Does this finally solve the mystery of that big hole in Carshalton Park?
*Historical* One of the uses for the Hog Pit in Carshalton Park was to provide water for the long-lost mill situated in Carshalton High Street. A recent view showing two of our wonderful Carshalton pubs, which almost stand next to each other. Between them is where the ‘High Street Mill’ once stood. Over many years […]
Carshalton’s Top 10 Pubs – voted by YOU
*News* The Sun is snapping at the heels of ‘you know where’ for the number one slot in our poll of nearly 500 locals. Thank you to all the Secret Carshalton readers who responded to our anonymous poll to choose their favourite pub. So let’s raise a glass to our unique and individual social establishments… […]
New Carshalton Heritage facebook group launched
Secret Carshalton has launched a new facebook group to highlight local issues around preserving and protecting the heritage of Carshalton. You can join here: Carshalton Heritage This supplements the private Secret Carshalton online community group, that you can join here: Preserve and Protect Group. Both these groups are a work in progress and we always […]
Crowd turn up for long-awaited return of the Anne Boleyn Statue
*News* A large crowd turned up to see an award-winning sculpture of Anne Boleyn unveiled – returned to its rightful place after a 14 year absence. It was 11am on a Monday morning and some had even taken the morning off work to take a look. The day marked 489 years since Boleyn’s execution at […]
Carshalton landmark transformed and details on chestnut tree event
*News* The Grotto in Carshalton Park is one of the oldest in the country, but occasionally suffers from vandalism. The Friends of Carshalton Park applied for funding to have graffiti removed, and this was completed in April 2025. They also removed a build up of ivy. The result is good to see. This project was […]
Nostalgic tickets from long-forgotten train journeys
The ticket above is dated 1915, when Carshalton was part of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The following tickets span more than 100 years, and include a Wallington season ticket dated 1944 from during the Second World War. Nowadays we’re more likely to tap in with our mobile phone, but the colour, wording […]
Carshalton’s Beer-themed 1930s Ghost Sign
This ghost sign is promoting something to do with one of Carshalton’s favourite pastimes – drinking beer of course. It once clearly read “Free Off Licence Hammerton Oatmeal Stout” It’s dated circa 1935 and is probably original to when the parade of shops on Stanley Park Road was built. A very brief bit of history, […]
The Gunpowder, the Canon and the Bridge
*Historical* What does this ornate bridge in Beddington Park have to do with gunpowder and a canon? We’ll tell you. The bridge was commisioned by Canon Alexander Henry Bridges (that’s the Canon bit). He was rector of Beddington 1864-1891 and an honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral. The bridge has brick terracotta tiles originally made in […]
“The vogue for jazz bands gave a new lease of life to my business”
That was according to John Boughton who once occupied the old snuff mill by the bridge at Butter Hill on the border of Wallington and Carshalton. He was speaking to Robert Thurston Hopkins, a ghost hunter and writer who visited Carshalton in 1930. R Thurston Hopkins (1884–1958) had written a book called “Old English Mills […]