Ladywell originally opened as an 812-bed workhouse in 1900. In 1930, when the London County Council (L.C.C.) took over, it re-named it the Ladywell Institute. After 1940, the L.C.C. opened the nursery at 82 Ladywell Road, in a new block. The Ladywell Residential Nursery, offered both a residential nursery and nursery school for up to 140 children, aged 0 to 5 years old. It was taken over by Lewisham Council in 1965. The nursery is now closed.