History
The name Ladywell was in use by the 15th century, and maps dating to this period show the site of the original Ladywell, in front of the area later to be occupied by the Freemason's Arms (now 'Masons') and Ladywell railway station. The well was six to seven feet deep and surrounded by an iron railing. It is thought to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was covered over in the mid-18th century as part of the construction of sewer works. The coping stones of this well were later uncovered during work to underpin the railway bridge, and rescued by a signalman. In 1896 they were incorporated as part of the fountain that stood in the grounds of the Ladywell Public Baths, a local landmark built in red brick in 1884.
Another well is located nearby at what is now 148 Ladywell Road. This was a mineral spring, the waters of which local people drank for medicinal purposes.
Much of the development of Ladywell occurred in the late-19th century following the opening of Ladywell railway station in 1857.
Ladywell House was the vicarage built in 1693 for Dean George Stanhope, the vicar of Lewisham and Deptford. Stanhope was a friend of the writer Jonathan Swift, Swift visited Ladywell House in 1711. The house was extended in 1881 and 1895, and is now the Ladywell Unit of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
In recent years there has been controversy over Lewisham Council's decision to close the Ladywell Swimming Pool and Sports Centre to build a school. Many local residents feel that a school is not needed in this part of Lewisham, that it will increase already high levels of congestion and that closing the pool many years before building a new one will deprive the area of healthy leisure facilities. This controversy led to the area electing Green Party councillors to all of its three council ward seats, although all three were lost to Labour in 2010 and although, in turn, one of Labour's councillors has since resigned, forcing a byelection. The Labour candidate again beat the Greens into second place.
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“Regarding History as the slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of States, and the virtue of individuals have been victimized—the question involuntarily arises—to what principle, to what final aim these enormous sacrifices have been offered.”
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