River Ravensbourne
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The River Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Thames in South London, England.
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[edit] Geography
The Ravensbourne is 11 miles (17.4 km) in length with a total catchment area of 180 km². It flows through the London Boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich.
The Ravensbourne rises at Caesar's Well, Keston, two miles south of Bromley town centre, flowing initially in a northerly direction. For the initial third of its length the river flows across common land (including Hayes Common and Bromley Common) until it reaches the southern outskirts of Bromley town; for some of its remaining length it is often in underground channels.
At Catford it is joined by the River Pool. The Ravensbourne is also joined by the River Quaggy (known upstream of Sundridge Park as Kyd Brook) (3.5 miles (5.6 km) in length). This rises near Sundridge Park in Bromley and flows northwards through the Mottingham area to Kidbrooke where it then turns westwards through Manor Park in Lee, before joining the Ravensbourne in Lewisham. Numerous other small streams also join the main river between its source and confluence. Until the 19th century one such stream flowed from Brockley Cross crossing Tanners Hill before joining Deptford Creek.
Near its confluence with the Thames at Greenwich Reach, north-east of Deptford town centre (and west of Greenwich), the tidal reach of the river is known as Deptford Creek.
[edit] History
The Domesday Book recorded eleven corn mills on the Ravensbourne in the 11th century. The 17th century London diarist John Evelyn bought one of these mills - Brookmills - in 1668 for 'grinding colour'.
The bridge over Deptford Creek was the site of the Battle of Deptford Bridge, 17 June 1497, the last battle of the Cornish Rebellion of 1497.
From the 16th century onwards until its closure in the 19th century, the proximity of Royal Dockyard created by Henry VIII at Deptford gave employment to many small shipbuilders on the creek. Queen Elizabeth I knighted Francis Drake on board the Golden Hind in Deptford Creek on Drake's return from his circumnavigation of the globe in 1580. The Golden Hind remained moored in the creek until it broke up.
The creek was also host to a large power station, now dismantled; as well as many other heavy industries. Now regeneration of the area is under way. For much of the lower reach between Lewisham and the Thames, the Ravensbourne and Deptford Creek are joined by the Docklands Light Railway, and a number of new developments, including the Laban Dance Centre.
