FROM BLACKHEATH TO THE CLOCK TOWER. 81 
passengers. Carts could enter the river on the northern side for 
watering and drive through. The bridge was replaced in 1872-3. 
by the existing iron bridge. 
The appearance of this part of the town was considerably 
changed by the making of the so-called Mid-Kent Railway in 1857, 
and later by the Tonbridge and Sevenoaks portion of the main line 
of the South Eastern in 1865. The former bounds the district 
called Loampit Vale on the east, and the latter passes directly 
through its centre. Passing over Lewisham Bridge, a turning on 
the left, now known as Mill Road, leads up to one of the many 
mills on the Ravensbourne. It is marked as ‘‘Corn Mill” on 
Rocque’s map of 1745. There isa group of cottages of 18th century 
date on the right-hand side of the road, before the mill is reached, 
formerly known as Botany Bay. The name occurs in the Parish 
Registers from 1791 onwards and is said to have arisen from the 
character of the then inhabitants. 
Retracing our steps to the Bridge, and passing under the 
archway of the Mid-Kent line, there are a few 18th century houses 
on the left-hand side of the road, and others of the early part of the 
1gth century in Elmira «Street and adjoining roads, and the 
intervening space has been filled in of more recent years. On the 
right-hand side the houses are nearly all of a date from about 1860 
onwards, but a few older buildings fringe the highway on either 
_ side of the road where the main line of the South Eastern Railway 
crosses. 
Sundermead, one of the great fields of the Manor, occupied the 
ground from Loampit Vale to the river at the Silk Mill. The 
railway now runs through it to Lewisham Station and Thurston 
Road, Jerrard and Horton Streets are built on part of it. The 
name in modern times has been corrupted to ‘‘ Sundry Meadow” 
and ‘‘ Thundery Mead.” The works of Messrs. Elliott Brothers are 
built on a field called Lock Mead, which was partly in Lewisham 
; and partly in Greenwich. 
The portion of our route called Loampit Vale is marked on the 
map of 1745 by the more undignified title of Loampit Hole. It was 
then a well-known locality for a rich loam which seems to have 
been worked for a considerable period. 
In the early part of the 1gth century, Messrs. John and Henry 
Lee held the ground on either side of Loampit Vale, and the slopes 
of Loampit Hill up to the parish boundary were converted into 
brick fields, until the available material was exhausted. As 
_-Loampit Hill is approached there is an outcrop of chalk, and on the 
ising ground Mr. Lee built himself a house shown in Plate 28. 
This still stands, and was known for many years as Ellerslie House. 
The brick fields on the right hand side of the road are now 
_ occupied by Elswick Road, Sunninghill Road, etc. 
; On the left-hand side of Loampit Hill the loam and chalk have 
been cut away to a considerable depth. On a portion of the rising 
§ ground Mr. J. E. Lee built another residence, known as Loampit 
G 
