Timeless Stories

One of my regular wanders takes in The Grotto at Carshalton Park. Did you know Carshalton’s grotto is even older than other better known ones, such as Stourhead, Goldney and Painshill. 🗝 The Grotto was originally constructed around 1724, and designed by the land owner Thomas Scawen. He lived in Stone Court, a building which […]

Thomas Scawen was the man who created The Grotto in Carshalton Park (see my previous post about The Grotto), and he had inherited the land from his uncle, who had no heirs. 🗝 His uncle Sir William Scawen is pictured here. He once had the prestigious and lucrative role of the Governor of the Bank […]

This is an old and unusual car, part of which was built at the following Carshalton location. Read on to find out more… The photo below is taken from the wooden bridge over the River Wandle, just off Mill Lane, facing Papermill Close. Below that, is the same view taken years earlier, when it was […]

This once grand home stands on a high point in Beddington, it would have had panoramic views over fields and the River Wandle below. In 1906 there was a large bowling green in front. It’s still standing and is situated on The Brandries, off Guy Road in Beddington. 🗝 Brick built, possibly in the early […]

This is the famous well in the heart of Carshalton village that may be named after Tudor Queen, Anne Boleyn. She possibly stopped at Carshalton, perhaps on the way to Carew Manor in Beddington, where she met King Henry VIII for four days of ‘pleasure’. From Diana, Princess of Wales to the Duke and Duchess […]

Carshalton is now a bustling, busy and large village on the outskirts of London, and with a constant stream of traffic, but it’s not always been that way. When night comes, peace and quiet descends and the ghosts of the past come out and visit. Late at night when darkness has fallen, are you brave […]

Quick Links: The Artist / The Legend For those of you relatively new to Carshalton, you would never have seen the wooden Sculpture of Tudor Queen, Anne Boleyn at Church Hill.  The empty plinth is where she once stood, and for nearly 50 years this prestigious sculpture has overlooked the site of Anne Boleyn’s Well. […]

Historians believe that the Anne Boleyn’s Well in the heart of Carshalton village, was never named after the Tudor Queen, but is purely a mis-spelling of an earlier name. However, they are agreed that there’s a possibility she did visit. Quick Links: The Artist / The Legend  Every aspect of Anne Boleyn’s life is controversial. […]