These charming photographs offer a glimpse of The Grove in Carshalton as it looked in the early 1980s, when the gardens were a favourite place for a riverside stroll.

Kindly shared by Tony Sawkins, the pictures show the water cascading over the rocks and the pond surrounded by mature trees and open grassy banks.

One noticeable difference from today is the amount of grass around the water, with fewer geese visible in these historic scenes.

Tony, who visited the ponds, gardens and local pubs many times with his wife, recalled fond memories of the area.

“What a very sad state of affairs of this beautiful scenic pond and all of the wildlife that uses it,” he said, reflecting on the current concerns surrounding Carshalton Ponds.

Looking back to his visits in the early 1980s, he also wondered whether a tributary of the River Wandle still flows into the pond, remembering how it “always had lots of swans and ducks swimming in it”.

His photographs provide a lovely reminder of the area’s enduring charm and the wildlife that has long made its waters and gardens special.

A couple more nostalgic images of The Grove

StoryUnseen 1958 image shows the Grove Cascade 10 years before reconstruction*Historical* Look closely at this famous Carshalton landmark and you’ll realise it looks slightly different to what is there now. This beautiful autumnal image was taken by Bill Ru…Read more StoryStunning photo of lost pond and rockery in The Grove is a reminder of richer times*Historical* This recently discovered photo featuring an ornamental pond and rockery is absolutely stunning. It would have been part of the gardens of the last private owners of Th…Read more