Epsom Common

   This post is not finished, it has not been checked or edited


Christ Church Road

Scout Hut – is on the site of a mission church built here in 1845.

Christ Church.  Money for it bequeathed by Elizabeth Trotter of Horton Manor so long as a parish was created.  Gothic revival church by Arthur Blomfield, consecrated 1876.   There is a window to the memory of Ms. Trotter, damaged by bombing and re-set; the font is also a memorial to her.  Lord Rosebery used the church and gave money for an extension.   More money raised for a tower in 1887.  Posh rood screen also in memory of members of the Trotter family.

Epsom Common

Windmill. There is evidence of a windmill – ‘'Mullehulle’ – ‘Millhil’ - near Epsom Wells which may have survived until the early 18th.  There was also a second mill, possibly on the same site, in 1794/95. Evidence, including detail on the 1894 Ordnance Survey suggests a site 300 metres north-east of Oldwells Farm. A sale notice of 1809 describes it as a post windmill with two pairs of stones. It was apparently working up until burnt down in c1880.

Stamford Green

Settlement in 1679 which indicates a mill, a pond, and some cottages around a green.

Wells Estate.

Shoddy building estate

Epsom Spa.  ’the old wells’. there is a suggestion that a medicinal spring may have been known here during the reign of Elizabeth I. However it is said that this mineral well was discovered in the dry summer of 1618 by a Henry Wicker whose cattle refused to drink the water - leading to the discovery that it would to heal sores and was a purgative. It is first mentioned in 1629 and described in detail by Pepys – who also mentioned how people had to run to the bushes!  After this the area around the well head was developed with coffee shops and other places for visitors,  visitors came to take the waters and engage in the life of the town during the 17th and 18th centuries.  The well was acquired by the Livingstone who had opened the New Wells in the town and he began to run this site down.  Eventually the water from the Old Well was reported to be contaminated, and the well-head was sealed off with iron railings. However the popularity of Epsom waned from about 1715 after the closure of the Old Well. The decline appears to have been due to the rise of other fashionable spas and to the fact that Epsom Salts - hydrated magnesium sulphate –could be produced cheaply in large quantities.  In the reign of Charles I, Epsom salts sold at five shillings per ounce. in 1820 the house at the old wells was pulled down, and Oldwells Farm was built here and then in 1885 a mansion was erected here by James Stuart Strange, Lord of the Manor. The water was tested in 1986 and found to be safe.

Working Men’s Club opened 1880 on the initiative of James Stuart Strange. 

Well Way

Well head was built in 1989 and given a ceremonial opening on 25 June. covered by a grating and  surmounted by an ornamental cupola. This was made at Ewell Forge,

Wheelers Lane

84 Jolly Cooper's

Brick works next to the pub there for 200 years.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

South Norwood

Bromley by Bow

River Lea/Bow Creek Canning Town