CARSHALTON, a parish (formerly a market
town) in the second division of the hundred of WALLINGTON,
county of SURREY, 11 miles (S. S. W.) from
London, containing 1775 inhabitants. In Domesdaybook
this place is called Aulton, signifying Old Town,
and this name it retained until the reign of John, when,
it was called Cersalton, "of which the present name is
a variation. The village is pleasantly situated near
Banstead Downs, on a dry and chalky soil: the river
Wandle runs through the parish, and, being joined in
its course by other streams issuing from springs in the
neighbourhood, forms in the centre of the village a
broad sheet of water, through which passes the public
road, constructed by subscription among the inhabitants,
at an expense of £700, and renewed by the same
means in 1828, when a bridge was erected, which cost
£500. The environs are pleasingly diversified with
rural scenery, and contain numerous elegant mansions,
inhabited principally by London merchants. Near the
churchyard is a fine spring, called Queen Ann Boleyne's
well, that queen, as it is said, having been gratified with
the flavour of the water; it is arched over with stone,
and kept in good repair. . The trade has lately much
declined: a calico-printing establishment, on a large
scale, has been discontinued; but there are extensive
bleaching-grounds, and, on the banks of the river,
within the limits of the parish, are several mills for the
manufacture of snuff, paper, flocks, and leather, besides
three large flour-mills: there are also some limekilns'.
A branch from the Wandsworth and Croydon railway
extends to Hack bridge, in this parish. The market,
granted in the reign of Henry III., has long been
discontinued; but a pleasure fair is held on the 1st
and 2nd of Jxily. Carshalton is within the jurisdiction
of a court of requests held at Croydon, for the re'-
covery of debts under £ 5: a court for the manor is
occasionally held.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Surrey,
and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's
books at £11. 12. 6., and in the patronage of John
Cator, Esq.: the vicars have received the great tithes
since 1726. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an
ancient structure, containing portions in the early and
decorated styles of English architecture; the chancel;
which is built of flint, appears to be the oldest part, to
which the other parts, built of brick, have been subsequently
added;' the steeple is between the chancel and
the nave. The interior contains some ancient and interesting
monuments belonging to the families of Fellowes
and Scawen; and there are two brasses, representing
Sir Nicholas Gaynesford and his lady, with a
group of children. There is a Roman Catholic chapel
connected with a seminary in the parish. A National
school,-for an unlimited number of children, is supj
ported by subscription. Christopher Muschamp, Esq.,
in 1660, bequeathed £200, to be invested in the purchase
of land, which now produces £25 per annum, for
apprenticing poor children; and in 1726, Edward Fellowes,
Esq. gave an annuity of £20, directing that half
of it should be appropriated to the same purpose, and
the remainder given to the poor, for whose benefit there
are also some smaller bequests. A bronze figure of
Cupid, about three inches and a half in height, and a
brass bust of a man, both found in the river, were in
1794 exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries. Dr. Radcliffe,
the munificent benefactor to the university of Oxford,
resided here in the'latter part of his life. Carshalton
Grove has been stripped of its trees, and those
beauties which once rendered it a source of considerable
attraction have greatly faded.