Rare find of 1776 coin could uncover the true history of The Hope pub
*Historical* There’s at least 5 things we don’t currently know for certain about The Hope pub in West Street, but this rare coin could help. Let’s go… 1 When it was built Not much appears to survive of the original building. Though a find underneath a hearth of a rare 1776 coin may indicate the […]
Tracing the Hamlet of Wallington through its beautiful old buildings
The original hamlet of Wallington was based around Wallington Green, Wrights Row, London Road, Manor Road and Manor Road North. There’s still several charming old buildings that survive from those early days, and we’re going to be gradually discovering more about them on this page, so please check back as we add more. So in […]
Move over Lavender – we uncover the long lost industry that gave Carshalton its name
In the same way that the chalky soil has made Carshalton perfect for growing Lavender, the abundance of spring water also made the area particularly suited to growing watercress. Yes, this simple plant was once grown extensively across the chalky basin of the north downs. People couldn’t get enough of it. Watercress was popular because […]
Step inside Carshalton’s oldest building – in continuous use for 900 years
All Saints Church with its commanding view of the ponds, is undoubtedly the place with the richest history in all of Carshalton. But what are the very oldest parts of the building? You’re going to find out… We’re investigating the remaining parts of the original church that date way back to the early 1100s. The […]
The origins of Carshalton’s largest commercial High Street building
It’s interesting to note that the investors who created one of the largest buildings in Carshalton village, can most likely be attributed to the South Suburban Co-operative Society Ltd. They are now simply known as the Co-Op but at this time were formed by merging with the Croydon Co-operative (and others) in 1918. When the […]
The Haunted House of West Street
Did you know this old house in Carshalton is haunted? Its spooky past featured in a famous book written over 100 years ago. So next time you’re in West Street, don’t look up at the windows, as you may find a ghost looking back at you. Let’s uncover more… Step out of Carshalton train station […]
Entire Rock Aristocracy Descend on Beddington for the Funeral of Guitar Legend Jeff Beck
The funeral of the late, great Jeff Beck took place at St Mary’s Church in Beddington on Friday 3 February 2023. There’s probably never been such a star-studded occasion in the area, and passers-by described it as ‘surreal’. Attendees included Eric Clapton, Kate Bush, David Gilmour, Brian May, Ronnie Wood, Tom Jones, Harry Enfield, Vic […]
Suburban home in Carshalton Beeches hosts 1935 Firewalking experiment which sparks worldwide wonder
*Historical* A rather grand suburban home in Carshalton Beeches holds a surprising secret. For it was here in the 1930s, that famous ghost hunter Harry Price conducted paranormal experiments in the back garden – as depicted in the illustration above. Harry Price gathered dignitaries from the University of London Council to witness an unusual event. […]
All Saints priest is one of the earliest images of a Carshalton resident
This is Walter Gaynesford. He became the priest of All Saints church when he was about 30 years old – over a staggering 500 years ago. As well as being one of the very first images of a Carshalton resident, it’s also the first known image of an All Saints priest. We do know a […]