According to the historians, the springs of the Wandle rose under the walls of Croydon Palace. Croydon has seemingly decided that they shall rise further off, and the Wandle suddenly appears, full flowing, perhaps a quarter of a mile away. You can walk along its bank and watch young Croydon transfer minnows from muddy water to jampots. A mile from the town stands Beddington Hall, now an orphan asylum which sends red-cloaked children out for walks into Croydon, but once the country mansion of the great family of Carew. Nicholas Carew built a house at Beddington in the reign of Edward III, but it was Sir Francis Carew, rebuilding it under Elizabeth, who first brought greatness to Beddington. He entertained the Queen there twice, and the orange garden was famous for many generations of Carews. When Aubrey saw the trees at the end of the seventeenth century, he wrote that they were 'planted in the open ground, where they have throve to admiration for above a whole century; but are preserved, during the winter season, under a moveable Covert.' The hard frost of 1739 killed them. A later Sir Nicholas Carew rebuilt much of the house, but retained the hall. He was an exact and particular person, and never let his careful dissipation prevent him from keeping a precise record in his account book. One of his pocket-ledgers has found its way into the British museum. Here are some extracts of his expenses:-- L s. d. Pd. my man's Nurse - 7 - For a Pocket-Book 1 16 - For a smelling bottle 1 1 6 F. a table and Books - 3 6 G. (gave) f. verses - 10 - Pd. my french marster 1 13 6 F. fishing tackle - 2 6 G. f. finding my sword - 2 6 Pd. for a gunn 4 - - F. Herrings and oysters - 7 3 Sept. ye 25th 1706. I bought a P^r of Coach Horses 4 years old come five and gave four and thirty pounds for y^m.--N. Carew. He had a nice taste in wines and tea, and was properly generous to musicians and servants:-- L s. d. Jan. ye 5th 1706/7 for s. candy and liquorish - 2 2 G. ye serv^ts at Soho 2 1 6 F. gr. tea - 12 6 F. bohea tea - 14 0 F. asquebah - 3 0 Sp. at ye Gre(cian) Sp. at Jelly H - 1 6 F. swaring paper - - 3 F. a rasour case 2 15 0 G. ye Harper - 5 - G. ye musick - 1 - G. a poor woman - 1 - G. a fool - 1 -