Sutton joins Sutton and Cheam, Carshalton, and Beddington and Wallington, places that were once in Surrey. Its history includes Cheam's charter of 1259, the Tudor palace of Nonsuch, the Carew family's orange trees at Beddington, coaching inns on the London to Brighton road, Carshalton's mills and lavender, and a village that grew into a town when the railway came in 1847.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1086
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Sudtone
Domesday Book (1086) records Sutton as Sudtone, with two churches, about 30 houses and 200 people, over about 800 acres. From then until the 1800s Sutton was a parish in the Wallington hundred of Surrey.
From the records: “An ancient parish originally in the county of Surrey, Sutton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having two churches and about 30 houses.”
1086
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Beddinton
Beddington appears in Domesday Book as Beddinton(e). Part of it was held by Robert de Watevile from Richard de Tonebrige, and part by Miles Crispin.
From the records: “The settlement appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Beddinton(e) held partly by Robert de Watevile from Richard de Tonebrige (also called Richard fitz Gilbert) and by Miles Crispin (also called Milo of Wallingford).”
1259
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Cheam becomes a town
In 1259 King Henry III made Cheam a town by charter. Firm records of the Cheam Charter Fair go back to the 1800s, when a fairground came with the market.
From the records: “In 1259, Henry III of England made Cheam a town by charter.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1547–1559
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Nonsuch Palace
Nonsuch Palace was still not finished when Henry VIII died in 1547. In 1556 it was sold to Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel, who completed it by 1559.
From the records: “The palace was incomplete when Henry VIII died in 1547.”
1500s
Still here today
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Orange trees at Beddington
The Carew family's manor house was at Beddington. In the 1500s Sir Francis Carew planted orange trees there, claimed to be the first in England, and archaeologists have found his Tudor garden with a grotto. The great hall, with its hammerbeam roof, survives from the Tudor house, along with part of an orangery built around the trees in the early 1700s.
From the records: “Beddington Park was the former manor house of the Carew family, lost to lenders (such as George Samuel Ford) by Charles Hallowell Hallowell Carew's bad debts in the 1850s.”
1585
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The Treaty of Nonsuch
In 1585 Elizabeth I and the Dutch Republic signed the Treaty of Nonsuch at the palace.
From the records: “In 1585, the Treaty of Nonsuch was signed by Elizabeth I and the Dutch Republic at the palace.”
About 1591
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A secret wedding
In about 1591 Sir Walter Raleigh secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton of Carew Manor, one of Queen Elizabeth I's maids of honour, without royal permission.
From the records: “In about 1591 Sir Walter Raleigh secretly, and without royal permission, married one of Queen Elizabeth I's maids of honour, Elizabeth Throckmorton of Carew Manor.”
1590–1592
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Back to the Crown
After the Earl of Arundel died in 1580, his son-in-law John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, sold Nonsuch Palace back to Elizabeth I in 1590–1592, in exchange for lands valued at £534.
From the records: “After Arundel's death in 1580, his son-in-law, John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, sold the palace back to Elizabeth I and the Crown in 1590–1592, in exchange for lands valued at £534.”
1603
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Royal children at Nonsuch
In 1603 Prince Henry and Princess Elizabeth, the future 'Winter Queen' of Bohemia, stayed at Nonsuch for a time.
From the records: “The royal Prince Henry and Princess Elizabeth, the future "Winter Queen" of Bohemia, were lodged at Nonsuch for a time in 1603.”
1606
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A Danish king visits
In August 1606 King Christian IV of Denmark came to England to greet the new king, James I. The royal party visited Beddington, where Sir George Carew was their host.
From the records: “During the visit of Christian IV of Denmark to England to greet new king James I in August 1606, the royal party visited Beddington, hosted by Sir George Carew.”
1628–1636
🖨️
From Sutton to Harvard
Jose Glover was Rector of Sutton from 1628 to 1636. He became a pioneer of printing in the English colonies of North America, and was one of the people who helped set up Harvard College in the 1630s.
From the records: “Jose Glover, who was Rector of Sutton from 1628 to 1636, became a pioneer of printing in the English colonies of North America and one of the people instrumental in establishing Harvard College in the 1630s.”
1645
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Cheam School
Cheam School began at Whitehall in Cheam in 1645. It later used Tabor Court from 1719 until 1934, when the school moved to Berkshire.
From the records: “Cheam was the original home of Cheam School which was formed in Whitehall in 1645 and later occupied Tabor Court from 1719 until 1934 when the school moved to Berkshire.”
1670–1683
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The end of Nonsuch
Nonsuch stayed royal property until 1670, when Charles II gave it to Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine, with the title Baroness of Nonsuch. In 1682–3 she had the palace pulled down and sold its building materials to pay her gambling debts.
From the records: “Nonsuch remained royal property until 1670, when Charles II gave it to his mistress, Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine, with the title Baroness of Nonsuch.”
1685
Still here today
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Strawberry Lodge
Strawberry Lodge, built in 1685, is one of Carshalton's oldest buildings.
From the records: “Constructed in 1685, Strawberry Lodge is one of Carshalton's oldest buildings.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
Early 1700s
Still here today
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Carshalton's Water Tower
The Water Tower (then called the Bagnio) was built in the early 1700s, mainly to hold a water-driven pump for Carshalton House (now St Philomena's School) and the fountains in its gardens. Its garden has an 18th-century Hermitage and the 'Folly Bridge'.
From the records: “The Grade II* listed Water Tower (or Bagnio as it was known at the time) was built in the early 18th century, primarily to house a water driven pump supplying water to Carshalton House (now St Philomena's School) and the fountains in its gardens.”
Mid-1700s
Still here today
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Sutton Lodge
Sutton Lodge on Brighton Road, a Georgian house from the mid-1700s, is thought to be the oldest fully surviving building in the old parish of Sutton.
From the records: “The mid-18th century Georgian Sutton Lodge on Brighton Road is thought to be the oldest fully surviving building in the former parish of Sutton.”
1755
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Two new roads
In 1755 two turnpike roads that met at Sutton were built: one from London to Brighton (Brighton Road), the other from Carshalton to Ewell (Cheam Road). Coaching inns opened, and Sutton grew as a village.
From the records: “In 1755, two turnpike roads, which met at Sutton, were built: one from London to Brighton (Brighton Road), the other from Carshalton to Ewell (Cheam Road).”
1760
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The Brighton stagecoach
The London to Brighton stagecoach began in 1760, and the Cock Hotel in Sutton was the 9am stop for coaches leaving the city. The road's toll bars stayed in use until 1882.
From the records: “The London to Brighton stagecoach began in 1760, and the Cock Hotel was the 9am stop for coaches leaving the city.”
Late 1700s
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Carshalton's mills
By the end of the 1700s Carshalton had several mills, making paper and parchment, leather, snuff, log-wood and seed oil.
From the records: “By the end of the 18th century, it was recorded that there were several mills for the production of paper and parchment, leather, snuff, log-wood and seed oil.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1847
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The railway comes
Sutton railway station opened in 1847. With the new, fast link to central London, Sutton's population more than doubled between 1851 and 1861, and the village became a town. Sutton is mainly the product of the railways.
From the records: “Sutton railway station was opened in 1847.”
Mid-1800s
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The biggest village
By the middle of the 1800s Carshalton had 2,411 people, making it the largest village in what would become the London Borough of Sutton.
From the records: “By the middle of the 19th century, Carshalton's population was 2,411, making it, at the time, the largest village in what was to become the London Borough of Sutton.”
1847–1854
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The Jenny Lind
In 1847 the Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria (Jenny) Lind visited friends in the area and enchanted locals with her singing. A pub built in 1854 on the corner of Lind Road was named the Jenny Lind after her.
From the records: “A pub built in 1854 on the corner of Lind Road was named the Jenny Lind, after the famous Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria Lind, who was visiting friends in the area in 1847 and enchanted locals with her singing.”
1862
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Cheam Baptist Church
Charles Spurgeon founded Cheam Baptist Church in 1862. It stands next to St Dunstan's Church.
From the records: “Cheam Baptist Church, founded by Charles Spurgeon in 1862, is located next to St Dunstan's Church.”
1863
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Water for new houses
Sutton Water Company was set up in 1863, and its water mains let houses be built outside the Thanet Sands area. By 1900 the Sutton and Cheam Water Company had built 142 miles of mains.
From the records: “Sutton Water Company was incorporated in 1863, and the provision of water mains allowed houses to be built outside the Thanet Sands area.”
1864
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St Dunstan's and Lumley Chapel
A new St Dunstan's church was built in Cheam Village in 1864, next to Lumley Chapel, on the site of a medieval church. The old church was pulled down, except the east end of its chancel, which was kept to hold the old church's monuments and brasses.
From the records: “It was built in Cheam Village in 1864 next to Lumley Chapel on the site of a medieval church.”
1867
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Wallington's church
Wallington church was founded in 1867, in what had been roughly the western half of Beddington.
From the records: “Wallington church was founded in 1867 to serve the majority of local people, being Anglicans, in what had been Beddington's western approximate half.”
1847–1868
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A station for Carshalton
A railway from Croydon to Epsom was laid through Carshalton in 1847, but the first station was built in fields south of Wallington. Carshalton village only got its own station in 1868, when the Sutton to Mitcham line was built.
From the records: “In 1847 a railway line was laid from Croydon to Epsom through Carshalton, but the first station was built in fields south of Wallington.”
1861–1871
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Sutton doubles again
The Lord of the Manor, Thomas Alcock, sold land for housing, and Sutton's population more than doubled again between 1861 and 1871, as Benhilton in north Sutton was built.
From the records: “The Lord of the Manor, Mr Thomas Alcock, sold land for housing, and Sutton's population more than doubled again between 1861 and 1871, spurred by the development of upmarket Benhilton in north Sutton.”
1890s
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Lavender and houses
In Victorian times and into the early 1900s Carshalton was known for its lavender fields. Carshalton's growth got going in the early 1890s, when the Carshalton Park Estate was sold for housing, and the demand for land for houses put an end to growing lavender for sale.
From the records: “During the Victorian era and into the early 20th century, Carshalton was known for its lavender fields (also see below under "Landmarks"), but the increasing land demand for residential building put an end to commercial growing.”
1894
Still here today
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A bank at the crossroads
The grand and decorative London and Provincial Bank building was built in 1894, overlooking Sutton's historic crossroads. It is now home to Barclays Bank.
From the records: “The grand and decorative London and Provincial Bank building (now home to Barclays Bank) was built overlooking the historic crossroads in 1894.”
1898
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The new Cock Hotel
In 1898 a new, larger Cock Hotel replaced the original one. In 1950 it was knocked down to widen the High Street.
From the records: “In 1898 a new, larger Cock Hotel replaced the original one.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1910
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Sutton Adult School
The Sutton Adult School and Institute opened in 1910 in Benhill Avenue. By 1915 it had social clubs, a library, debating societies, a legal advice committee, Bible study and English literature classes, and what was claimed to be the finest public gymnasium in southern England.
From the records: “The Sutton Adult School and Institute opened in 1910 in a large Edwardian building in Benhill Avenue.”
1921
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Sutton War Memorial
The Sutton War Memorial was unveiled in 1921 by Sir Ralph Forster, a resident whose son had died in the war.
From the records: “The park is the site of the Sutton War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1921 by Sir Ralph Forster, a resident whose son had died in the war.”
1924
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The Grove
Carshalton Urban District Council bought The Grove, with its ornamental gardens, in 1924, and the park opened to the public a few years later.
From the records: “The Grove, including the ornamental gardens, was bought by Carshalton Urban District Council in 1924 and the park was opened to the public a few years later.”
1928–1934
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Sutton and Cheam
In 1928 Sutton Urban District took in the parish of Cheam and was renamed Sutton and Cheam. It became a municipal borough in 1934.
From the records: “The Sutton Urban District was enlarged in 1928 to take in the neighbouring parish of Cheam, at which point the urban district was renamed 'Sutton and Cheam'.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1959–1960
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Digging up Nonsuch
The site of Nonsuch Palace was excavated in 1959–60. The 1959 dig by Martin Biddle, aged 22, was a key event in the history of archaeology in the UK. It showed a fairly simple plan, with inner and outer courtyards, each with a fortified gatehouse.
From the records: “The site was excavated in 1959–60; the plan of the palace was quite simple with inner and outer courtyards, each with a fortified gatehouse.”
1962
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The Royal Marsden
The Royal Marsden Hospital has a site at the southern end of Sutton, bought in 1962. The Institute of Cancer Research is next to it.
From the records: “The Royal Marsden Hospital has a longstanding presence in Sutton, on a site at the southern end of the town acquired in 1962.”
1965
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The London Borough of Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton was created in 1965 from Sutton and Cheam, Carshalton, and Beddington and Wallington.
From the records: “The modern London Borough of Sutton was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam, Carshalton Urban District and Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington.”
2020–2021
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The Sound Lounge
The Sound Lounge, a grassroots concert venue, opened in December 2020 in Sutton High Street. On 1 July 2021 it became the country's first grassroots music venue to be certified as carbon neutral.
From the records: “The Sound Lounge, a grassroots concert venue, opened in December 2020 in Sutton High Street in the former premises of Royal Bank of Scotland.”