Carshalton Water Tower & Historic Garden Trust

Carshalton Water Tower, the historic garden, in which it and other follies are set, are managed by an entirely voluntary charitable trust. This Trust is devoted to the conservation of the follies, an early 18th century Water Tower, the Hermitage and the mid 18th century Folly Bridge, in their (usually dry) lakeside setting. The Trustees and the working committee of the Trust, the Friends of Carshalton Water Tower, offer a warm welcome to all visitors to the site, formerly the Carshalton House Estate. The Trust shares this estate with St Mary's Junior School and St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls.

The Water Tower

The Carshalton Water Tower is a unique grade II listed building.
Referred to as the Bagnio in the 18th century, it contains a suite of rooms. These serve a diverse range of domestic and social functions.

There is the bagnio, or bathroom with its deep plunge bath and exquisite early 18th century tiles, the beautifully proportioned Saloon and the elegant Orangery, which contains a boutique that offers some items that are special to the Trust.

The restored remains of a water wheel can be seen within the wheel pit of the Pump Chamber. This powered the pumps which lifted fresh spring water, from below this chamber, into a cistern, housed in the structure's crowning tower.

The Historic Garden

The Trust's landscape garden comprises the area of the lake which fills naturally, but intermittently. Its mid 18th century informal form replaces that of a formal canal, designed by Charles Bridgeman for John Fellowes about 1715. However there is still evidence of his original work in the haha and in positioning the Water Tower.

The Hermitage

This garden folly, which is also grade II listed, is built into the hillside situated on the south side of the lake. The façade is stone and is designed in a classical manner. It has the addition of mid 19th century niched flint flanking walls on either side.

The Folly Bridge

The Folly Bridge, or Sham Bridge as it is otherwise known, is false because water cannot flow underneath it. The folly acts as a dam at the north end of the (usually dry) lake. It is rustic in style and built of brick with stone, flint and clinker patterning.

Restoration of this folly was completed in 2010.