Epsom

town in Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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

High Street, Epsom
Epsom is located in Surrey
Epsom
Epsom
Location within Surrey
Area18.04 km2 (6.97 sq mi)
Population31,489 (2011 census)[1]
• Density1,746/km2 (4,520/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTQ2060
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townEPSOM
Postcode districtKT17 KT18 KT19
Dialling code01372
PoliceSurrey
FireSurrey
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Surrey
51°20′10″N 0°16′01″W / 51.336°N 0.267°W / 51.336; -0.267

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.

References

change
  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.