Ravensbourne’s whisper carries tales of healing. It speaks of Ladywell Fields, a haven born from three historic fields in the London Borough of Lewisham. This wasn’t always a park. Imagine meadows mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The story of Ladywell Fields begins with water. A medicinal well, ‘our lady’s well’, sprung to life in 1472. Legend says it cured eye complaints. The well was named after St Mary the Virgin Church nearby. Today, the well hides beneath the access road to Ladywell Station. Another well rests to its west, unseen yet remembered.
Ladywell transformed with the arrival of the railway in 1857. It grew into a London suburb. In 1889, the London County Council and Lewisham District Board of Works purchased land. It lay between the River Ravensbourne and the station. More land was added in 1891 and 1894. Ladywell Recreation Ground emerged. Author Nick Barratt notes its purchase for the parish in 1889.
Ladywell Fields stretches across 22 hectares. That’s 54 acres of green space. The River Ravensbourne meanders through it. Recreation thrives here. Play areas burst with laughter. A skate park echoes with energy. Ball courts host friendly matches. A bowling green invites gentle competition. A football pitch roars with excitement. A café offers refreshment. The Waterlink Way cycling and walking route passes through. It links the River Thames at Creekside, Deptford, to Sydenham.
Look around. Mature trees stand tall. Field maple graces the landscape. Hybrid black poplar adds shade. A rare Flanders elm once stood on the riverbank. It bore a Great Trees of London plaque. Now, some say it’s a European White Elm. The northern part of Ladywell Fields holds a secret. It’s a small nature reserve.
The original design valued riverside plantings. Rustic bridges arched over the Ravensbourne. The land, once water meadows, faced flooding. Extensive work tamed the river. The channel straightened. It widened. Weirs appeared.
But the river’s story didn’t end there. The River Ravensbourne is the heart of Ladywell Fields. Past flood control efforts impacted its beauty and ecological value. Straightening and canalisation led to downstream flooding in Lewisham.
Inspired by Chinbrook Meadows’ success, change came. In 2007/8, Project Quercus began. This diverted the river. A new area for river dipping and paddling emerged. It also buffered Lewisham from floods.
A major 2-million-pound project followed. It won ‘best new public space’ in the London Planning Awards 2011. Footpaths were redesigned. River viewing platforms offered new perspectives. An orchard and meadows bloomed. The river channel became naturalistic. Backwaters appeared. Wetlands thrived. Riverside trees were planted. Sustainable drainage reduced flooding. A new entrance welcomed visitors. An adventure playground sparked joy. Tennis courts invited play.
Today, Ladywell Fields invites you to explore. It invites you to connect with nature. Remember its journey. From ancient meadows to a vital community space, its story flows like the river that sustains it.