Carshalton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carshalton |
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    Top to bottom, left to right: the Upper Pond in Carshalton Village; the Sun public house in the conservation area; High Street, with All Saints Church in the distance; the Leoni Bridge and the Grove.
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 Carshalton
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| Population | 29,917 (2011 Census. 3 Wards) |
| OS grid reference | TQ275645 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| 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 |
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| London Assembly |
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Carshalton is a town in south London, England. It has a lovely historic village centre and is part of the London Borough of Sutton. Carshalton is about 15 kilometres (9.5 miles) south of Charing Cross, which is a famous spot in central London. It sits in the valley of the River Wandle, and one of the river's sources is the beautiful Carshalton Ponds, right in the middle of the village. Before 1965, when Greater London was created, Carshalton was part of Surrey county.
Carshalton has several different areas, but the main part, Carshalton Village, is very pretty. It has two ponds next to each other. The old All Saints Church, which is a Grade II listed building, overlooks the ponds on one side. On the other side is the Victorian Grove Park. The Honeywood Museum, another Grade II listed building, is also very close to the water.
There are many other historic buildings and three special "conservation areas" in Carshalton, including one in the village. Besides Honeywood Museum, you can find the Charles Cryer Theatre and an art gallery in Oaks Park. Carshalton is also home to the Sutton Ecology Centre. Every year, a fun environmental fair is held in Carshalton Park to the south of the village.
Carshalton is part of the Carshalton and Wallington area for Parliament. Bobby Dean is the current Member of Parliament (MP) for this area. In 2011, the population of Carshalton was about 29,917 people.
Contents
History
Long, long ago, people lived in the area now known as Carshalton. Tools and other items from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) and Iron Age have been found here. This shows that people settled here very early on. Before the Norman Conquest in 1066, there were five small farming areas owned by five free men.
Carshalton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, where it was called Aultone. It had a church, mills, meadows, and woodlands. In those days, Carshalton wasn't one big village but a few small settlements spread out.
In the Middle Ages, the land was mostly used for farming. The River Wandle was very important because its water power was used for manufacturing. The Domesday Book mentions a water mill for grinding corn. Later, by the 1700s, there were mills making paper, leather, snuff, and even bleaching cloth.
Carshalton was known for its natural springs, which might have given the town its name. "Aul" means well or spring, and "ton" means an enclosed farm. The "Cars" part might relate to a cross or even watercress, which used to grow here. In the 17th century, a historian named Thomas Fuller wrote that Carshalton was famous for its walnuts and trout fish.
By the mid-1800s, Carshalton was the largest village in what is now the London Borough of Sutton, with a population of 2,411. The railway came to Carshalton in 1847, but the first station was a bit further away. A station was finally built in the village itself in 1868. In the 1890s, a large estate called Carshalton Park was sold for building houses, which helped the town grow a lot.
During the Victorian era and into the early 1900s, Carshalton was famous for its beautiful lavender fields. However, as more houses were built, the lavender farms slowly disappeared.
Geography
The centre of Carshalton, around the ponds and High Street, still feels like a village. The busy A232 road runs through it. Many buildings and green spaces here are protected as part of the Carshalton Village Conservation Area. This area has some of the most historic buildings and beautiful old streets in the borough. For example, Stone Court is an old building from the early 1800s, and The Sun pub has amazing Victorian brickwork.
The Conservation Area also includes important historical parkland, like the grounds of Carshalton House Estate (where St Philomena's Catholic School is) and The Grove Park.
Other special conservation areas in Carshalton are the Wrythe Green Conservation Area and the Park Hill Conservation Area.
Sutton town centre is about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west of Carshalton. Carshalton's main street is almost a straight road that goes all the way to Orpington via Croydon.
Carshalton-on-the-Hill is a residential area on the higher ground to the south of Carshalton Park. In the middle of this area is Stanley Park.
Carshalton Beeches is to the west of Carshalton-on-the-Hill. It grew up around the railway station, which was named after Beeches Avenue. This avenue is lined with beautiful beech trees.
The Wrythe is an area between Carshalton village and St Helier. Its name might come from "rye" (a type of grain) that used to grow here, or from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning "small stream." During Roman times, there was a spring near the green, and a Roman Villa was found nearby in Beddington.
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Rose Hill | Benhilton | Mitcham | |
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| Belmont | Woodmansterne | Roundshaw |
Landmarks
All Saints Church
All Saints Church is a very old and important church in Carshalton. It's located at the west end of Carshalton High Street, right across from Carshalton Ponds. There has been a church on this spot since at least the time of the Normans, and probably even earlier. The tower is the oldest part, possibly dating back to before the Norman Conquest. The church has been made bigger many times over the centuries. Inside, there's a large organ and a beautiful design by architect Ninian Comper.
Just outside the churchyard, there's a spring called "Anne Boleyn's Well." People sometimes say it appeared when Anne Boleyn's horse kicked a stone. However, it's more likely that the name comes from "Boulogne," as the Counts of Boulogne owned land here in the 12th century.
Strawberry Lodge
Built in 1685, Strawberry Lodge is one of Carshalton's oldest buildings. It was built by Josias Dewye, who ran a gunpowder mill on the River Wandle.
Today, Strawberry Lodge is owned by Carshalton Baptist Church. It's used as a place of worship and also as a conference and training centre during the week.
Lavender Fields
Carshalton has two historic lavender fields. One, at Oaks Way, is a community project that grows three acres of lavender. The other, a much larger 25-acre commercial farm called Mayfield, is very popular with visitors. This area was once known as the "Lavender Capital of the World"! From the 1700s to the early 1900s, the chalky soil of the North Downs in Surrey was perfect for growing lavender. You could see blue fields all over the area, including Carshalton.
Carshalton House Water Tower
The Water Tower, also known as the Bagnio, was built in the early 1700s. Its main job was to pump water to Carshalton House (now St Philomena's School) and its garden fountains. But it was also designed to be a special building with an orangery (a place to grow citrus trees), a fancy room, and a bathroom with original Delft tiles. The Water Tower is surrounded by a garden with an 18th-century Hermitage and a rustic-style "Folly Bridge."
Little Holland House
Little Holland House in Carshalton Beeches was the home of artist Frank Dickinson (1874–1961). He designed the inside of his house in the Arts and Crafts style, inspired by famous thinkers like John Ruskin and William Morris. The house is full of his artworks. Dickinson built his unique home between 1902 and 1904, blending traditional and Art Nouveau styles. Inside, you can see his handmade furniture, paintings, and metalwork.
You can visit Little Holland House on the first Sunday of every month, and on Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays, from 11am to 5pm. Entry is free!
The Orangery
The Orangery in The Square was built in the late 1700s within Carshalton Park. It's thought that George Taylor, who owned plantations in the West Indies, built it. Later, it was used as a stable. Today, it's office space for the Environment Agency.
The Oaks bakehouse
The bakehouse in Oaks Park is all that's left of "The Oaks" mansion, which burned down in the 1950s. The original bread oven is still there. Bricks from the burnt mansion were used by local builders to make garden walls for houses nearby.
Honeywood Museum
Honeywood is a large, historic house right by the beautiful Carshalton Ponds. It dates back to the 1600s, but it has been made bigger and restored many times. Today, it's the London Borough of Sutton's Museum. It has a collection of local history items, including things from the Bronze Age. There's also a tea room and a shop.
The museum was updated and reopened in May 2012. It now has better displays, including an interactive map about the River Wandle and how it shaped the area. There's also a collection of Edwardian toys in the "Childhood Room." The inside of the house was restored to look like it did in 1903, including the billiards room and drawing room.
Sutton Ecology Centre
The Sutton Ecology Centre is in Carshalton Village. It's a 1.3-hectare Local Nature Reserve, which means it's a special place for nature. It's managed by Sutton Council and volunteers.
It's a mostly open space where you can learn about wildlife, different types of energy, recycling, composting, and organic gardening. The centre offers educational visits for schools and community groups, as well as fun events and volunteer days. The area used to be called the "Lodgelands" and was a tree nursery. In 1987, it was decided to keep it as an open space for everyone to enjoy.
Parks
Carshalton has many green spaces, just like the rest of the London Borough of Sutton. Three of its main public parks are especially worth visiting.
Carshalton Park
Carshalton Park is south of the High Street. The park and some nearby houses are part of a conservation area. Even though it's smaller than it used to be, it still has interesting historical features. These include a grotto (a small cave-like structure), the Hog Pit Pond, and an old air raid shelter that was recently found. The Hog Pit is now empty of water and looks like a natural amphitheatre. It's used as the main stage for the yearly Environmental Fair.
Grove Park
Grove Park, closest to the village centre, is a great example of a Victorian park. It's located near the High Street and Mill Lane. In the Middle Ages, this land was mostly meadows. The park, including its beautiful gardens, was bought by the local council in 1924 and opened to the public a few years later.
One corner of Grove Park is next to one of Carshalton's ponds (Lower Pond). The River Wandle flows through the park from here. A special feature is the Leoni Bridge, made of white stone. It's thought that a Venetian architect named Giacomo Leoni designed it. Grove Park also has Grove House, a large house from the early 1800s, a watermill, and a small waterfall called a cascade. The cascade used to help power a nearby mill.
Oaks Park
Oaks Park is a large park with a natural look, great for walks. It has formal gardens, natural chalk meadows, woodlands, and open parkland. It was mostly designed for the Earl of Derby about 250 years ago, in the 1770s. The park's villa was built around 1750. The villa's bakehouse, stable block, and some other buildings are still there today.
The Oaks Park estate gave its name to the Oaks horse race, which started in 1779. This famous race is still run every year at Epsom Downs Racecourse, about 6.5 kilometres (4 miles) away.
Today, Oaks Park also has a public golf course and a sports centre. You can find a craft centre and a café in the park. There are also the Oaks Park Studios in the old stable block, where artists work and show their paintings and other art.
Events
Charles Cryer Theatre
The Charles Cryer Theatre is on Carshalton High Street, close to both Carshalton and Carshalton Beeches train stations. It opened in the early 1990s. The theatre is named after Charles Cryer, who helped open another theatre in nearby Sutton. The theatre puts on plays, musicals, comedy shows, and dance performances. It has hosted everything from Shakespeare to pantomimes. It's also a place for local bands to play.
The theatre closed for a while in 2016, but it reopened in 2018 under new management. They plan to have lots of different events, including music, films, and plays.
Carshalton Environmental Fair
The Environmental Fair is a big event held in Carshalton Park every year on August Bank Holiday Monday. It has over 100 stalls and shows off local ways to live sustainably. You can enjoy music, performances, poetry, and activities for children. There are also groups raising awareness about important issues, local crafts, demonstrations, and a farmers' market. Music is played from three stages, including rock and folk. The main stage is a natural open-air area. There's also food and a bar with local beers. Around 10,000 people usually come to the fair, which is organized by EcoLocal and many volunteers.
Other events
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Other yearly events in Carshalton include the Carshalton Fireworks, a charity fireworks display at Carshalton Park around Guy Fawkes Night. There's also a summer carnival in June, a beer festival in May, and the Carshalton Charter fair in September.
The Ecology Centre and Honeywood Museum also have regular events and meetings.
The Methodist hall in Ruskin Road is home to the Ruskin Players and the Carshalton Choral Society, who perform throughout the year.
The annual Carshalton Lavender harvest weekend takes place in July at Stanley Park Allotments.
Economy
Carshalton has various businesses and organizations. Shops are a big part of the local economy. There are several shopping areas, with the small streets in Carshalton Village being the main one.
The Village has many unique, independent shops. You can find art galleries, gift stores, antique shops, coffee houses, pubs, and restaurants. In 2014, a pub in West Street in Carshalton Village was even named one of the top four pubs in the UK!
In Carshalton Beeches, about 800 metres (half a mile) south-east of the Village, there's another shopping area along Beeches Avenue. Here, you'll find an art gallery, a chocolate shop, gift shops, and beauty salons.
Transport
Carshalton has two train stations: Carshalton and Carshalton Beeches. Trains from Carshalton go to Victoria (in about 25 minutes), London Bridge, and other stations like Blackfriars and Kings Cross St Pancras.
The closest London Underground (Tube) station is Morden.
Several bus routes also serve the High Street, including 127, 157, 407, 627, and SL7.
Carshalton is on a section of the National Cycle Network (Route 20), which is great for cycling. You can also find a leisure trail along the River Wandle from Wandsworth on the Sustrans website.
Notable residents
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Carshalton:
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, an athlete, went to Greenshaw High School.
- Aggie Beever-Jones, a footballer for Chelsea.
- Jack Cork, a footballer for Burnley FC.
- Carl Cox, a famous DJ, spent his early life here.
- Pauline Boty, an artist.
- Rob Davis and Les Gray, members of the band Mud.
- Sir John Major, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Sir Cliff Richard, the singer, went to Stanley Park Junior School.
- Joanna Rowsell Shand, an Olympic gold medallist in cycling.
- Tim Smith, a musician and composer, was born here.
- Alison Weir, a novelist and historian.
Education
Carshalton has many primary and secondary schools, as well as one college.
Primary schools
- All Saints, CofE, Carshalton Primary
- Barrow Hedges Primary
- Harris Junior Academy Carshalton
- Muschamp Primary
- Rushy Meadow
- St Mary's RC Junior School
- Stanley Park Infants
- Stanley Park Junior
- Victor Seymour Infants
Secondary schools
- St Philomena's School
- Carshalton High School for Girls
- Carshalton Boys Sports College
- Oaks Park High School
Further education
- Carshalton College
Sport and leisure
Carshalton has two football clubs: Carshalton Athletic F.C. and Carshalton FC.
At the Westcroft Leisure Centre in Grove Park, Carshalton, you can find health and fitness facilities, including two swimming pools. In 2012, Westcroft had a big renovation that cost £11 million, bringing improved swimming facilities, dance studios, and beauty treatment rooms. The sports hall has eight courts for activities like badminton, gymnastics, trampolining, basketball, football, netball, and volleyball.
Images for kids
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Carshalton War Memorial
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Carshalton Council Offices, later converted for use as the public library
