Grove Park, Carshalton
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The Grove Park, or The Grove () is a public park in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton. It is situated close to Carshalton Village in the area approximately bounded by the High Street, North Street and Mill Lane. The southwest corner the park abuts one of Carshalton's ponds (Lower Pond) from where water flows through the park as the river Wandle.
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[edit] History
The park land was in mediaeval times part of the manor of Stone Court, then consisting mainly of meadows. The manor house was situated at the corner of North Street and Mill Lane. The original Tudor house was re-built in about 1710;[1] recently (2005) there was an archaeological investigation into the remains of this building.[2] In the early 19th century a new house called The Grove was built on the other side of the river on higher ground and is the large house seen today. The remaining outbuildings of Stone Court were converted to what are now education department offices.[3] The Grove, including the ornamental gardens, was bought by Carshalton Urban District Council in 1924[3] and the park was opened to the public several years later.
[edit] Features of interest
[edit] The Grove House
The house's early history is obscure, but it is shown on an 1847 map and must have been built a few years earlier.[1]
[edit] The Leoni Bridge
Where Grove Park meets the Lower Pond there is a white Portland stone bridge. This is sometimes referred to as the Leoni Bridge as it is conjectured[4] that the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni designed it. Leoni had been commissioned to design a new mansion for Carshalton Park during the early 18th century, but the mansion itself was never constructed.[5]
[edit] The Cascade
[edit] Upper Mill
It is likely that a watermill existed here from Anglo-Saxon times,[1] although much of the current structure is a recent restoration (2004) carried out after a fire.[6]
[edit] Recreation
To the east of The Grove House there are recreation grounds extending as far as the Westcroft Sports Centre. There is an enclosed children's playground, miniature golf, cafeteria, ballcourt and other facilities.
[edit] See also
- Oaks Park
- Carshalton Park
[edit] References
- ^ a b c The Book of Carshalton: At the source of the Wandle, based on talks by Michael Wilks, published 2002. ISBN 1-84114-155-0
- ^ Museum of London, extract from annual review.
- ^ a b The Grove and Grove Park, London Borough of Sutton.
- ^ Carshalton: a brief history, London Borough of Sutton.
- ^ "Carshalton", The Environs of London volume 1: County of Surrey (1792), pp. 122-36. Daniel Lysons.
- ^ History of Upper Mill, The Grove, London Borough of Sutton.
