River Ravensbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ravensbourne |
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The river in Bromley
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| Other name(s) | Deptford Creek |
| Country | England |
| London boroughs | London Borough of Bromley, London Borough of Lewisham, Royal Borough of Greenwich |
| Towns | Bromley, Lewisham, Deptford |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Keston |
| River mouth | River Thames Deptford |
| Length | 17.4 km (10.8 mi) |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 180 km2 (69 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The River Ravensbourne is a river in south London, England. It flows into the famous River Thames at a place called Deptford. The part of the river near the Thames is affected by the tides, and it's known as Deptford Creek.
Contents
Where Does the Ravensbourne River Flow?
The River Ravensbourne is about 11 miles (17 km) long. It collects water from an area of 180 square kilometers. The river flows through three different parts of London: the London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Lewisham, and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The River's Journey from Source to Thames
The Ravensbourne starts at a place called Caesar's Well in Keston. This is about four miles south of Bromley town centre. At first, the river flows north. For about a third of its length, it goes through open areas like Hayes Common and Bromley Common.
As it gets closer to Bromley, two smaller streams join it. These are the Ravensbourne South Branch and the Ravensbourne East Branch. They add a lot more water to the river. The river then flows north next to the A21 road. It passes under Bromley town centre through Church Gardens and Glassmill Reservoir.
Next, it enters Beckenham Place Park. This is the last part of the river that still looks quite natural. Further north, it flows through Ladywell Fields. Here, a lot of work has been done since 2007 to make the river more natural. Old concrete channels were removed, and the river was rerouted. They also added terraces and plants to help animals and control floods.
South of Bellingham, a small stream called Spring Brook joins the Ravensbourne. This stream is only about one mile (1.6 km) long. It flows from the east through Plaistow and Downham. It follows a narrow strip of parkland called Shaftesbury Park Recreation Ground.
Just before Catford, the River Pool joins the Ravensbourne. Another river, the River Quaggy, also joins the Ravensbourne. The River Quaggy is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. It starts near Princess Royal University Hospital and flows north through Petts Wood to Sundridge Park. It then flows through Mottingham to Kidbrooke. Finally, it turns west through Manor Park in Lee before joining the Ravensbourne in Lewisham. Many other small streams also join the river along its path.
The Ravensbourne finally meets the River Thames in Greenwich Reach. This is north-east of Deptford town centre.
A Look at the River's Past
The Ravensbourne has a long history. Hundreds of years ago, in the 11th century, there were eleven watermills on the river. These mills used the river's power to grind corn.
In the 17th century, a famous London diary writer named John Evelyn bought one of these mills. He used it to grind colours for paint. Later, a company called Kent Waterworks used it. The mill was finally taken down in the 1850s.
Important Events and Places Along the River
The bridge over Deptford Creek was the site of an important battle. This was the Battle of Deptford Bridge on June 17, 1497. It was the last battle of the Cornish Rebellion of 1497.
From the 1500s, the Deptford Dockyard was very important. It was a place where ships for the Royal Navy were built. Many small shipbuilders worked along Deptford Creek because it was so close to the dockyard.
A very famous event happened here in 1580. Queen Elizabeth I knighted Francis Drake on his ship, the Golden Hind. This happened in Deptford Creek after Drake had sailed all the way around the world. The Golden Hind stayed in the creek until it eventually fell apart.
Deptford Creek was also home to a large power station. This power station is now gone, along with other big factories. Today, the area is being rebuilt and improved.
For much of its lower part, between Lewisham and the River Thames, the Ravensbourne (and Deptford Creek) runs alongside the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). In Brookmill Park, the river's path was even changed so the DLR could run next to it. A new bend was built in the river to create more natural banks and better homes for plants and animals.
Near the DLR's last crossing of the river, there's the Deptford pumping station. This was built in the 1860s as part of London's sewer system. There are also many new buildings, like the Laban Dance Centre and apartment buildings, near where the creek meets the Thames.
The river's name was even used for a political area. Between 1974 and 1997, there was a Ravensbourne Parliament constituency in the London Borough of Bromley. There is also a train station named after the river.
Every year on May 1st, a group called the Ravensbourne Morris Men dance at 5:32 AM. They dance at Caesar's Well, where the river starts, to celebrate the sunrise.
Images for kids
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The River Ravensbourne as it passes through Lewisham, under railway arches
