Panorama showing Carshalton Ponds in Carshalton. This picture was taken in early April 2009 from Leoni Bridge at the northern edge of Lower Pond, showing both the pond and water way leading through Grove Park to the site of an old mill.

Carshalton Ponds - Carshalton visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Carshalton Ponds' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Greater London.

Carshalton Ponds are a main focal point in Carshalton, bounded by Grove Park and Carshalton High Street. There are two ponds, known as the Upper and Lower Ponds. Neither pond is natural in origin, the Upper Pond is said to have been created in 1630s for the Earl of Arundel and the Lower Pond is thought to have been made in 1730's for Thomas Scawen. Next to the Upper Pond are the Honeywood Heritage Centre and the Water Tower. Water flows over a small weir under North Street from the Upper Pond to the Lower Pond and then under Leoni Bridge, through Grove Park to the River Wandle. On the south side of the ponds are the Greyhound Hotel and All Saints church.

Today, the Carlshalton Ponds play an important recreational role in the life of the village, and are a popular place for people to come and feed the ducks, swans and geese that frequent the waterways. The springs here were also important as a source of water that powered some of the 100 or so mills built along the River Wandle. The remains of one such mill, called Upper Mill and water wheel can be found in Grove Park and the weir that fed water into the mill has been converted into a pleasant little rapid called the Cascade.

Leoni Bridge, a small bride made of Portland stone, separates Carshalton Ponds from Grove Park. It is thought to have been designed by Giacomo Leoni, an architect from Venice who was commissioned to redesign the layout of the park and build a mansion here. The mansion was never built.

Train: Carshalton Station, direct from London Victoria and Blackfriars in central London in 30 minutes.