Doesn’t Epsom Town Hall stand as a testament to civic pride and community spirit? Here in Epsom stands Epsom Town Hall. It serves as the headquarters of the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
Epsom Town Hall has quite a history. The first town hall was built in 1883. John Hartchard-Smith designed it in the Italianate style. It stood at the corner of Church Street and Upper High Street. This earlier building had terracotta facings. It also featured a prominent Venetian window.
By the 1930s, local leaders wanted a new building. They chose a vacant site on The Parade. This land once held a domestic residence named Cromwell House.
Hubert Moore Fairweather and William Alfred Pite designed the new Epsom Town Hall. They chose the Neo-Georgian style. Lord Ebbisham officially opened the Epsom Town Hall on March 10, 1934.
The Epsom Town Hall’s design is symmetrical. Its main frontage faces The Parade. Seventeen bays mark the facade. The end bays are slightly projected forward. The central bay features a doorway. Pairs of pillars flank this doorway supporting a balcony. Iron railings decorate this balcony. A French door sits above the doorway on the first floor. Sash windows fill the remaining bays on both floors. Inside, the council chamber serves as the building’s principal room.
Initially, Epsom Town Hall served as the headquarters for the Epsom Urban District Council. In July 1934, it was renamed Epsom and Ewell Urban District Council. This change occurred after Ewell joined the urban district in 1933. By 1937, the area gained municipal borough status. Since then, the Epsom Town Hall has been the seat of the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
In the early 2000s, civic leaders decided to expand the Epsom Town Hall. They aimed to consolidate various council departments. A new block was built to the east of the main building. This new section featured a modern atrium. A new portico connected the two blocks. The expanded Epsom Town Hall opened in 2003.
In June 2019, a special ceremony took place at the Epsom Town Hall. Station-Sergeant Thomas Green was honored. He was a victim of the Epsom riot after World War I. His great-grandson, David Kirkham, donated Green’s service medals. These medals are now on display at the local museum.
The Epsom Town Hall also houses notable works of art. One painting by Hendrick Danckerts depicts Nonsuch Palace. Another painting by William Birch portrays Epsom Downs Racecourse.
So as you stand before Epsom Town Hall, remember its journey. From its Neo-Georgian design to its role in local governance, the Epsom Town Hall remains a symbol of Epsom’s identity.