Islands in the stream

People don’t usually think of Carshalton and Beddington as places with islands. But follow the River Wandle and its ponds, channels and lakes and you’ll find a surprising number of them. Some were created by the river, others by people diverting water to power mills or shaping the landscape. This isn’t an exhaustive list — […]

Tree-mendous! New measurement finally announced for Carshalton’s giant tree

Three people measuring the girth of Carshalton's giant London plane tree with a tape measure

EXCLUSIVE Carshalton’s much-loved giant tree has been officially measured again – and the results show it has grown significantly since it was last measured more than 60 years ago. The impressive London plane beside the stream that feeds Carshalton Ponds has been remeasured following a request to the Forestry Commission, with the official results now […]

Why isn’t Carshalton Railway Station on STATION ROAD?

We investigate the road that leads to nowhere. Through a variety of maps and historical commentary, we inspect the evidence surrounding whether there was ever a railway station on Station Road in Carshalton. It’s a hot topic of debate amongst locals, and we’ve compiled everything we know as of 2026. Spoiler alert – there was […]

Did you know the water in Carshalton Ponds gets pumped in from 1.5 miles away?

We tend to think of Carshalton Ponds as a permanent feature of village life. The water flowing through The Grove feels as though it has always been there and always will be. But the reality is very different. Today, the ponds continue to receive water from natural springs and rainfall, but they are also supported […]

Carshalton garage commandeered during WW2

Charles Henry Thatcher was the officer in charge of the Carshalton Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) that operated from this lock-up in The Square, Carshalton. Charles won a medal for his service during the Blitz of 1940. But briefly, what was the AFS? The Auxiliary Fire Service was set up in 1938 as a voluntary body […]

Carshalton’s Great Plague victims and the mystery Black Death graves

We’ve been scratching below the surface of Carshalton’s gruesome past – and uncovered potential black plague victims in the grounds of St Philomena’s and the existence of Great Plague burials at All Saints. The Great Plague of 1665 The well-known local historian George Brightling provided details in his 19th century book. Inside there is an […]