150 BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM. 
sequently dug and built round, and the water was delivered gratis 
to any who desired. 
In 1651 the numbers who flocked to drink the waters excited 
the suspicion of the Commonwealth Government, and a declaration 
was published ‘‘to all that come to drink the waters at Lewisham 
to behave themselves peaceably at their utmost peril,” a party of 
horse being ordered to attend to prevent tumult. Dr. Peter, in 
his treatise, complains of the rabble of Londoners and others 
weekly frequenting the wells on Sundays, and not content with the 
natural water, proceeded to drink upon it ‘‘an excess quantity of 
brandy or other strong liquors, thereby many of them becoming 
greatly prejudiced in their health (to add to their folly and crime) 
have not been ashamed to impute their indisposition to this water.” 
The wells continued to exist down to the inclosure of West- 
wood Common, but ceased to be regarded with favour as a 
fashionable resort. 
Rocque’s Map of 1745 shows Sydenham as a fringe of cottages 
and houses along the road from Sydenham Green (now Bell Green) 
to Pigg Hill (now Peak Hill). From this latter point was West- 
wood Common, a roadway across which followed the lines of the 
present Kirkdale and Sydenham Hill Road, another roadway 
followed the lines of the present West Hill, whilst a third existed 
on the site of the road now known as Sydenham Hill. The wells 
lay in the bottom now occupied by Wells Park, the slopes to the 
north, now occupied by St. Mary’s Oratory, being shown as 
‘*Hutton Comb Hill,” continuing northwards into ‘‘ Hambrick 
Hill” 
The Act of 1810 authorised the enclosure of the whole of this 
open common and its division amongst the freeholders of the 
manor who had common rights. A very large part has now been 
built over, but most opportunely the Lewisham District Board of 
Works urged the London County Council to purchase the site of 
the wells, and nearly eighteen acres were acquired at a cost of 
47,210, of which Lewisham contributed half. The grounds cost 
another £45,000 to lay out, and were opened on Whit-Monday, 1go1. 
The site of at least one of the wells (there were about twelve 
of them) is marked by the font in St. Philip’s Church. Even now, 
in spite of the surrounding houses, one can form some idea of the 
picturesqueness of the place in its wild state. The views from 
West Hill across the Wells Park, with the groups of fir trees in 
the grounds of the Oratory, and along the crest of the hills above 
Upper Sydenham Station, form a pleasing memento of the old 
common, and it is to be hoped that private owners will combine 
with the local authorities to preserve the appearance of the district 
as much as possible. 
At the top of West Hill are the gates of the Crystal Palace 
grounds, which, however, lie entirely outside the borough. 
St. Bartholomew’s Church, which stands on the lower slope of 
West Hill, is interesting as the church of the first ecclesiastical 
