Ladywell Fields
| Ladywell Fields | |
|---|---|
| Ladywell Recreation Ground | |
 Ladywell Fields was originally ancient water meadows traversed by the River Ravensbournephoto: Chris Downer, geograph.org.uk | |
 | |
| Type | public park |
| Location | London,England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′21″N0°01′05″W/ 51.455795°N 0.018111°W |
| Area | 22 hectares (54 acres) |
| Created | 1889-94 |
| Operated by | London Borough of Lewisham |
| Open | 8am-sunset |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | lewisham |
Ladywell Fields,originallyLadywell Recreation Groundis a public park in theLondon Borough of Lewishamcreated from three historic fields. It is located nearLadywell railway stationat the northern end of the park, andCatford Bridgeat the southern end.
History of the park
[edit]The site is mentioned in theDomesday Book,as meadows in the manor of Lewisham. A medicinal well – ‘our lady’s well’ – said to be named after nearby St Mary the Virgin Church was first recorded in 1472. It was reputed to be effective for curing eye complaints. The well is now underneath the access road to Ladywell station and a further well lies to the west of it.[1][2]
Ladywellbegan to develop as a suburb of London with the arrival of the railway station in 1857, and in 1889 land between theRiver Ravensbourneand the station was bought byLondon County Counciland Lewisham District Board of Works. Further parcels of land were bought in 1891 and ’94 and the whole area was laid out as a public amenity and named Ladywell Recreation Ground.[1]According to author and historianNick Barratt,Ladywell Recreation Ground was purchased for the parish in 1889.[3]
Layout and notable features
[edit]The is park, which consists of three adjoining fields, extends to 22 hectares (54 acres) and follows the course of the River Ravensbourne. It includes a wide range of recreation facilities, including play areas, skate park and ball courts, bowling green and football pitch. There is a café on site, and the park is part of theWaterlink Waycycling and walking route that extends from theRiver Thamesat Creekside,DeptfordtoSydenham.[1]
There are a variety of mature trees on the site, includingfield maple,hybridblack poplarand also a rare survivingFlanders elmon the river bank, ( there is a contradictoryWiki pagethat says that the tree is misidentified and is actually a European White ElmUlmus laevis) which bears aGreat Trees of Londonplaque, denoting trees considered of importance to the capital.[1]The northern part of the park features a small nature reserve.[4]
The original park design featured riverside plantings and rustic bridges over the Ravensbourne. Since the land was originallywater meadows,and therefore liable to flooding, extensive work was done prior to the park’s opening and, over time, the river channel was straightened, widened andweirsadded.
Recent park restoration and improvements
[edit]The River Ravensbourne is the major natural feature of the park's three fields, but previous work to reduce flooding had affected its aesthetic, recreational and environmental value. Alongside other river-straightening and canalisations, this resulted in increasingly frequent downstream flooding where the Quaggy and Ravensbourne met in Lewisham town centre.
Informed by the successful ecological and natural flood defence restoration of Chinbrook Meadows, in 2007/8 £400,000 of works were carried out in the northern field. Called Project Quercushttps:// therrc.co.uk/projects/river-ravensbourne-ladywell-fields-quercusand part funded by the European Union, this diverted the river through the middle of the park, creating an area for river dipping and paddling, as well as flood buffering to protect downstream Lewisham town centre from high rainfall events.[4]
A major £2m project followed, two years later, funded by theLondon Development Agencyand won ‘best new public space’ in the London Planning Awards 2011.[5]Renovation, which was undertaken by BDP and East Architecture, included redesigned footpaths, river viewing platforms, an orchard and meadows.[6]The river channel was modified to create a more naturalistic setting incorporating backwaters, wetlands and riverside tree planting – all designed to create more sustainable drainage and reduce flooding. This restoration also gave the park a new entrance, adventure playground and tennis courts.[5][7]
References
[edit]- ^abcd"London Gardens Online".London Gardens Online.Retrieved2013-07-13.
- ^"St.Mary's Lewisham".Lewishamparish.Retrieved2013-07-13.
- ^Barratt, Nick(2012).Greater London - The Story of the Suburbs.Vauxhall Bridge Road,London:Random House.p. 513.ISBN9781847945327.
- ^ab"Lewisham Council - Ladywell Fields".Lewisham.gov.uk. 200.Retrieved2013-07-13.
- ^ab"Ladywell Fields claims top award | Login | Horticulture Week".Hortweek. 2013-02-15.Retrieved2013-07-13.
- ^Klettner, Andrea (2011-05-31)."BDP and East complete Ladywell Fields revamp | News | Building Design".Bdonline.co.uk.Retrieved2013-07-13.
- ^Chandler, Mark (2011-05-31)."Ladywell Fields unveils new look (From This Is Local London)".Thisislocallondon.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-04.Retrieved2013-07-13.