Epsom
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See also Epsom, New Hampshire and Epsom, New Zealand.
| Epsom | |
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| Administration | |
| District: | Epsom and Ewell |
| County: | Surrey |
| Region: | South East England |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | Surrey |
| Traditional County: | Surrey |
| Postal County: | Surrey |
John_Constable_002.jpg
Epsom is a town in the county of Surrey, about 15 miles south-west of London. Epsom is part of the borough of Epsom and Ewell.
Each June, it is the home of the Epsom Derby horse race, the second leg of the English Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The British Prime Minister and first chairman of the London County Council, Lord Rosebery, was sent down (expelled) from the University of Oxford for buying a racehorse and entering it in the Derby - it finished last. Lord Rosebery remained closely associated with the town throughout his life, leaving land to the borough, memorialised in the names of Rosebery Park and Rosebery School.
Historically, Epsom was known as a spa town, although there is little to see nowadays. A housing estate has now been built upon the wells.
Epsom was also known for having a large number of lunatic asylums, although only one remains. These were formerly served by the Horton Light Railway. These days Horton Country Park is home to Horton Park Children's Farm (http://www.hortonpark.co.uk/)
It is a desirable place to live due to its strategic location in the London Commuter Belt: To the northeast, the Greater London conurbation; to the southwest, the rolling Surrey countryside.
Epsom railway station has frequent rail services to London (running to both Waterloo and Victoria), and also to Leatherhead, Dorking, Guildford, Horsham and Croydon. Two other railway lines weree built to serve the racecourse, with termini at Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner.
Epsom salts are named after the town.