Epsom Through The Years

Last May was ‘Local and Community History Month’ which runs each year to raise awareness about the unique origins of our local areas. So to celebrate we decided to dig through the archives to take a fresh look at some of Epsom’s oldest and most historic buildings.

Having unearthed photos dating back as far as the 1890’s, we revisited well-known spots throughout the town to see just how much they had changed, or as we found out, just how well these places have been preserved in this old and historic town. Drag the sliders left and right to see for yourself!

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1911″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″]

First built in 1692, this photo shows the Wheeler’s building in 1911, when it was used as a furniture shop, emporium and shoeing forge. The building, whose original name was in fact the ‘Assembly Rooms’ but changed multiple times under its different owners, is now a well-known pub.

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1924″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″]

Built in the late 17th Century, this picture taken in 1924 depicts The Spread Eagle Hotel. The building which originally took its name from the Austrian crest whose eagle appeared on bottles of wine they imported from the Rhineland. Today it’s owned by fashion outlet, Lester Bowden.

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/4-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1923″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/4-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″]

First opened in 1830 the Grandstand at Epsom Racecourse has been a haunt of the well-to-do ever since its inception. This photo, taken in 1923, shows the Grandstand before and after it was rebuilt in 2009, when it was unveiled by the Duchess of Cornwall.

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/5-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1898″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/5-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″ max_width=”410″]

This photo, taken in 1898 is of Epsom Post Office which was moved to the High Street in 1897 in order to deal with the increased demand following the success of the Derby. In December 1915 it employed Nora Willis as the first female postwoman in the whole of the British Isles.

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/3-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1979″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/3-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″]

The first railway in Epsom was built in 1847, with the main station being redeveloped in 1929 and again in 2013. This photo depicts a train arriving into platform 2 via London Bridge in July 1979.

[image_slider before_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6-historic-1.jpg” before_year=”1955″ after_image=”https://thepersonalagent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/6-modern-1.jpg” after_year=”2016″]

This photo taken in 1955 is of Rosebery Park, named after former Prime Minister and Epsom resident Lord Rosebery, who gave the park to the Council in 1913 to avoid a road being built too close to his home at Woodcote Hall.

Lastly…

A special thanks to everyone who helped us find these fantastic shots of Epsom, if you’ve got any photos or special memories of Epsom town from over the years, then we’d love to hear from you in the comments!

References:

“Wheeler’s House” photo courtesy of the Bourne Hall Museum

Images 2, 4, 5, 6 are Copyright The Francis Frith Collection

“Epsom station” by Dr Neil Clifton is licensed under CC BY 2.0