Catford is the district of south-east London that lies on the outskirts of the city just south of Lewisham and Brockley.

The area was originally liable to flood and so it had a very small population for many years. Until the 19th century the district remained largely rural and sparsely populated, with agriculture sustaining the local inhabitants.

Then in the mid 19th century the railway reached the district and development soon followed. Like so many areas of London the area was soon filled with houses and today Catford remains a suburban residential district.