Grove Park, Carshalton
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
London Borough of Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the 80th largest local authority in England by population. It is one of the southernmost boroughs of London...
. It is situated close to Carshalton Village in the area approximately bounded by the High Street, North Street and Mill Lane. The southwest corner of the park abuts one of Carshalton's ponds (Lower Pond) from where water flows through the park as the river Wandle
River Wandle
The River Wandle is a river in south-east England. The names of the river and of Wandsworth are thought to have derived from the Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement". The river runs through southwest London and is about long...
.
History
The park land was in mediaeval times part of the manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Stone Court, then consisting mainly of meadows. The manor house was situated at the corner of North Street and Mill Lane. The original Tudor
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
house was re-built in about 1710; recently (2005) there was an archaeological investigation into the remains of this building. In the early 19th century a new house called The Grove was built on the other side of the river on higher ground and is the large house seen today. The remaining outbuildings of Stone Court were converted to what are now education department offices. The Grove, including the ornamental gardens, was bought by Carshalton Urban District
Carshalton Urban District
Carshalton was a local government district in north east Surrey from 1883 to 1965 around the town of Carshalton.The parish of Carshalton adopted the Local Government Act 1858 in 1883 and a local board was formed to govern the town. The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the area as an urban...
Council in 1924 and the park was opened to the public several years later.
The Grove House
The Leoni Bridge
Where Grove Park meets the Lower Pond there is a white Portland stonePortland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
bridge. This is sometimes referred to as the Leoni Bridge as it is conjectured that the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni
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...
designed it. Leoni had been commissioned to design a new mansion for Carshalton Park
Carshalton Park
Carshalton Park is a public park in Carshalton, 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...
during the early 18th century, but the mansion itself was never constructed.
Upper Mill
It is likely that a watermillWatermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
existed here from Anglo-Saxon times, although much of the current structure is a recent restoration (2004) carried out after a fire.
The Cascade
Recreation
To the east of The Grove House there are recreation grounds extending as far as the Westcroft Leisure Centre. There is an enclosed children's playground, miniature golfMiniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
, cafeteria, ball court, bowling green and other facilities.
Transport
The park is a short walk from Carshalton railway stationCarshalton 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...
, turning left on exit. The park is also on the route of Transport for London buses 127 and 157
London Buses route 157
London Buses route 157 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, alighting at the Carshalton Ponds stop.
See also
- Carshalton Park
- Oaks ParkOaks Park, CarshaltonThe Oaks Park is a public park in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton. It is bounded on the south by Croydon Lane , and on the east by Woodmansterne Road; smaller roads lie to west and north.-History:...