Lewisham Underwater

Remembering the Great Flood of 1968

Image: Courtesy of the Lewisham Local History and Archives

On 15-16 September 1968, following days of torrential rain, much of Lewisham found itself underwater. What became known as the ‘Great Flood’ had a profound effect on Lewisham’s people and their relationship with its rivers.

This project gathered memories of the Lewisham residents who were affected, connecting an event over 50 years ago with our relationship to local rivers today. Through public art, fun-filled river activities and even a new flood Beer, Lewisham Underwater makes rivers everybody’s business.

Background

Boats drifting down highstreets, shop windows submerged, public parks transformed into lakes; these were the scenes that greeted the people of Lewisham on the morning of the 15th.

Image courtesy of the Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre

The persistent rain had burst the banks of the Rivers Ravensbourne, Quaggy and Pool, grinding travel to a halt and flooding the area for almost a week. Residents struggled to get to work or school and thousands of homes and businesses were seriously damaged.

The government’s reaction to previous floods was to try to control the rivers, encasing them in concrete and hiding them away underground in an attempt to mitigate future flooding. This reactive approach lasted until the mid-90s when attitudes started to change.

Image: Photograph of QWAG flood leaflet

Together with Lewisham Council, Lewisham Underwater is co-led by the Quaggy Waterways Action Group (QWAG), a local community group committed to restoring the natural condition of local rivers to help reduce flood risk, boost wildlife and improve the area so that rivers are treated as a major asset to any urban environment.

Explore the River Quaggy as a Virtual Museum Space

Formed in 1990, the group has worked to restore Lewisham’s rivers, demonstrating that the best way to avoid flooding is to allow rivers to exist naturally, with their soil and gravel beds and banks acting as absorbent sponges. Treated in this way, the group’s successful restorations have produced valuable scenic spots for the people of Lewisham to enjoy.

Project

Lewisham Underwater related past to present by gathering stories and photographs of Lewisham residents from the time of the flood and using them to discuss what can be done today to improve river conditions.

The project partnered with Brockley Brewery to produce a flood beer, Deluge, made from locally foraged green hops. Green hops grow wild throughout the UK, including on the banks of the Quaggy.

Specially designed beer mats were created for the beer which was launched at Brockley Brewery Taproom in October 2022. The beer also went out to several local pubs and bars in the borough.

Image: Deluge beer mat, Lewisham 1968
Image: Deluge beer mat, Ladywell 1968

River walks, clean-ups and other activities will run across 2022 to connect communities with the waterways we all share.

To celebrate the project,  public artwork was commissioned and  launched on the banks of the Quaggy in central Lewisham in spring 2023. Inspired by the memories of local people and connecting the 1968 floods with the existential climate and ecological emergency, the site-specific artwork has sustainability at its core.

Share your memories of the Great Flood of 1968 or of Lewisham’s rivers and waterways.

Project team

  • Paul de Zylva, Chair, Quaggy Waterways Action Group (QWAG)
  • Marcus Gayle, Flood Risk Manager, Climate Resilience Team, Lewisham Council