Epsom

Epsom is a town in northern Surrey. The town is known for its race course and the horse race held there.[2] It is owned by the Jockey Club, it is one of few racecourses in the UK that maintains a fantastic relationship with Queen Elizabeth, who attends annually to watch The Derby in early June. The first recorded race held at Epsom Downs Racecourse was in 1661.[3] The Epsom Grandstand Association controlled racing on the course from the mid 19th century.

Epsom
Epsom High Street from the Clock Tower.jpg
High Street, Epsom
Area  18.04 km2 (6.97 sq mi)
Population 31,489 (2011 census)[1]
    - Density  1,746/km2 (4,520/sq mi)
OS grid reference TQ2060
District Epsom and Ewell
Shire county Surrey
Region South East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town EPSOM
Postcode district KT17 KT18 KT19
Dialling code 01372
Police Surrey
Fire Surrey
Ambulance South East Coast
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Epsom and Ewell
List of places
UK
England
Surrey

The town also gives it name to epsom salts which are found in mineral water here.[4] By the end of the Georgian period (early 1800s) Epsom was a spa town. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 its popularity increased, and visitors included Nell Gwyn and Samuel Pepys. The popularity of the spa declined after about 1725, but by then numerous large houses had been built by wealthy people who appreciated the nearness to London. Assembly rooms were built and still stand as the Assembly Rooms public house. Some remains of this are its water pump, wells and exhibits in the town's museum. A housing estate has been built upon the wells in the south-west of the town.

Epsom Downs Racecourse which hosts the Epsom Derby; painting by Théodore Géricault, 1821.

Epsom Media

References

  1. Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density Archived 2003-02-11 at the Wayback Machine United Kingdom Census 2011 Office for National Statistics Retrieved 11 July 2015
  2. "History". Epsom Downs Racecourse. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. "Epsom Racecourse". British Racecourses. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  4. "A Brief History of Epsom Salt: What Is It, Exactly?". Apartment Therapy. Retrieved 2021-07-02.