Places To Visit

Online exhibitions bring history to life during lockdown

During lockdown, the Elmbridge Museum Team has developed a range of online exhibitions on various historical topics, using photographs and artefacts from the collection. They are constantly adding to their online offering, to provide a fascinating glimpse into Elmbridge's rich local history.

What’s on?

‘Objects of Empire’ - The Museum Team has selected 20 artefacts from the collection to explore Elmbridge in the time of the British Empire. At its peak, the British Empire occupied 26% of the world territories, but nowadays very little remains. Its history has always been challenging and contentious and has been under fresh scrutiny in recent years and months. Yet from its foundation, the British Empire has influenced virtually every aspect of historic life and its impact can still be felt in our local societies. Available online and at Walton Library.

A Day at The Races –The historic sport of horse racing not only holds a unique place in British culture, but in Elmbridge's landscape. Discover the ups and downs in the stories of Sandown and Hurst Park over the ages.

Available online and at Thames Ditton Library.

Look Back in Anger – Elmbridge streets, properties and empty fields which are now peaceful and serene were once arenas of opposition. From Digger occupation to Suffragette arson and beyond, discover the variety of ways Elmbridge has been used as a stage for popular protest movements over the ages.

Available online and display at Cobham Library.

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, Elmbridge Museum also launched two online exhibitions this year; ‘Elmbridge at War’ and an exhibition created in partnership with St Charles Borromeo School offering us the opportunity to view WW2 through the eyes of today’s school children.

The above online exhibitions including interviews and curator’s talks can be viewed at elmbridgemuseum.org.uk/online-exhibitions/

Get in touch! To find out more about Elmbridge Museum email ebcmuseum@elmbridge.gov.uk or visit www.elmbridgemuseum.org.uk

Back in the 1700’s, the area where the Epsom market place and clock tower now stand was a pond. Adjacent to this stood a Watch House and gaol along with the town stocks. In 1847, the Watch House was demolished and on its site, the building of the clock tower commenced.

Epsom1897 For the first seventy years, the tower’s base was a square structure where the town’s horse-drawn fire engine was stored; the clock tower bell was rung as a fire alarm to summon the fire crew.

In the mid-1920s the ground-level building was extended to provide public lavatories and an information kiosk.

This wasn’t the first change, the clock tower originally boasted four stone heraldic lions. These were replaced in 1902 by electric lanterns, which in turn were replaced in the late 1920s by globe lights, removed in 1990. The last major work to the clock tower was in 2003 when the clock face was renovated and the public conveniences converted into retail units and market storage.

In 1897 the townsfolk gathered by the clock tower to sing God Save the Queen, for Victoria’s Jubilee. The tower was in scaffolding for repairs, and the bell had been removed. To everyone’s astonishment the chimes at midday were clearly heard. This was widely reported in the media and led people to believe that the tower had a ghost!

All public events in Epsom have revolved around the clock tower. Particularly noteworthy were the 1902 coronation (when an ox was roasted at the foot of the tower), the Silver Jubilee of 1935, the Coronation of 1937, VE Day, the Queen’s diamond jubilee and the borough’s 75th anniversary celebrations.