Banstead Village

GROVE LANE COTTAGE, WOODMANSTERNE LANE

GROVE LANE COTTAGE, WOODMANSTERNE LANE / CARSHALTON ROAD, WOODMANSTERNE, c1925

This title of "Cross Roads, Carshalton, nr Wallington" would be of little help in placing its location as this view has almost disappeared today !

One clue - it is very close to Oaks Park...

Over a century ago that 'track' veering off to the right between the trees and behind the cottage used to be a lane linking Cheam village with Smitham Bottom / Lion Green, which skirted around the Oaks Park Mansion estate.

Locals would recall that track as Grove Lane, which crossed the former 400+ acre Clock House Farm estate.

Today, that track is barred to both motor and horse drawn traffic.
However, a footpath remains and now leads to The Mount, though its entrance has been moved 100 yards up & over the brow of the hill.

Time for another clue ?
Today, two mini roundabouts sit here alongside each other ......

And what became of Smitham Bottom & Lion Green ?
The Post Office renamed them as Coulsdon in 1905.

Photo courtesy M. Stammers