History of Catford The name Catford is usually explained as
having been taken from a ford across the River Ravensbourne
frequented by wild cats. In 1745 there were a few houses at
Catford Bridge, and separate hamlets at Perry Hill and Rushey
Green. The open space called Rushey Green, which was east of the
modern road, was an ancient area of settlement, with moated
houses on either side. The green was enclosed in 1810, and
cottages were rapidly built over it. A watermill for corn was
established at Catford Bridge at the beginning of the nineteenth
century to serve the local farms. The fields in the area were a
mixture of pasture and arable. The first significant planned
housing development was the luxury estate called Ravensbourne
Park, which was begun in the 1820s. In 1857 the Mid Kent railway
line was built, with a station at Catford Bridge. This
encouraged the building of houses for the middle classes, since
it offered transport to the City of London. However, large-scale
development did not take place unti