6th February 1762

Went to see the Whale that was taken on the Goodwin Sands near dale and brout to Green Land Dock near Deptford
it measured 58 Futt Long it was thourgh their was above 100000 people went to See it
Dined at deptford Mr Hall we Spt 12d


This whale was reported in the London Magazine. The picture above is the illustration which accompanied the article

"dale" is Deal in Kent!

There are further details of the Whale here - the whole text of the London Magazine is available online so you can read the account for yourself. On p105 of the same magazine is an account of how the whale was killed.

There is more about Greenland dock & Whaling here.

A Visit to a Shipyard

6 September 1742
Went with Bror & Mr Hall to Deptford to see a 70 Gun Ship Launched and spent their 12d

Deptford had been the home of a Royal Dockyard since the reign of Henry VIII. This picture shows a ship on the stocks in Deptford in 1750. It is thought to be HMS Buckingham, the third of that name, and was a 70 gun ship so very similar to the one Thomas saw.