| Home Page | Membership
& Contact Us |
About the Park |
The Future | Events | Visitor Centre | How
to get there |
Map | Pictures |
The River
Ravensbourne and Tributaries
 Tranquil stream |
 Shallow Pools |
 Raging Torrent |
The
Ravensbourne rises
at Ceasar's Well at Keston Ponds but we are told that that source of
water is taken by Thames Water before it reaches Beckenham Place Park.
Other tributaries in the Bromley Common/Orpington area feed the
Ravensbourne that runs through the park and on to Catford/Lewisham and
into the Thames at Deptford Creek.
On its way to the Thames other tributaries join it, the Pool joins just before Catford Bridge and the Quaggy joins it at Lewisham Station. The Pool river itself has collected water from the Beck and Chaffinch brook. These join at Cator Park after flowing via Kelsey Park (the Beck) and South Norwood Country Park (the Chaffinch).
Some stretches of the River are conduited under Urban development or in concrete channels. There are some areas which approach a natural watercourse in appearance and some works have been done to return the river to a more environmentally friendly habitat in areas along the Quaggy, Pool and Ravensbourne. Water quality varies as the rivers on this system acquire road run-off from rainfall and some polution from industry and domestic sites along its course. Shopping trolleys make their way to Deptford Creek where it has been found they make a good breeding environment for fish!
Kingfishers are regularly seen in Beckenham Place Park and other stretches of the river. The lake in Kelsey Park has an island which has become a Heronry over the last 20 years or so. Little Egrets are now a regular visitor to the river and ponds along it. Snipe have been seen in harsh winters.
These rivers were once the source of energy for light industry having flour mills and cutlery factories along their route. There were also several artificial lakes such as still exists in Kelsey Park. The ornamental lake in Beckenham Place has dried up during the 20th Century through a combination of poor imperviousness of the clay lining, lack of maintenance and drying up or diversion of the water source which was via the now 'extinct' Foxgrove moated farm. Maps from the 19th century show a watercourse from Kelsey park via Foxgrove Farm to the lake in BPP and thence, to the Ravensbourne. This would have been cut off by the railway we assume.
On its way to the Thames other tributaries join it, the Pool joins just before Catford Bridge and the Quaggy joins it at Lewisham Station. The Pool river itself has collected water from the Beck and Chaffinch brook. These join at Cator Park after flowing via Kelsey Park (the Beck) and South Norwood Country Park (the Chaffinch).
Some stretches of the River are conduited under Urban development or in concrete channels. There are some areas which approach a natural watercourse in appearance and some works have been done to return the river to a more environmentally friendly habitat in areas along the Quaggy, Pool and Ravensbourne. Water quality varies as the rivers on this system acquire road run-off from rainfall and some polution from industry and domestic sites along its course. Shopping trolleys make their way to Deptford Creek where it has been found they make a good breeding environment for fish!
Kingfishers are regularly seen in Beckenham Place Park and other stretches of the river. The lake in Kelsey Park has an island which has become a Heronry over the last 20 years or so. Little Egrets are now a regular visitor to the river and ponds along it. Snipe have been seen in harsh winters.
These rivers were once the source of energy for light industry having flour mills and cutlery factories along their route. There were also several artificial lakes such as still exists in Kelsey Park. The ornamental lake in Beckenham Place has dried up during the 20th Century through a combination of poor imperviousness of the clay lining, lack of maintenance and drying up or diversion of the water source which was via the now 'extinct' Foxgrove moated farm. Maps from the 19th century show a watercourse from Kelsey park via Foxgrove Farm to the lake in BPP and thence, to the Ravensbourne. This would have been cut off by the railway we assume.