] by water to view a place found out for laying of masts, and I think it will be most proper.

Pepy's Diary. 05 May 1665. Thence home by water, and presently down to Woolwich, Kent [Map] and back to Blackewall [Map], and there, viewed the Breach, in order to a Mast Docke, and so to Deptford to the Globe, where my Lord Brunkard (age 45), Sir J. Minnes (age 66), Sir W. Batten (age 64), and Commissioner Pett (age 54) were at dinner, having been at the Breach also, but they find it will be too great charge to make use of it.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Aug 1665. There I took boat alone, and, the tide being against me, landed at Blackwall [Map] and walked to Wapping, Captain Bowd whom I met with talking with me all the way, who is a sober man.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Aug 1665. Up, and all day long finishing and writing over my will twice, for my father and my wife, only in the morning a pleasant rencontre happened in having a young married woman brought me by her father, old Delkes, that carries pins always in his mouth, to get her husband off that he should not go to sea, 'une contre pouvait avoir done any cose cum else, but I did nothing, si ni baisser her1'. After they were gone my mind run upon having them called back again, and I sent a messenger to Blackwall [Map], but he failed. So I lost my expectation.

Note 1. I would have been able to have done the thing with her but I did nothing except kiss her.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Sep 1665. Up betimes and to the office, meaning to have entered my last 5 or 6 days' Journall, but was called away by my Lord Bruncker (age 45) and Sir J. Minnes (age 66), and to Blackwall [Map], there to look after the storehouses in order to the laying of goods out of the East India ships when they shall be unloaden.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Sep 1665. That being done, we into Johnson's house, and were much made of, eating and drinking. But here it is observable what he tells us, that in digging his late Docke, he did 12 foot under ground find perfect trees over-covered with earth. Nut trees, with the branches and the very nuts upon them; some of whose nuts he showed us. Their shells black with age, and their kernell, upon opening, decayed, but their shell perfectly hard as ever. And a yew tree he showed us (upon which, he says, the very ivy was taken up whole about it), which upon cutting with an addes [adze], we found to be rather harder than the living tree usually is. They say, very much, but I do not know how hard a yew tree naturally is1. The armes, they say, were taken up at first whole, about the body, which is very strange.

Note 1. The same discovery was made in 1789, in digging the Brunswick Dock, also at Blackwall [Map], and elsewhere in the neighbourhood.

Pepy's Diary. 18 May 1666. Up by 5 o'clock, and so down by water to Deptford, Kent [Map] and Blackewall [Map] to dispatch some business. So walked to Dickeshoare, and there took boat again and home, and thence to Westminster, and attended all the morning on the Exchequer for a quarter's tallys for Tangier. But, Lord! to see what a dull, heavy sort of people they are there would make a man mad.

Pepy's Diary. 31 May 1666. And so I out by water among the ships, and to Deptford, Kent [Map] and Blackewall [Map] about business, and so home and to dinner with my father and sister and family, mighty pleasant all of us; and, among other things, with a sparrow that our Mercer hath brought up now for three weeks, which is so tame that it flies up and down, and upon the table, and eats and pecks, and do everything so pleasantly, that we are mightily pleased with it.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Jun 1666. After dinner, having nothing else to do till flood, I went and saw Mrs. Daniel, to whom I did not tell that the fleets were engaged, because of her husband, who is in the R. Charles. Very pleasant with her half an hour, and so away and down to Blackewall [Map], and there saw the soldiers (who were by this time gotten most of them drunk) shipped off. But, Lord! to see how the poor fellows kissed their wives and sweethearts in that simple manner at their going off, and shouted, and let off their guns, was strange sport.

Four Days' Battle

Pepy's Diary. 02 Jun 1666. Up, and to the office, where certain newes is brought us of a letter come to the King (age 36) this morning from the Duke of Albemarle (age 57), dated yesterday at eleven o'clock, as they were sailing to the Gunfleete, that they were in sight of the Dutch fleete, and were fitting themselves to fight them; so that they are, ere this, certainly engaged; besides, several do averr they heard the guns all yesterday in the afternoon. This put us at the Board into a tosse. Presently come orders for our sending away to the fleete a recruite of 200 soldiers. So I rose from the table, and to the Victualling Office, and thence upon the River among several vessels, to consider of the sending them away; and lastly, down to Greenwich, Kent [Map], and there appointed two yachts to be ready for them; and did order the soldiers to march to Blackewall [Map]. Having set all things in order against the next flood, I went on shore with Captain Erwin at Greenwich, Kent [Map], and into the Parke, and there we could hear the guns from the fleete most plainly.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Feb 1667. Being much taken with this kindness, I away to Blackwall [Map] and Deptford, Kent [Map], to satisfy myself there about the King's business, and then walked to Redriffe [Map], and so home about noon; there find Mr. Hunt, newly come out of the country, who tells me the country is much impoverished by the greatness of taxes: the farmers do break every day almost, and £1000 a-year become not worth £500. He dined with us, and we had good discourse of the general ill state of things, and, by the way, he told me some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G. Downing's (age 42), who is his countryman, in inviting some poor people, at Christmas last, to charm the country people's mouths; but did give them nothing but beef, porridge, pudding, and pork, and nothing said all dinner, but only his mother would say, "It's good broth, son". He would answer, "Yes, it is good broth". Then, says his lady, Confirm all, and say, "Yes, very good broth". By and by she would begin and say, "Good pork:"-"Yes", says the mother, "good pork". Then he cries, "Yes, very good pork". And so they said of all things; to which nobody made any answer, they going there not out of love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals, knowing him to be a niggardly fellow; and with this he is jeered now all over the country.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1667. At Woolwich, Kent [Map] I did much business, taking an account of the state of the ships there under hand, thence to Blackwall [Map], and did the like for two ships we have repairing there, and then to Deptford, Kent [Map] and did the like there, and so home. Captain Perriman with me from Deptford, Kent [Map], telling me many particulars how the King's business is ill ordered, and indeed so they are, God knows!

Pepy's Diary. 28 Mar 1667. Thence to Blackwall [Map] and there to Mr. Johnson's (age 44), to see how some works upon some of our repaired ships go on, and at his house eat and drank and mighty extraordinary merry (too merry for me whose mother died so lately, but they know it not, so cannot reproach me therein, though I reproach myself), and in going home had many good stories of Sir W. Batten (age 66) and one of Sir W. Pen (age 45), the most tedious and silly and troublesome (he forcing us to hear him) that ever I heard in my life.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Jun 1667. At night come home Sir W. Batten (age 66) and W. Pen (age 46), who only can tell me that they have placed guns at Woolwich, Kent [Map] and Deptford, Kent [Map], and sunk some ships below Woolwich, Kent [Map] and Blackewall [Map], and are in hopes that they will stop the enemy's coming up. But strange our confusion! that among them that are sunk they have gone and sunk without consideration "The Franakin",' one of the King's ships, with stores to a very considerable value, that hath been long loaden for supply of the ships; and the new ship at Bristoll, and much wanted there; and nobody will own that they directed it, but do lay it on Sir W. Rider. They speak also of another ship, loaden to the value of £80,000, sunk with the goods in her, or at least was mightily contended for by him, and a foreign ship, that had the faith of the nation for her security: this Sir R. Ford (age 53) tells us: And it is too plain a truth, that both here and at Chatham, Kent [Map] the ships that we have sunk have many, and the first of them, been ships completely fitted for fire-ships at great charge. But most strange the backwardness and disorder of all people, especially the King's people in pay, to do any work, Sir W. Pen (age 46) tells me, all crying out for money; and it was so at Chatham, Kent [Map], that this night comes an order from Sir W. Coventry (age 39) to stop the pay of the wages of that Yard; the Duke of Albemarle (age 58) having related, that not above three of 1100 in pay there did attend to do any work there.

Evelyn's Diary. 09 Oct 1676. I went with Mrs. Godolphin (age 24) and my wife (age 41) to Blackwall [Map], to see some Indian curiosities; the streets being slippery, I fell against a piece of timber with such violence that I could not speak nor fetch my breath for some space; being carried into a house and let blood, I was removed to the water-side and so home, where, after a day's rest, I recovered. This being one of my greatest deliverances, the Lord Jesus make me ever mindful and thankful!

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Oct 1676. Being my birthday, and fifty-six years old, I spent the morning in devotion and imploring God's protection, with solemn thanksgiving for all his signal mercies to me, especially for that escape which concerned me this month at Blackwall [Map]. Dined with Mrs. Godolphin (age 24), and returned home through a prodigious and dangerous mist.

Europe, British Isles, England, Home Counties, Essex, Blackwall, Leamouth [Map]