Site icon Enthusiastic Gardener

The South Field in Ladywell Fields

Candy Blackham

The South Field in Ladywell Fields is a large, almost rectangular field which feels very much like parkland. With Prendergast School on one side and two railway stations and Catford shopping centre at the other end there are always people walking through and across the park. In the other direction the field leads to the Lewisham Shopping Centre via the Middle Field, and the North Field.

The South Field in 1894-96

Today’s park has the same shape as the Ladywell Recreation Ground shown on the OS map of 1894-96. The crossing paths in the field are still the same; there are two main differences. Firstly the River Ravensbourne has been straightened, creating a backwater, and secondly the garden of the villa on Ravensbourne Park Road which extended into the park is today’s Community Orchard and the Iona Close Nature Reserve.

NLS OS map of 1897, South Field – Ladywell Recreation Ground
Ladywell Fields (Google Maps) with the South Field (L)
London, Chatham & Dover line
London, Chatham & Dover line bridge into Catford Station

The Orchard

Just inside the entrance from Bourneville Road is a small community orchard which was planted in 2011. This would have been in the gardens of 60 and 62 Ravensbourne Park Road, and between the orchard and the houses is, I believe, the Iona Close Nature Reserve. This is not accessible to the public as far as I can see.

The entrance to Ladywell Fields from Bourneville Road, near Catford Bridge Station
60 & 62 Ravensbourne Park Road
An old tree in the former gardens of 60 & 62 Ravensbourne Park Road
The Orchard in the South Field of Ladywell Fields

Exercise & sports facilities

The tennis courts and bowling green are hidden away between the River Ravensbourne and the railway line into Catford Bridge Station. There is some outdoor gym gear in the park itself and a small children’s play area.

Tennis Courts
Bowling Club in Ladywell Fields
Outdoor gym gear
Children’s play area

The River Ravensbourne

The river is visible as it comes into the South Field but soon is hidden by trees. This section has been straightened and if you walk on the path alongside the railway line you find the backwater, the curve of the river before straightening, which is clear in the map of 1897 above.

The Ravensbourne coming into the South Field
River Ravensbourne in the South Field

Ring-necked parakeets

Ring-necked parakeets are all over South East London where their squeaks are quite unmistakable! I found this group posing on one of my visits. I have noticed the numbers increasing in the past few years, and apparently there are 8,600 breeding pairs in the UK.

Ring-necked parakeets in the South Field in Ladywell Fields

Trees in the South Field of Ladywell Fields

The South Field is really parkland and its glory are the trees – old London plane trees and oak trees. This blog site details and traces the trees – do take a look.

People crossing the park down an avenue of London Plane trees
The ‘crossroads’ of paths in the Park
A new avenue of London Plane trees
Old oak trees

The South Field in Ladywell Fields is open parkland, with beautiful London Plane trees and Oak trees. The River Ravensbourne flows quietly on one side of the field and sports fields are hidden away behind the trees along the river – it is all very peaceful.

Exit mobile version