Until recently, there were two independent antique shops in the village. Being such an historic area, Carshalton is well suited to this type of trade. However, we’re now down to the last remaining antique dealer, and Secret Carshalton popped in to meet Tony, and enjoy his wonderful shop – Collectors Corner.
Tony, the owner of Collectors Corner was kind enough to have his photo taken at his shop. He’s in his late 70s now, but doesn’t show any sign of giving up just yet – such is his passion for history.
The shop opened in 1978 and sells a fantastic mix of curios and antiques. Tony remembers when it was a newsagent, and the owner would sell newspaper from a little kiosk window – still visible between the two shop windows (and can be seen to the left of the photo below).
We had a fascinating chat about Carshalton and its history. Tony even had a bespoke coloured painting made of the old town square, as it was once was. This is the photo used for inspiration, provided courtesy of the fantastically helpful Sutton Heritage and Archives Library.
At the time of writing, the much loved old shop is open 11 till 3.30pm every day, closed Wednesdays, and open Saturdays 10am till 3.30pm.
Have you been in? Let us know in the comments below.
Hello. I did an evening paper round for this shop around 1965…. Evening Standard, Evening News.
My grandparents, Bill and Glad Barry, ran this shop in the 60s when it was a newsagents. He sorted out the papers in the early morning and then went off to his other job as cellarman at The Greyhound whilst she looked after the shop for the rest of the day. Back then only the right side was actually the shop, the area behind the left hand window was a narrow sitting room come store room. At the back of the building was the kitchen – Belfast sink, coal fired range to heat the water and a bath covered by a tabletop that was raised by a pulley system. Out in the yard was a pigeon loft, Grandad raced the birds. He previously lived in a house at Orchard Hill (near The Greyhound) and also had a loft there. During the war his pigeons flew messages from agents in France contained in a canister fixed to a leg. When one arrived my Dad had to cycle up to Wallington police station and hand it to the desk Sgt. Across the small back yard was the outside toilet, provided with a candle as no electricity out there. Up to the mid 60s the phone was still served by an operator, no direct dialling! The number was Wallington 3481.