Carshalton

Template:Infobox London place Carshalton is a suburb of London, part of the London Borough of Sutton, located 10 miles (16.1 km) south south-west of Charing Cross. It is situated in the valley of the river Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village.

History

Carshalton is mentioned in the Domesday book under the name "Aultone" (Well Farm) and owned by Geoffrey de Mandeville. From 1894 to 1965 Carshalton formed part of the Carshalton Urban District.

Carshalton was also known for its springs and these gave the place its name Cars - Aul - ton. Aul means well. 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.

Events

Annual events include a fireworks display at Carshalton Park on the first Saturday in November, a summer carnival on the first or second Saturday of June, a beer festival over the first Bank Holiday weekend in May, and an environmental fair on the August Bank Holiday Monday.

Buildings of interest

All Saints Church

The parish church of All Saints 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.

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 as she rode from Beddington Park to Nonsuch Palace. Why she was going there is unclear since construction of the palace did not start until two years after she was executed.

A less romantic, and more plausible, explanation is 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.

Carshalton House Water Tower

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

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 open to the public on the first Sunday of each month, 1.30pm to 5.30pm, free admission.

The Oaks Bakehouse

The late 19th century Bakehouse in Oaks Park is all that remains of "The Oaks" mansion which was demolished in the 1950s. The original bread oven remains in situ.

Honeywood

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 "Heritage Centre" and has a local history collection.

The Orangery

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 as Environment Agency offices.

Parks

Carshalton Park
Grove Park
Oaks Park

Districts

Carshalton-on-the-Hill

Carshalton-on-the-Hill is the residential area on the high ground to the south of Carshalton Park around Boundary Road, Stanley Road and Stanley Park Road and stretching out toward the smallholdings of Little Woodcote.

Carshalton Beeches

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, the street in which it is located; which, in turn, is named after the beech trees which line it.

The Wrythe

The Wrythe, or Wrythe Green, lies between Carshalton village to the south and St Helier to the north-west. 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. The name derives from the fact that there was once a small Roman camp set up near the spring. 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. The spring has since disappeared under ground and the culvert it fed flows into the Wandle near Hackbridge.

Transport

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.

Education

St. Philomena's School (Catholic Girls' High School)
Carshalton High School for Girls
Carshalton Boys Sports College (Renamed from Carshalton High School for Boys)
Stanley Park High School
Carshalton College

Sports

Carshalton has two football clubs: Carshalton Athletic (home ground at The War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue) and Carshalton FC (at Beddington Park).

Nearest places