Editing Carshalton (section)

== Parks ==

[[File:P1470187 Carshalton Ponds...jpg|thumb|Looking across Lower Pond towards [[Grove Park, Carshalton|Grove Park]]]]
[[File:The fountain at Butter Hill - geograph.org.uk - 362488.jpg|thumb|The fountain at Butter Hill]]

In common with the [[London Borough of Sutton]] as a whole, Carshalton has many green spaces, with three of its main public parks worthy of particular note.

=== Carshalton Park ===
The present day [[Carshalton Park]] is situated south of the High Street, in the area bounded by Ruskin Road, Ashcombe Road and Woodstock Road. The park and some of the surrounding houses lie within a conservation area. Although much reduced from its original size, it still offers features of historical significance and includes a grotto, the ''Hog Pit'' Pond, and a recently rediscovered air raid shelter. Hog Pit is now empty of water, and takes the form of an amphitheatre which is utilised as the main stage for the annual Environmental Fair, which the park plays host to.

=== Grove Park ===
[[File:Grove Park Cascade Carshalton.jpg|thumb|left|[[Grove Park, Carshalton|Grove Park]] Cascade]]
[[Grove Park (Sutton)|Grove Park]], closest to the village centre, is the best example of a Victorian park in the Borough. It is situated in the area approximately bounded by the High Street, North Street and Mill Lane. The park land was in [[mediaeval]] times part of the [[manorialism|manor]] of Stone Court, then consisting mainly of meadows. The manor house was situated at the corner of North Street and Mill Lane. The Grove, including the ornamental gardens, was bought by [[Carshalton Urban District]] Council in 1924<ref name=LBCGrove>{{cite web |title=The Grove and Grove Park, London Borough of Sutton |url=http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/grove.htm |access-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515110804/http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/grove.htm |archive-date=15 May 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and the park was opened to the public a few years later.

The southwest corner of Grove Park lies next to one of Carshalton's ponds (Lower Pond), from whence the [[River Wandle]] flows through the park. Among its features of interest is the ''Leoni Bridge'', situated where Grove Park meets the Lower Pond. It is made of white [[Portland stone]]. Its name derives from the conjecture<ref>{{cite web|title=Carshalton: a brief history, London Borough of Sutton|url=http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/carshaltonhistory.htm|access-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419175259/http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/carshaltonhistory.htm|archive-date=19 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> that the [[Venice, Italy|Venetian]] architect [[Giacomo Leoni]] designed it. Leoni had been commissioned to design a new mansion for [[Carshalton Park]] during the early 18th century (although the mansion itself was never constructed).<ref name=Lysons2>"Carshalton", ''The Environs of London'' volume 1: County of Surrey (1792), pp. 122–36. [[Daniel Lysons (antiquarian)|Daniel Lysons]].</ref> Grove Park also features Grove House, a large early nineteenth house, a watermill and a cascade. The cascade is near the footbridge leading to the Stone Court corner of the park. The 1.5-metre fall is now ornamental in design, but its original purpose was to create a head of water in order to provide power for the nearby "Upper Mill".

[[File:Oaks Park - Apr 2014.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Oaks Park]]

=== Oaks Park ===
[[File:P1170403 Artist..Carshalton 10.04.14...jpg|thumb|upright|Artist at work in Carshalton]]
[[Oaks Park, Carshalton|Oaks Park]] is a large park landscaped in a generally naturalistic style, providing downland walks. It is varied and includes formal horticulture, natural chalk meadows, woodlands and informal parkland. It was substantially laid out for the [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|Earl of Derby]] nearly 250 years ago – in the 1770s – but its villa dates back further than that. The villa (for one Thomas Gosling) was built around 1750, in the era's fashionable landscape style, with trees forming a perimeter screen and placed in artful clumps to suggest a natural landscape. The house was partly rebuilt by [[Robert Taylor (architect)]] for [[John Burgoyne]] in 1775 and by [[Robert Adam]] for the 12th Earl of Derby in 1790.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Oaks & Oaks Park, London Borough of Sutton|url=http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/Carshalton/oaksandpark.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507113955/http://www.sutton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage/Carshalton/oaksandpark.htm|archive-date=7 May 2008}}</ref> The villa's bakehouse, stable block and some outbuildings remain to this day.

The Oaks Park estate lent its name to the Oaks horse-race which was inaugurated by the Earl in 1779, and is run annually during the Derby meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse, about 4 miles to the west. The original Oaks Race ran from Barrow Hedges, north of The Oaks and through Oaks Park before heading west to approximately the site of the current Epsom Downs Racecourse. Part of the off-road route still exists.

The modern day open space also hosts a public golf course and sports centre. The park itself contains a craft-centre and a café. There are also the '''Oaks Park Studios''' set in the 1770 stable block, where working artists display their paintings and other artwork.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaksfineart.co.uk/index.htm|title=Oaks Fine Art|work=oaksfineart.co.uk|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126181338/http://www.oaksfineart.co.uk/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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