HER 268 - Site of Early 18th Century Race Course, Epsom

An oval 'track' on Epsom Common, near 'The Wells', identified in 1921, of which there is now no trace. Defined on each side by a ditch about 1 yard wide; the earth was thrown onto the outside, forming a low bank in some places. The track is at first circa 30 yards wide but tapers to 18 yards and then 11 yards in width, increasing thereafter for the remainder of its course until it is a fairly constant 13 yards wide. At five points on the track a trench appears to have been cut across it, the earth being thrown on the south east side of the trench in each instance. It may have been a drive from "The Wells" to the large artificial pond (now dry) south of the Stew Pond as it is considered too narrow to have been a race course. H.E. Malden considers that it was an old race-course and cites an example on Tunbridge Wells Common as being no wider and as having had transverse ditches with temporary rails, allegedly to stop unauthorised use of the course. There is another early 18th century course in the neighbourhood according to Malden. Manning and Bray mention that circa 1700 foot races and other races were held on Epsom Common to amuse the people taking the waters, at the Epsom Wells.

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Archaeological History

Activity	Person & Organisation	Dates
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1998-12-01
Description Survey of the archaeological and historic landscape of the Commons by C Currie of CKC Archaeology for Surrey County Council and the Corporation of London undertaken with reference to them being proposed as Areas of Historic Landscape Value. In the north of Ashtead Common a number of earthworks and other features surround the site of a Roman villa. The villa is a rare type of corridor villa, with considerable evidence that it adjoined a large scale tile manufactory. Extensive areas of quarries and spoil heaps demonstrate the extent of industrial activity on the site in the Roman period. Nearby are further earthworks associated with a large undated ditched enclosure, and a 17th century medicinal well. There are also a large number of ancient pollarded oaks on the common. They are a rare survival of an ancient land management type that was mainly superseded in other parts of England in the post-medieval period by overgrazing. Epsom Common has few surviving historic features. The site of Old Wells, a 17th century mineral spring for which Epsom is strongly associated, is covered in housing. Those features that do remain, such as the Stew Ponds, have been much altered, and the historic character of the farmland to the south-west of Ashtead Common has been affected by the evolution of temporary features associated with the pasturing of horses. Location Surrey, Mole Valley, Ashtead, Grid Reference TQ 188 605 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Ashtead and Epsom Commons in Surrey Volume 1: text reports and appendices Reference 28/02/99 Reference Volume 1: text reports and appendices Reference Volume 1 of 2 Holding Location Surrey SMR 1 part
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1998-12-01
Description Survey of the archaeological and historic landscape of the Commons by C Currie of CKC Archaeology for Surrey County Council and the Corporation of London undertaken with reference to them being proposed as Areas of Historic Landscape Value. In the north of Ashtead Common a number of earthworks and other features surround the site of a Roman villa. The villa is a rare type of corridor villa, with considerable evidence that it adjoined a large scale tile manufactory. Extensive areas of quarries and spoil heaps demonstrate the extent of industrial activity on the site in the Roman period. Nearby are further earthworks associated with a large undated ditched enclosure, and a 17th century medicinal well. There are also a large number of ancient pollarded oaks on the common. They are a rare survival of an ancient land management type that was mainly superseded in other parts of England in the post-medieval period by overgrazing. Epsom Common has few surviving historic features. The site of Old Wells, a 17th century mineral spring for which Epsom is strongly associated, is covered in housing. Those features that do remain, such as the Stew Ponds, have been much altered, and the historic character of the farmland to the south-west of Ashtead Common has been affected by the evolution of temporary features associated with the pasturing of horses. Location Surrey, Mole Valley, Ashtead, Grid Reference TQ 188 605 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Ashtead and Epsom Commons in Surrey Volume 2: maps Reference 28/02/99 Reference Volume 2: maps Reference Volume 2 of 2 Holding Location Surrey SMR 1 part

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