Editing London Borough of Sutton (section)

==Culture and leisure==

The London Borough of Sutton was once made up of rural villages, associated with [[Feudalism|feudal]] and [[Crown Estate|royal estates]]. The "village feel" persists, and Carshalton, Cheam and Belmont in Sutton continue to be referred to as villages. The historic development of the borough is reflected in the number of heritage areas designated as conservation areas and as areas of special local character.<ref>[https://www.sutton.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4239&p=0 Borough Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020002421/https://www.sutton.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4239&p=0 |date=20 October 2014 }}</ref> Descriptions of a selection of the borough's cultural institutions and attractions are set out below.

===The Sound Lounge===
[[File:The Sound Lounge, Sutton, Greater London 4.jpg|thumb|The Sound Lounge, Sutton High Street]]

{{main|The Sound Lounge, London}}
The [[The Sound Lounge, London|Sound Lounge]], a [[grassroots]] concert venue, opened in December 2020 in Sutton High Street in the former premises of [[Royal Bank of Scotland]]. It hosts live performances of blues, [[Americana (music)|Americana]], folk and [[American folk music|roots music]]. The venue includes a [[Plant-based diet|plant-based]], [[Carbon neutrality|carbon-neutral]] café, and hosts visual art exhibitions, theatre and dance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krause |first=Riley |date=5 June 2019 |title=Pair have 13,000 reasons why Sutton should be home to new music venue |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/17685283.pair-13-000-reasons-sutton-home-new-music-venue/ |website=Your Local Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/documents/s69963/8%20Sound%20lounge%20presentation.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120184638/https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/documents/s69963/8%20Sound%20lounge%20presentation.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-20 |url-status=live|title=Sutton Modern Government document}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Storer |first=Rhi |date=22 August 2020 |title='The risk is enormous': UK live music still in crisis after reopening |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/22/the-risk-is-enormous-uk-live-music-still-in-crisis-after-reopening |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The site also incorporates a vinyl [[record shop]] (one of two branches of the ''Union Music Store'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charsley |first=Monica |date=21 April 2021 |title=The Sound Lounge speaks on nerves, excitement and future plans amid reopening |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/19249569.sound-lounge-makes-comeback-sutton-merton/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Sutton and Croydon Local Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2021 the venue became the country's first grassroots music venue to be certified as carbon neutral. A wide variety of measures have been put in place to achieve neutrality. In addition to the fully plant-based menu for the café, these include getting all energy from renewable sources, not sending any waste to landfill and maintaining an allotment garden on site for zero-carbon produce for the café.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2021 |title=The Sound Lounge - The First Carbon Neutral Grass Roots Music Venue in the UK |url=https://www.recordoftheday.com/on-the-move/news-press/the-sound-lounge--the-first-carbon-neutral-grass-roots-music-venue-in-the-uk |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Record of the Day}}</ref>

===The Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton===
[[File:Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, Carshalton, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 485263.jpg|thumb|Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton]]
{{main|Charles Cryer Theatre}}
The Charles Cryer Studio Theatre is situated on the High Street (number 39) in [[Carshalton]] Village.
<ref name="sutthe">{{cite web|url=http://www.suttontheatres.co.uk |title=Secombe Theatre, Charles Cryer Studio Theatre |access-date=4 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305113505/http://www.suttontheatres.co.uk/ |archive-date=5 March 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was opened by [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Edward]] in 1991.
<ref name="house">{{cite web|url=http://events.londonopenhouse.org/building/1045 |title=Open House London 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006144538/http://events.londonopenhouse.org/building/1045 |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> As well as drama and musicals, productions included comedy and dance. With material ranging from Shakespeare to Chekov to panto and children's favourites, the theatre's aim was to balance popularity with quality. The theatre also served as a concert venue for local bands and played host to the popular local Rockshot festival. The theatre is named after the man who led the campaign to open the Secombe Theatre, [[Sutton, London|Sutton]], listed below.<ref name="Footlights">{{cite web|url= http://www.overthefootlights.co.uk/20.pdf |title=Over the footlights website, regarding the Secombe Centre Theatre |access-date= 4 October 2014 }}</ref> In August 2016 Sutton Theatres Trust, which owned the theatre, went into administration and it closed.<ref name="Hutchinson">{{cite news |last=Hutchinson |first=David |date=12 August 2016 |title=Sutton theatres close amid financial crisis |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2016/sutton-theatres-close-amid-financial-crisis/ |newspaper=The Stage |access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> However, at a meeting in October 2018, the local council confirmed that the theatre would be brought back into use, following a successful bid to run the venue (on a 25-year lease) by Cryer Arts Ltd. The company plans a range of events, including music, film and theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/17197130.new-use-for-the-charles-cryer-theatre-is-revealed/|title=New use for the Charles Cryer Theatre revealed|website=Your Local Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=29 October 2018 |title=Agenda for Strategy and Resources Committee on Monday, 29th October, 2018, 7.30 pm |url=https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=453&MId=5011&Ver=4 |website=Sutton Council}}</ref>

===The Secombe Theatre, Sutton town centre===
{{main|Secombe Theatre}}
[[File:2016-06-04 TheSecombe.jpg|thumb|left|Secombe Theatre, Sutton]]
The Secombe Theatre (named after Sir [[Harry Secombe]]) was in Cheam Road, adjacent to the Holiday Inn Hotel. The theatre was opened by Sir Harry, who lived in Sutton for over 30 years of his life.
<ref name="Gower">{{cite web |url=http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/explore/swansea/swansea-notable-people/sir-harry-secombe |title=Sir Harry Secombe |publisher=Explore Gower |access-date=14 October 2014 |archive-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929230233/http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/explore/swansea/swansea-notable-people/sir-harry-secombe |url-status=dead }}</ref> The theatre was created out of a former Christian Scientist church building originally dating from 1937.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secombe Theatre {{!}} Theatres Trust |url=https://database.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3128-secombe-theatre |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Theatres Trust}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.overthefootlights.co.uk/20.pdf|title=Sadler's Wells Theatre|publisher=Overthefootlights.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2014}}</ref> The main auditorium seats 396 (or 343 if the orchestra pit is in use), and there is a large multi-purpose function room attached. The Secombe Theatre is operated in conjunction with the Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, named after the man who led the campaign to open the Secombe Theatre. (The Charles Cryer Theatre is in a converted hall in nearby [[Carshalton]] – see entry above). Productions at the Secombe have ranged in content from modern productions to new twists on older, more established plays. Some productions have been produced locally, while others have come as part of touring groups. From time to time comedians and musicians have appeared at the theatre.<ref name="ukatt">{{cite web |title=Secombe Theatre |url=http://www.ukattraction.com/london/secombe-theatre.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023000042/http://www.ukattraction.com/london/secombe-theatre.htm |archive-date=2007-10-23 |access-date=4 October 2014 |website=UK Attraction}}</ref>

In 2014, because of local council budget cuts, the venue was, along with its sister theatre, the [[Charles Cryer Theatre]] in [[Carshalton]], identified by the [[Theatre Trust]] as one of 33 theatres in the country for inclusion on its "At Risk" register.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29235537 |author=Ian Youngs |title=Theatres Trust lists 33 historic theatres 'at risk' |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=18 September 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 }}</ref> The risk of closure spurred celebrity intervention in favour of the two theatres: writer, actor, comedian and [[BBC]] presenter [[Tim Vine]], called on Sutton Council to reconsider its proposals.<ref name="sguard">{{cite web|url=http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/11476659.Comic_legend_Tim_Vine_takes_to_Twitter_to_call_on_Sutton_Council_to_halt_theatre_closure_plans/?ref=mr |title=Comic legend Tim Vine takes to Twitter to call on Sutton Council to halt theatre closure plans |publisher=Sutton Guardian |date=17 September 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 }}</ref> On 10 November 2014 the local council announced that four organisations submitting outline bids to take over the two theatres had been invited to submit full business cases by 12 December. The council worked with the [[Theatres Trust]] and Sutton Centre for Voluntary Services to help bidders through the bidding process.<ref name="pressoffice">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsroomsutton.co.uk/?p=928|publisher=London Borough of Sutton Press Office|title=Four bids to take over Sutton's theatres invited to submit full business case|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> On 15 January 2015 the bid by the new "Sutton Theatres Trust" (STT) was given approval by the council's environment and neighbourhood committee to take over the theatres, thus saving them from closure.<ref name="sguard2">{{cite web|url=http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/11739879.Dramatic_rescue_for_Sutton_s_theatres_as_new_10_year_takeover_deal_gets_nod/?ref=eb |title=Dramatic rescue for Sutton's theatres as new 10-year takeover deal gets nod |publisher=Sutton Guardian |date=21 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015 }}</ref> In August 2016 the Trust went into administration and the theatre closed permanently.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>

===Carew Manor, Beddington===
[[File:Carew manor.jpg|thumb|Carew Manor, Beddington Park]]
Beddington Park is the location of Carew Manor which was the home of the Beddington branch of the Carew family. The [[Grade I|Grade I listed]] great hall,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beddington Place (Great Hall Only), Sutton, London |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101065672-beddington-place-great-hall-only-beddington-north-ward |access-date=17 July 2013 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> with its [[hammerbeam roof]], survives from the Tudor house along with part of the early 18th-century [[orangery]] built around the orange trees planted by [[Francis Carew|Sir Francis Carew]] in the 16th century and claimed to be the first in England. In the grounds is an early 18th-century [[Grade II*]] listed [[dovecote]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Pigeon House to North West of Beddington Place, Sutton, London |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101065674-pigeon-house-to-north-west-of-beddington-place-beddington-north-ward |access-date=17 July 2013 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> Archaeologists discovered a Tudor garden including a [[grotto]] at Carew Manor, believed to have been created by Sir Francis Carew in the 16th century. There are tours of the great hall organised by the London Borough of Sutton Museum & Heritage Service.

===Church of St Mary the Virgin, Beddington, Sutton===
[[File:St Mary's Church, Beddington - geograph.org.uk - 1212624.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Church, [[Beddington]]]]
The [[Grade II* listed]] 14th-century flint parish church of St Mary's occupies a prominent position in Beddington Park, immediately south of what is now Carew Manor School and which was from the late Middle Ages the seat of the Carew family. It contains an organ screen by [[William Morris]]. The church is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Sutton, London |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101065670-parish-church-of-st-mary-the-virgin-beddington-north-ward |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>
* It has substantial amounts of fabric from the 14th and 15th centuries 
* It was extensively restored and provided with an extremely elaborate and interesting mid-Victorian decorative scheme.
* It has monuments and other fixtures of importance from c. 1200 to the 20th century, including font and Carew tombs.
* The Morris and Co. organ is of special note, and the Last Judgment reredos is unusual.

===River Wandle===
[[File:London Borough of Sutton Beddington Park 5.jpg|thumb|The [[River Wandle]] in Beddington Park]]
[[File:3 Beddington Park, London Borough of Sutton - Boating Lake.jpg|thumb|Beddington Park]]
The [[River Wandle]] is a {{convert|9|mi|km}} long river which flows through four southwest London boroughs, including Sutton. It passes through [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]], Sutton, [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], and [[London Borough of Wandsworth|Wandsworth]] where it joins the [[River Thames]]. The river changed from being a mainly rural one lined with a scattering of watermills at the beginning of the 19th century to a heavily built-up one by the 1930s. In the second half of the 20th century the river changed again, as the local authorities made improvements to its visual appearance and restored it as a habitat for wildlife.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wandle |url=https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1405 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150119055055/https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1405 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |website=London Borough of Sutton}}</ref> Much of the River is accessible using the [[Wandle Trail]], which passes through Sutton borough at [[Beddington]], [[Hackbridge]] and [[Carshalton]] (including [[Grove Park (Sutton)|Grove Park]] in Carshalton Village).

===Little Holland House, Carshalton===
Little Holland House in [[Carshalton Beeches]] was the home of the artist Frank Dickinson (1874–1961). Dickinson's [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts and Crafts]] style interior was influenced by [[John Ruskin]] and textile designer and artist [[William Morris]]. The house contains many of his art works. Admission is free and the house is open 1.30–5.30pm the first Sunday of each month plus Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays.<ref>{{cite web|title=London Borough of Sutton Heritage, Little Holland House.|url=http://www.friendsofhoneywood.co.uk/Little_Holland_House.htm|access-date=15 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724101557/http://friendsofhoneywood.co.uk/Little_Holland_House.htm|archive-date=24 July 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Sutton Library, Sutton town centre===
Sutton Library is situated close to the top of the town, near St Nicholas Church and the Holiday Inn Hotel, and is part of a complex which contains the [[Sutton Civic Offices|Civic Offices]], home of Sutton Borough Council, and the Sutton College of Liberal Arts. It is the largest library in the borough. Originally opened in 1975, it was extensively refurbished in 2004 to meet changing customer needs. It was the first public library to appoint a library writer-in-residence; the first to establish a CD and video lending library; and the first to offer a full public library service on Sundays.
The library is arranged over four storeys, and the lending and reference facilities extend to a reader's lounge; café and shop; IT facilities; opportunities to listen to music; and a children's library themed around the world's environments.<ref>[https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2121 London Borough of Sutton – Sutton Central Library] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192826/https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2121 |date=29 October 2013 }}. Sutton.gov.uk. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref>

===Sutton Life Centre, Sutton===
The [[Sutton Life Centre]] is an £8 million community facility designed to improve life chances for younger people and encourage good citizenship. Its key feature – the lifezone – is a virtual street, a room with screens on all walls showing real-life scenes from Sutton's streets. It also has a library, a café, a [[climbing wall]], and community, eco, sports, youth and media zones.<ref>[http://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6924 "Sutton Life Centre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307135523/http://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6924 |date=7 March 2012 }}, sutton.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2011.</ref> It tries to encourage community engagement and involvement. It was opened on 27 October 2010 by [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] [[Nick Clegg]].<ref name=horsefly>[http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/8477840.VIDEO__Nick_Clegg_opens_Sutton_Life_Centre/ "Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg officially opened Sutton Life Centre"], ''Sutton Guardian'', 27 October 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2011.</ref>

===Honeywood Museum, Carshalton===
{{wide image|P1470257 Carshalton Ponds panorama.jpg|1000px|Panoramic view including the Greyhound Hotel (left) and Honeywood House Museum (centre)}}
[[File:UK London - Carshalton Ponds and Honeywood Centre.jpg|thumb|Honeywood House from a distance]]

Honeywood is a large house at the western end of [[Carshalton]] Ponds. At its earliest it dates from the 17th century but has been much extended and restored, particularly in the period 1896 to 1903 when a large Edwardian wing was added to the south side. It now houses the London Borough of Sutton's main Museum and has a local history collection, including objects that date back to the Bronze Age. The museum has recently been refurbished, reopening in May 2012 with enhanced features. Among others improvements, there are now expanded displays about the river Wandle and its influence on the life of the area, including an interactive map.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.friendsofhoneywood.co.uk/History_of_Honeywood.htm |title=Honeywood Museum History |publisher=Friendsofhoneywood.co.uk |date=1 December 1990 |access-date=26 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528143128/http://friendsofhoneywood.co.uk/History_of_Honeywood.htm |archive-date=28 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Arts Network Sutton===
Arts Network Sutton "promotes, champions, nurtures and acts as a voice for the arts" in the borough. Taking over from the former Sutton Arts Council, it was put in place in April 2014, and launched by the Mayor of Sutton in June. It co-ordinates the arts locally and works together with
regional and national arts bodies, informs the local arts community about arts initiatives,
seeks out funding for local projects and runs events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artsnetworksutton.com/tag/press-release/|title=Press Release|publisher=Arts Network Sutton|access-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222114754/http://www.artsnetworksutton.com/tag/press-release/|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Public art in Sutton town centre===
[[File:Sutton, Surrey London Heritage Mural edited-4.jpg|thumb|Sutton Heritage Mural]]

{{main|List of public art in Sutton}}

There are a number of examples of [[List of public art in Sutton|public art in Sutton]] town centre, ranging from building-height murals, to sculptures to an [[armillary]]. These are all fully described in the article on the town of [[Sutton, London|Sutton]] itself. Of particular ''borough-wide'' note is one of the murals, which is in the form of a mosaic measuring {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=off}} in height and {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=off}}approximately) in width, and covering the whole of a three-storey wall in the town square near the [[Waterstones]] bookshop. It was made from vitreous ceramic tesserae (small tiles made of glass and clay), and put in place in 1994. It was commissioned to celebrate Sutton's heritage, and shows several aspects of the borough's heritage and local history in a geometric pattern of nineteen panels. The centre-piece is the depiction of Henry VIII's palace at Nonsuch. Other panels depict armorial bearers from the old local families, as well as industrial and architectural heritage.<ref>[http://www.drostle.com/suttonheritage.html Drostle and Turner fine tiles — Sutton Heritage page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022061046/http://www.drostle.com/suttonheritage.html |date=22 October 2012 }}</ref>

===Whitehall Gallery, Cheam===
{{main|Whitehall, Cheam}}
Whitehall is a timber framed and weatherboarded house in the centre of [[Cheam]] village. It was originally built in about 1500 as a wattle and daub yeoman farmer's house but has been much extended. The external weatherboarded appearance dates from the 18th century. In the garden there is a medieval well which served an earlier building on the site. Now an [[historic house museum]], the building features a period kitchen, and house details from the [[Georgian era|Georgian]], [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian]] eras.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsofwhitehallcheam.co.uk/Whitehall_History.htm |title=Whitehall History |access-date=2014-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124943/http://www.friendsofwhitehallcheam.co.uk/Whitehall_History.htm |archive-date=6 October 2014 }} Whitehall History</ref> The museum temporarily closed in 2016 to allow for a £1.6m refurbishment of the building. It reopened in 2018 with improved facilities.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://friendsofwhitehallcheam.co.uk/
|title= Friends of Whitehall Homepage
|access-date= 17 July 2018
}}</ref> Jill Whitehead, chair of the council's environment and neighbourhood committee, said: "The redevelopment of the Whitehall Museum is of major significance to the borough as it is one of our oldest and most historic buildings."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/14410570.500_year_old_museum_to_close_for___1_6m_renovation/?ref=eb |title=500-year-old Cheam museum to close for £1.6m renovation (From Sutton Guardian) |newspaper=Suttonguardian.co.uk |date=7 April 2016 |author=Anders Anglesey |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>