In 1846 when the directors of the local gas suppliers toured Sydenham and Dulwich, they decided that the area did not merit the development of gas. However in 1854, the Crystal Palace Gas Company began gas production at Bell Green, the lowest lying region in the area. This corresponded with two events that boosted sales. The first was the opening of the Crystal Palace in 1854 and the second was the adoption of street lighting in 1856. Prior to this you had to use a lantern to find your way at night and it was said that if you fell into a ditch there were so few people about you might wait days to be rescued.
The Pool River bisected the gasworks and so it disappeared into a culvert 30m below the surface to avoid interrupting the plant. When the site became the South Suburban Gas Company, nearly 2,000 people were employed there but with the advent of natural gas in the 1960’s production ceased and it became redundant.

Over 100 years of gas manufacture had left the soil contaminated and it was decided to move the river to a new open channel. This has been designed with a pathway linking into the Green Chain walk and to encourage nature to thrive. The gravel river bed has already increased the shoaling of fish and the river banks are planted with native trees, shrubs , herbs and wetland marginals. Bridges are situated at viewpoints and imported boulders provide inviting places for children to play.

The same junction December 2000.

Access to the wild part of the river beyond the riverside walk is possible at several places, especially near the one-way system at Catford bridge where you can see the stretch once known as Gudgeon’s Swim.The confluence of the rivers Pool and Ravensbourne is just above this point.
About 100 years ago, residents of the odd numbers of Catford Hill had landing stages at the bottoms of their gardens. They relaxed in their rowing boats on the river and enthusiasts held a fancy dress regatta each year. The inn on the other side of the road was called the Ravensbourne tavern until the name changes of recent times. It was first licensed in 1845.
The source of the Pool River is difficult to trace. I believe that it rises near to Norwood Junction by Werndee Rd and Shinners Close and runs along the ground water sewers below Marlow and Ravenscroft roads. In old maps it was called the Boundary stream and you can detect its course from the walls on either side of the roads along this valley. It passes along the backs of the gardens in Reddons Rd and crosses behind Cator Park School into the Park. Here it meets the flow from the Chaffinch Brook and the river Beck and from now on is called the river Pool.

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