Epsom is a town in the English county of Surrey. Famous for Epsom Salts and the Epsom Derby horse race, the town has a rich history: Charles the Second raced horses there, Prince George of Denmark drank the waters, and Frederick Prince of Wales even lived there. This article is a time line of the most significant events in the history of this fascinating British town.

ROMAN BRITAIN

• 60...A Roman road, Stane Street, was built through Epsom, but it wasn’t a destination just yet!
• 100...At this time a tile-making industry started in the town’s Horton area

THE DARK AGES

• 500...Evidence of Saxon settlers at this time has been found
• 666...Surrey's Chertsey Abbey was founded by Saint Erkenwald, later Bishop of London
• 933...Cherstey Abbey can be identified as the owners of Epsom at this time

The MIDDLE AGES

• 1155...An enclosed hunting ground is established at Woodcote Park
• 1178...Records show that Horton Manner was established at this time
• 1202...Historical records show that the Woodcote area had been settled by this time
• 1285...St. Martin's Church has a chancel built
• 1317...The area known as Langley Vale is first recorded

LATE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

• 1348...The Black Death sees a population decline in Epsom
• 1400...It is around this time that a new tower is built for St. Martin's Church
• 1496...The West Hill area is settled

TUDOR PERIOD

• 1537...The Chertsey Abbey, owner of Epsom, faced dissolution
  

STUART PERIOD

• 1620...This was the year that the famous Epsom Wells were discovered
• 1663...Luckily for historians of Epsom, the great diarist Samuel Pepys paid the first of his visits to the town in this year
• 1672...The book 'Epsom Wells' was written by Thomas Shadwell
• 1692...Construction of the Assembly Rooms commenced
• 1707...The New Wells were opened by John Livingston

GEORGIAN BRITAIN

• 1727...Livingston died, and the spa commenced its decline
• 1755...Turnpike Road was built through Epsom
• 1780...The first Derby race takes place
• 1821...Henry Dorling opens a printer's shop
• 1824...St. Martin's church is rebuilt
• 1830...The grandstand opens at the race course
  

• 1847...Epsom's railway station opens
• 1848...The landmark Epsom Clock Tower is built
• 1855...The Epsom College school is opened
• 1859...A second railway station is opened
• 1878...Lord Rosebery moves to live in Epsom
• 1889...Construction of the Cottage Hospital
• 1899...A mental hospital is built in Horton

• 1913...Emily Davison is killed at the Epsom Derby
• 1927...The racecourse builds a new grandstand
• 1934...Opening of the Epsom Town Hall
• 1937...Epsom and Ewell are incorporated as a borough
• 1953...The Queen attends the Derby
• 1984...Shopping Mall, the Ashley Centre, is built