The wings are low but neat buildings, with an ascent of seven steps to each pair of doors, secured by brick walls capped with stone, and there are six of these ascents to each wing, besides two in the front, one on each side the chapel. Between each of these ascents is a pump fixed close to the wall.
It is remarkable that all these ascents lead to the upper story; there are however rooms below, but these are under ground and the windows upon a level with a broad stone pavement, that surrounds the area next the houses. In the centre of each wing is a handsome pediment, adorned with the company’s arms, with the representation of ropes, anchors, and sea weeds, in open work, spread over the face of the pediments, and the area within consists of handsome grass-plats, divided by gravel-walks, kept in excellent order, leading down the middle, and across to the centre of the area, where is a statue in stone of Mr. Robert Sandes well executed. He has a bale of goods placed behind; he stands with his right-foot upon another bale, and near his left-foot is a small globe, and anchor. On the pedestal is the following inscription:
To the memory of Captain Robert Sandes, an elder brother, and deputy-master of the corporation of Trinity House, who dy’d in 1701, and bequeath’d to the poor thereof one hundred pounds, also the reversion (after two lives) of a freehold estate in the county of Lincoln of 147l. a year, now in their possession. This statue was erected by the corporation A.D. 1746.
The end of each wing next the road has an empty niche, and over it is a very small pediment, on each side which is placed a small ship.
The ground on which this hospital stands was given to the corporation of the Trinity house by capt. Henry Mudd, an elder brother, and the above beautiful and commodious building erected by the company in the year 1695, for the reception of twenty-eight masters of ships, or their widows, each of whom receives 16s. per month, 20s. a year for coals, and a gown every second year.
Trinity House, a society founded in the year 1515, by Sir Thomas Spert, Knt. commander of the great ship Henry Grace de Dieu, and comptroller of the navy to Henry VIII. for the regulation of seamen, and the convenience of ships and mariners on our coast, and incorporated by the above mentioned Prince who confirmed to them not only the ancient rights and privileges of the company of mariners of England; but their several possessions at Deptford; which together with the grants of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles II. were also confirmed by letters patent of the first of James II. in 1685, by the name of The master, wardens and assistants of the guild or fraternity of the most glorious and undivided Trinity, and of St. Clement in the parish of Deptford Strond in the county of Kent.
This corporation is governed by a master, four wardens, eight assistants, and eighteen elder brethren; but the inferior members of the fraternity, named younger brethren, are of an unlimited number, for every master, or mate, expert in navigation may be admitted as such; and these serve as a continual nursery to supply the vacancies among the elder brethren when removed by death, or otherwise.
The master, wardens, assistants, and elder brethren are by charter invested with the following powers:
1. That of examining the mathematical children of Christ’s hospital.
2. The examination of the masters of his Majesty’s ships; the appointing pilots to conduct ships in and out of the river Thames; and the amercing all such as shall presume to act as master of a ship of war or pilot, without their approbation, in a pecuniary mulct of 20s.