Sutton

Few local characters became as instantly recognisable as the ‘Wizard Man of Sutton’. For decades he was a familiar sight on Sutton High Street: dressed in flowing robes, wearing a skull cap, adorned with rings, and carrying a tall staff often topped with a dragon motif. Whether encountered in and outside shops, walking steadily through […]

The ticket above is dated 1915, when Carshalton was part of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The following tickets span more than 100 years, and include a Wallington season ticket dated 1944 from during the Second World War.  Nowadays we’re more likely to tap in with our mobile phone, but the colour, wording […]

We’re collecting together in one post, our favourite old shop tiles from across the borough of Sutton, including Carshalton, Wallington and Cheam. We will be updating this with new information as we receive it. Come on a journey with us along miles of tiles… Flowers and bathrooms in Carshalton Firstly, some beautiful old shop tiles […]

Countless chairpersons and leaders have kept these groups active, spanning several generations – and incredibly they’re still going strong today. Across the borough, organisations like these are the beating heart of our communities. This is their age as of 2025 – and all are over 70 years old. So in reverse order, let’s go…   […]

This is part of an historic preserved wall that’s over 500 years old and can be found hidden behind some carpets in Sutton High Street. This structure forms the party wall between Boots Chemist and Tapi Carpets (formerly Clarks shoes) at 101 – 103 High Street.   It is unclear what type of building the […]

This modern clock is outside Sutton Railway Station in South London, and is one of the first things that greets you on arrival. Perhaps you’ve never really paid much attention to it, but I think the clock looks rather striking against the backdrop of trees. So now it’s time to hear a little more about […]

🦋 On the southern tip of Greater London and touching the northern tip of Surrey is a dramatic lavender field that draws visitors from far and wide. It’s been a long time since going here, so I popped along to take a look. Though the postal address is Banstead, Surrey – the field sits within […]

Suddenly losing her father Paul to Cardiac arrest in 2022 is what spurred Clare on to set up the Paul Alan Project. Last year, Clare Parish and her charity team have installed defibrillators in several local locations such as at Sutton Green, The Robin Hood pub and in Sutton Town Centre. A passionate football fan, […]

This direction sign on the border of Sutton and Carshalton is an evocative reminder of days past. Thanks to Tamara Huntley for pointing it out. The road sign is possibly dated circa 1940. There can’t be many road signs that have moss growing on them! Should it be kept or removed? Your comments below… More […]