Carshalton Park
Encyclopedia
Carshalton
Carshalton is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles 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. The combined population of the five wards...
, in the London Borough of Sutton. It is situated south of the High Street, in the area bounded by Ruskin Road, Ashcombe Road, Woodstock Road and The Park. Carshalton Park and some of the surrounding houses, are within a conservation area.
History
The park today occupies an area of 9.28 hectares, which is about one tenth of its original size. It began to be sold off for housing development in 1892. The northern boundary previously extended as far as the High Street, with the OrangeryOrangery
An orangery was a building in the grounds of fashionable residences from the 17th to the 19th centuries and given a classicising architectural form. The orangery was similar to a greenhouse or conservatory...
building situated in The Square once being within the parkland.
Giacomo Leoni
Giacomo Leoni , also known as James Leoni, was an Italian architect, born in Venice. He was a devotee of the work of Florentine Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti, who had also been an inspiration for Andrea Palladio. Leoni thus served as a prominent exponent of Palladianism in English...
who was chosen to design the building and carry out landscaping. Only the Orangery was built, although architectural drawings for the mansion were published. The gates made for the park in 1711 are now installed on the Gold Coast of Long Island at the site of a former estate which was turned into a public park, the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, which includes the Coe Hall Historic House Museum, is an arboretum and state park covering over located in the Village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, New York....
, New York.
"Hog Pit" pond
Hog Pit is directly in front of today's main north entrance to the park. The origin of this substantial earthwork is unknown but reference to Hoggpytte can be found in mediaeval records for the year 1444. It is recorded that in the late 18th century Hog Pit was used as a water reservoir for mill power. Despite still often being called a pond, it is now dry and forms a simple amphitheatreAmphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
.
The Grotto
The GrottoGrotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
is situated in the south-east corner of the park. It was built in about 1724 as one of the first features of the ambitious designs for building and landscaping in the park. A canal, now dry, extends north from the grotto and continues into Carshalton Place. The structure is now in a state of disrepair and access into its interior is normally prevented by locked gates.
Events
- Carshalton carnival, run by the Wallington and Carshalton Round TableRound Table (club)Round Table is a social networking and charitable organisation for men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, founded in Norwich, England, in 1927. It is open to all men aged between 18 and 45...
, is held in the park on the second Saturday in June. - "The Environmental Fair" run by EcoLocal, a local charity, takes place on the August Bank Holiday Monday.
- A Bonfire NightGuy Fawkes NightGuy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
fireworks display, also run by the Round Table, is held on the first Saturday in November.
Every Saturday at 12 the park hosts a fitness class open to the public in the small ditch. The class is called 'Go hard or go home' and is run by George Carlin, originally There were only a few members but it has attracted a lot of attention and continues to grow.
Transport
Three railway stations are within walking distance of Carshalton Park. They are, in order of proximity, Carshalton Beeches railway stationCarshalton Beeches railway station
Carshalton Beeches railway station is in south Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton in south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and is in Travelcard Zone 5.- Services :...
, Wallington railway station
Wallington railway station
Wallington railway station is in the London Borough of Sutton in south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and is in Travelcard Zone 5....
and Carshalton railway station
Carshalton railway station
Carshalton railway station is a railway station at Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton in South London.The station is served by First Capital Connect and Southern trains. It is in Travelcard Zone 5. From here you can catch a direct train to as far north as Luton in Bedfordshire and...
. Refer to the map below for directions.