Epsom in 1842

Epsom is about 15 miles from the General Post-office, London, on the Worthing road. The area of the parish, which is in Copthorne hundred, is 3,970 acres : the population, in 1831, was 3,231. The town is irregularly laid out, but has a number of good houses. The church is a modern building, and there are two Independent chapels. The market, which had been discontinued, has been lately revived : it is held on Wednesday. There is a considerable cattle and wool fair. Some brick-making, brewing, and malting is carried on, and there are some nursery-grounds. Epsom has mineral springs, now less resorted to than formerly ; and in the week preceding Whitsun-week horse-races are held on the adjacent downs, and are very numerously attended, chiefly from London. The grand stand on the race-course is a spacious and handsome building. The living of Epsom is a vicarage, of the clear yearly value of £303, in the rural deanery of Ewell, the archdeaconry of Surrey, and the diocese of Winchester. There were in the parish, in 1833, a national school with 157 children, namely, 100 boys and 57 girls ; fifteen other day-schools, with 316 children, namely, 144 boys and 172 girls ; and two Sunday-schools, with 114 children, namely, 48 boys and 66 girls.