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 […]
Is the infamous ‘Grey Lady’ the ghost of a skeleton found buried under a tree?
A violent storm in 1974 pulled down an old tree, to reveal a forgotten skeleton. It was in an area behind the gatehouse (pictured above) at St Philomena’s school. Local school boys discovered the remains. Throughout the early 70s, in the residential area to the left of the picture below, one of the school children […]
What was inside Carshalton’s lost 1877 Time Capsule?
It’s a mystery. What’s happened to two time capsules said to be stored within the wall of an old Barclays Bank. Lynne Mills, a local resident said “I used to go to barclays bank in Carshalton High Street every day for the company I worked for, and in the wall there were 2 time capsules […]
Was there ever actually a village green in the heart of Carshalton?
*Historical* This is a road sign you may easily miss. It’s in Carshalton High Street and points towards a public car park and a row of old houses. But what was The Green referring to and how did the name come about? Here’s some theories. Theory 1: Before where the car park is, there was […]
Carshalton pub features unusual 1897 plaque relating to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee
*Historical* This South London pub has an old Victorian plaque screwed to the top of the bar, perhaps a remnant from when it was a butcher’s shop. Drinkers may have rested their pints on this often-missed brass plaque in The Woodman, Carshalton – a building that dates back to the 1600s. The Victorian momento reads: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Why Are There No Pubs in Carshalton Beeches? The Mystery of The Quaker Covenant
Like a sect, the Quakers seem a quiet and secretive bunch, controlling where we go and what we do… Stop there. First off, don’t get your hopes up. I’ve found no evidence of a Quaker covenant depriving us of our enjoyment of a pint on every street corner in Carshalton Beeches. But how did the […]