| Carshalton | |
Carshalton, by upper pond |
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Carshalton
Carshalton shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | TQ275645 |
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| London borough | Sutton |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARSHALTON |
| Postcode district | SM5 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Carshalton and Wallington |
| London Assembly | Croydon and Sutton |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Carshalton (pronounced /kɑːˈʃɔːltən/, kah-shawlt-ən, used to be also /keɪsˈhɔːtən/, kays-hawt-ən) is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles (16.1 km) south-southwest of Charing Cross, situated in the valley of the River Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village.[1] The combined population of the five wards comprising Carshalton was 45,525 at the 2001 census.[2] It is in the UK Parliamentary constituency of Carshalton and Wallington.
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To the south of the area now known as Carshalton, remains of artefacts dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age have been found, suggesting that this was an early place of habitation.[3] Prior to the Norman Conquest it is recorded that there were five manors in this location owned by five freemen.[4]
The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Wallington hundred.
Carshalton appears in Domesday Book as Aultone. It was held by Goisfrid (Geoffrey) de Mandeville. Its domesday assets were: 3½ hides; 1 church, 10 ploughs, 1 mill worth £1 15s 0d, 22 acres (89,000 m2) of meadow, woodland worth 2 hogs. It rendered £15 10s 0d.[5]
Carshalton was known for its springs; these may have given the place its name Cars - Aul - ton. Aul means well or spring. A ton is a farm which was in some way enclosed. The meaning of the Cars element is uncertain but early spellings (Kersaulton and Cresaulton) may indicate connection with a cross or perhaps cress, watercress having been grown locally.
In his book History of the Worthies of England, the 17th century historian Thomas Fuller refers to Carshalton for its walnuts and trout.
Land was primarily put to arable use and the river Wandle gave rise to manufacturing using water power. A water mill to grind corn was mentioned in the Domesday Book. By the end of the 18th century it was recorded that there were several mills for the production of paper and parchment, leather, snuff, log-wood and seed oil. There were also bleaching grounds for calico.[4][6] During the Victorian era and into the early 20th century, Carshalton was known for its lavender fields,[7] but the increasing land demand for residential building put an end to commercial growing.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 78 civilian casualties in Carshalton during World War II.
From 1894 to 1965 Carshalton formed part of the Carshalton Urban District.[8]
Central Carshalton, around the ponds and High Street, retains a village character, although the busy A232 runs through the area. There are a number of buildings and open spaces protected by the Carshalton Village Conservation Area.[9]
Carshalton-on-the-Hill is the residential area on the high chalk upland ground to the south of Carshalton Park around Boundary Road, Stanley Road and Stanley Park Road and stretching out towards the smallholdings of Little Woodcote.
Carshalton Beeches is the area to the west of Carshalton-on-the-Hill, around Beeches Avenue, Banstead Road and Woodmansterne Road. It grew up around the railway station which was named after Beeches Avenue, a street near to its location; which, in turn, is named after the beech trees which line it.
The Wrythe, or Wrythe Green, lies between Carshalton village to the south and St Helier to the north-west. Its name is thought to derive from the rye that was once grown in this area, or from the Anglo-Saxon word rithe which means a small stream.[6] During the time of the Roman occupation of the British Isles, a small spring was situated near the green, now shadowed by a BP garage. Roman activity in the area is confirmed by the fact that there was once a Roman Villa built in Beddington, just a couple of miles away, and a number of roads in the vicinity of Roman origin. The spring has since disappeared under ground and the culvert it feeds flows into the Wandle near Hackbridge.
| St Helier | Mitcham | Mitcham Common | ||
| Sutton | Beddington | |||
| Carshalton | ||||
| Belmont | Woodmansterne | Wallington |
The parish church of All Saints[10] overlooks Carshalton Ponds. A church has stood on this site since at least Norman times and probably much longer. The current church contains 12th century work but has been much extended over the centuries; most dramatically in 1891 when a new nave and north aisle were added.[11]
Just outside the churchyard wall is a spring locally known as "Anne Boleyn's Well". It is popularly said to have received this name because it appeared when Anne Boleyn's horse kicked a stone and a spring of water appeared. Anne was probably riding to or from an assignation with her would-be lover King Henry VIII at the nearby home of Sir Nicholas Carew.
Another possible explanation is that the name is a corruption of "Boulogne". The Counts of Boulogne owned land here in the 12th century and there may have been a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Boulogne near the well.
The water tower was built in the early 18th century primarily to house a water driven pump supplying water to Carshalton House (now St Philomena's School) and its gardens. It was planned as a multi-purpose building, however, and also contains an orangery, a saloon and a bathroom which retains original Delft tiles.
Little Holland House in Carshalton Beeches was the home of the artist Frank Dickinson (1874–1961). Dickinson's Arts and Crafts style interior was influenced by John Ruskin and William Morris. The house contains many of his art works. It is now occasionally open to members of the public.[12]
Honeywood is a large and attractive house at the western end of Carshalton Ponds. At its earliest it dates from the 17th century but has been much extended and restored, particularly in the period 1896 to 1903. It now houses the London Borough of Sutton's Museum and has a local history collection, including objects that date back to the Bronze Age.
The late 19th century bakehouse in Oaks Park is all that remains of "The Oaks" mansion which burned down and was demolished in the 1950s. The original bread oven remains in situ. Blocks of burnt bricks from the ruins of the great house were used by local builders to construct garden walls for houses all along Woodmansterne Road, and may still be seen today.
The Orangery in The Square was built in the second half of the 18th century in Carshalton Park (the section of which between here and Ruskin Road has since been built over). It is now used for commercial office space.
Constructed in 1685, Strawberry Lodge is one of Carshalton's oldest buildings. It was built by Josias Dewye[13] who was described in records at the time as a 'clothworker and citizen of London'. In the late 17th century Josias moved from Chilworth to Carshalton to run a Gunpowder Mill on the River Wandle and decided to make his home nearby at the lodge.
Located on the corner of Strawberry Lane and Mill Lane, Strawberry Lodge is owned by Carshalton Baptist Church.[14] Besides being a place of worship it is also used during the week as a conference and training centre. During the 1990s the site was renovated by the Baptist Church supported by the London Borough of Sutton.
In common with the London Borough of Sutton as a whole, Carshalton has many green spaces with three main public parks of note. The present day Carshalton Park is much reduced from its original size but still offers features of historical significance. Grove Park, closest to the village, is the best example of a Victorian park in the Borough. Oaks Park is a large park landscaped in a naturalistic style, providing downland walks.
Carshalton has two railway stations: Carshalton and Carshalton Beeches. From 1847 to the opening of the current Carshalton in 1868 Wallington railway station was named Carshalton. The closest London Underground station is Morden, which is a 12-21 minute journey from Carshalton High Street by 157 bus.[15] Bus services 127, 407, 627, and X26 also serve the High Street. Bus service 154 serves Carshalton Beeches Station with links to Morden and West Croydon.
Carshalton has two football clubs: Carshalton Athletic F.C. (home ground at The War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue) and Carshalton FC (at Beddington Park). At the Westcroft Leisure Centre in Grove Park, Carshalton, there are health and fitness facilities including two swimming pools one being a teaching pool, sports hall, two others halls, squash court and fitness centre. There is also a children's play area called Kid's Kingdom. It is due to have a refurbishment to repair the building and introuduce new facitlites, which will last about a year. It has been managed by many different organisations, currently by SLM trading as Everyone Active.[16]
Annual events include a charity fireworks display at Carshalton Park on the Saturday nearest to Guy Fawkes Night,[17] a summer carnival on the second Saturday of June, a beer festival over the first Bank Holiday weekend in May, the Environmental Fair also held in Carshalton Park on the August Bank Holiday Monday.[18] and Carshalton Charter fair held in September.[19]
There are frequent theatrical and musical productions at The Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, which is situated on the High Street.
The Ecology Centre and Honeywood Heritage Centre[20] also hold regular events and meetings.
The Methodist hall in Ruskin Road is home to the Ruskin Players and the Carshalton Choral Society, both of which perform at regular intervals throughout the year.
The annual Carshalton Lavender harvest weekend is held in July, at Stanley Park Allotments, Carshalton-on-the-Hill.[21]
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