is a place in the
London Borough Of Sutton . The
BedZED low energy housing scheme is located here. In Beddington was a
Static Inverter Plant of
HVDC Kingsnorth .
Beddington Park is the location of Carew Manor which was the home of the Carew family. The
Domesday Book mentions two Beddington estates and these were united by Nicholas Carew to form Carew Manor in 1381. The Manor, once a medieval moated house, was home to the Royal Female Orphanage from 1762 until 1968. It now contains council offices and
Carew Manor School .
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. Raleigh spent time in the
Tower Of London for this and Elizabeth was expelled from the court but the marriage appears to have been a genuine love-match and survived the imprisonment. A popular story is that when Raleigh was beheaded by
James I in
1618 , Elizabeth claimed his embalmed head and kept it in a bag for the rest of her life. His body buried in
St Margaret's, Westminster but many suspect his head remains in Beddington park. Some say his son
this Carew? inherited the enbalmed head and that it was buried with him.
The banquetting hall, which boasts a fine
Hammerbeam Roof , survives from the original house along with part of the
Orangery built by Sir Francis Carew and claimed to be the first in England. In the grounds is an early 18th century
Dovecot .
Queen Elizabeth's Walk is a short wooded trail that dates back to the first Elizabeth. Local legend has it that the Monarch and
Sir Walter Raleigh used to stroll together there.
Archaeologists have recently discovered a Tudor garden including a
Grotto at Carew Manor, believed to have been created by Sir Francis Carew in the 16th century. It's exact location is currently not being disclosed in order to protect it from looting.
The 14th Century flint parish church of St Mary's is situated in the park next to the house. It contains an organ screen by
William Morris .
Queen Elizabeths Walk>
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