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Esher

Coordinates:51°22′09″N0°21′54″W/ 51.3691°N 0.365°W/51.3691; -0.365
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For other uses, seeEsher (disambiguation).

Esher
Esher is located in Surrey
Esher
Esher
Location withinSurrey
Area9.3 km2(3.6 sq mi)
Population6,743 (Esher town, 2011 census),[1]or 50,904 (in 2011) for the Esher Built-up Area Subdivision (including East and WestMolesey,Thames Ditton,Hinchley WoodandClaygate)[2]
•Density725/km2(1,880/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTQ145645
•London14.1 miles (22.7 km)
Civil parish
  • n/a
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townESHER
Postcode districtKT10
Dialling code01372
PoliceSurrey
FireSurrey
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Surrey
51°22′09″N0°21′54″W/ 51.3691°N 0.365°W/51.3691; -0.365

Esher(/ˈiːʃər/ⓘEE-shər) is a town in the borough ofElmbridgeinSurrey,England, to the east of theRiver Mole.

Esher is an outlying suburb ofLondon,close to the London–Surrey border; withEsher Commonsat its southern end, the town marks one limit of theGreater London Built-Up Area.Elevations range from 10m to 47m abovesea level.

Esher has alinearcommercial high street and is otherwise suburban in density, with varying elevations, few high rise buildings and very short sections of dual carriageway within thewarditself. Esher covers a large area, between 13 and 15.4 miles southwest ofCharing Cross.[n 1]In the south it is bounded by the A3Portsmouth Roadwhich is of urban motorway standard and buffered by the Esher Commons.

Esher is bisected by theA307, historically the Portsmouth Road,which for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) forms its high street.Esher railway station(served by theSouth West Main Line) connects the town toLondon Waterloo.

Sandown Park Racecourseis in the town near the station. In the south,Claremont Landscape Gardenowned and managed by theNational Trust,once belonged toPrincess Charlotteand her husbandLeopold I of Belgium.Accordingly, the town was selected to have a fountain byQueen Victoriaand has an adjacent Diamond Jubilee column em Boss ed with a relief of the monarch and topped by a statue ofBritannia.Unite,the union, trains representatives at itsEsher Placecentre, and the town has the offices ofElmbridge Borough Councilin its high street.

History

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Sandown House

Esher lay within theSaxonfeudaldivision ofElmbridgehundred.[3][4]

Esher appears in theDomesday Bookof 1086 asAisselaandAissele,where it is held partly by the Abbey of the Cross inNormandy;partly by William de Waterville; partly by Reginald; partly by Hugh do Port; and partly by Odard Balistarius (probably acrossbowman). Its domesday assets were: 14hides,6ploughsand 2 acres (8,100 m2) ofmeadow.It rendered £6 2s 0d per year to itsfeudaloverlords.[5]

In the 16th centuryKing Henry VIIIannexed several of the manors to the Honour ofHampton Court,including Esher, to form a royal hunting ground.[6]The town slowly grew as a stagecoach stop on theLondon–Portsmouth roadthat was later numbered theA3,although it wasbypassedin the mid-1970s when it became the A307.Clive of Indiabuilt theClaremontmansion[n 2]and this later became a royal residence used byQueen Victoria.In 1841 Esher had 1261 inhabitants across 2,075 acres (840 ha).[3]Queen Victoria lent Claremont to the exiled French KingLouis-Philippeand his consort QueenMarie-Amelieafter therevolutionof 1848.Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburglived there until he became King of theBelgians.[7]

By 1908, Esher contained the fashionable residences of several important figures includingLady Emma Talbot;Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins,[8][9]theDuchess of AlbanyandSir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G.who was later created 1st Viscount D'Abernon.[4]

George HarrisonofThe Beatlesowned a house (namedKinfauns) in Esher, during the 1960s. The other Beatles were regular visitors to the house, and Harrison's primitive homerecording studio.

Maurice Gibbof theBee Geesowned a home called The Firs in Esher, during 1970s–2004 and sold after his death. This is where the hit single "Juliet"was written and recorded by Maurice and Robin Gibb for brother Robin's solo album project in the 1980s.[10]

SirArthur Conan Doyleplaced the murder of fictional character, Mr. Garcia, in and around Esher in his Sherlock Holmes mystery, "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge". In the mystery, Dr. Watson described his and Sherlock Holmes' arrival in Esher by stating, "It was nearly six c'clock before we found ourselves in the pretty Surrey village of Esher, with Inspector Baynes as our companion."

Government

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Esher is within theEsher and Waltonparliamentary constituency which is represented byMonica Harding,a member of theLiberal Democratic party,since July 2024.[11]The predecessorEsher parliamentary constituencywas replaced on boundary changes before the1997 general election.[12]

Esher is part of theEast Molesey and Esherward ofSurrey County Council.The ward is represented by aResidents' associationcouncillor.[13]

The town is covered by the Esher ward ofElmbridge Borough Council,which has elections in three years out of four (is elected in thirds).Esher Town Hallhas reverted to its original name of Sandown House and has been converted into apartments.[14]

Education

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Esher has a mix ofstateandprivateschools. There are four state primary schools across the area of Esher,Esher Church School,Cranmere,Hinchley WoodandClaygate.[15]Esher Church of England High Schoolis the state secondary school in the town of Esher.[15]Hinchley Wood Schoolin Hinchley Wood has been anAcademysince February 2012.[16]Hinchley Wood is also one of theFurther educationestablishments in the area.[17]Esher Collegeis in nearbyThames Ditton. Esher is also home to the West End Playgroup & Forest School, a pre-school for 2-5 year olds.

Culture, community and sport

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Cinema

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The Everyman (formerly Odeon) cinema is a central feature of Esher's High Street with four screens.

Sport

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Esher Cricket Club was established in 1863.[18]They play matches in the Esher Park private estate, in New Road and have a youth cricket training and playing squad. The members of the cricket club also wanted to play tennis and established the Esher Lawn Tennis Club in 1889.[19]A second cricket club arrived in 1875 as West End (Esher) Cricket Club.[20]

Esher has a history with horse racing since the purpose-builtSandown Parkrace course opened in 1875.[21]

In 1881 Esher Leopold football club was established which was formed out of the ashes of the dissolvedWeybridge Swallowsclub. The club played at Sandown Park, close to theracecourse.[22]The club's sole contribution to the national game was its one appearance in theFA Cup,a 5–0 home defeat to the holders,Old Carthusians,in1881–82,[23]although the club did reach the semi-finals of theSurrey Senior Cup,losing toReigate Priory.[24]The club continued into the 1883–84 season.[25]

Esher Rugby Clubwas established in 1923 and play on theHershamborders at theMolesey Roadstadium, where they have several training grounds there.[26]

A smaller football club AFC Westend was established in 2003.[27]

Amenities, local events and media

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Britannia

Esher Theatreis a 300 seat performing arts venue on Esher High Street, which opened on 4 September 2021.[28]

St George's Church, Esher

Esher West End hosts an annual flower show and theHampton Court Flower Showis nearby. Similarly,Surrey Wildlife Trustmanage Wisley and Ockham Commons, partly within the borough of Elmbridge and Esher is approximately midway between the two leading Surrey and International Gardens, theRoyal Botanical Gardens, KewandRHS Garden, Wisley.

A weekly newspaper,Esher News and Mail,closed down in 2009. Current newspapers include theSurrey Herald: Cobham, Esher and Claygate editionandLiving Withinmonthly magazine/newspaper.

Vantage points include various outcrops ofEsher Commonsclose to Hersham,CobhamandOxshottfor free public use; Esher Place (national training centre of Unite, the union) where a grass garden amphitheatre was built byLutyensfor what was themanor house;the facilities at Sandown Park racecourse andClaremont Landscape Garden.

Housing

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2011 Census Homes
Output area Detached Semi-detached Terraced Flats and apartments Caravans/temporary/mobile homes Shared between households[1]
(ward) 1,341 417 332 542 0 6

The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%.

Output area Population Households % Owned outright % Owned with a loan hectares[1]
(ward) 6,743 2,638 39 33 930

The proportion of households in the settlement who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible % of households living rent-free).

Notable residents

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See also

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Notes and references

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Notes
  1. ^Esherpost townis about twice the size of itselectoral wardandhistoric parishas it takes inClaygateand two former parts ofThames Ditton:Hinchley Woodand parts ofWeston Green.
  2. ^Claremont was originally Esher EpiscopiManor,bought bySir John Vanbrugh,who built a smaller house for himself, and began to ornament the grounds (Guest's poem 'Claremont' attributes the first improvements to Vanbrugh). TheEarl of Clare (created Duke of Newcastle in 1715)bought the property in 1714 on coming of age and called the property after his own title 'Clare Mont.' On his death in 1768 the whole was bought byLord Clive,who employedCapability Brownto build the present mansion (nowClaremont School)
References
  1. ^abcKey Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population DensityArchived11 February 2003 at theWayback MachineUnited Kingdom Census 2011Office for National StatisticsRetrieved 21 November 2013
  2. ^UK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Esher Built-up area sub division (1119884889)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved24 August2020.
  3. ^abSamuel Lewis, ed. (1848)."Erith – Essex".A Topographical Dictionary of England.Institute of Historical Research.Retrieved7 November2012.
  4. ^abH.E. Malden, ed. (1911)."Parishes: Esher".A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3.Institute of Historical Research.Retrieved7 November2012.
  5. ^Surrey Domesday BookArchived30 October 2007 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^Hutchins, Lisa (2001).Esher and Claygate Past.London: Historical Publications. pp. 19, 24.ISBN0-948667-66-4.
  7. ^Banerjee, Jacqueline.""Dear Old Claremont": Queen Victoria and Surrey's Royal Estate ".Victorian Web.Retrieved6 July2024.
  8. ^The Annual Register for the Year 1908, p. 146, reads: November.... On the 2nd, aged 67, Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., tutor of the Duke of Albany (H.R.H. Prince Leopold) and afterwards Comptroller of his household. The Times, 3 November 1908 p. 11 Obituary reads: Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins, K.C.B., K.C.V.O. died shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday morning at Claremont Palace, Esher...had acted as comptroller of the household of the Duchess of Albany
  9. ^England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1908. Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins of Broom Hill Esher Surrey K.C.B. K.C.V.O. died 2 November 1908 at Claremont Esher aforesaid Probate London 30 December to Henry John Collins solicitor and Edward Arthur Wightwick stockbroker. Effects £40153 11s. 6d
  10. ^abWhite, Roland (22 June 2003)."Last records of a Bee Gee's life".Sunday Times.London.Retrieved1 June2023.
  11. ^"Members of Parliament for Elmbridge".Elmbridge Borough Council.Archived fromthe originalon 17 March 2012.Retrieved7 March2012.
  12. ^Oliver Florence (23 April 2010)."Ian Taylor looks back on 23 years as an MP".Get Surrey.Archivedfrom the original on 27 December 2010.Retrieved7 March2012.
  13. ^Web Operations Team (25 August 2009)."Cooper, Nigel".Surrey County Council.Retrieved7 March2012.
  14. ^Historic England."Sandown House (1030194)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved5 July2024.
  15. ^abHannah Blackburn (7 March 2012)."Surrey County Council – Schools by Location".Surrey County Council.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2011.Retrieved7 March2012.
  16. ^Ian Fuoco (2 March 2012)."School status changes in academic year 11-12".Surrey County Council. Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2012.Retrieved7 March2012.
  17. ^"Hinchley Wood School and Sixth Form Centre".BBC News. 19 October 2005.Retrieved7 March2012.
  18. ^"History".Esher Cricket Club.Retrieved18 January2023.
  19. ^"Our History".Esher Lawn Tennis Club.Retrieved18 January2023.
  20. ^"About West End Esher Cricket Club".West End Cricket Club.Retrieved18 January2023.
  21. ^Plumptre, George (1985).The Fast Set - The World of Edwardian Racing.London: Andre Deutsch. p. 11.ISBN0233977546.
  22. ^"Esher Leopold 0-5 Old Carthusians".Athletic News:5. 9 November 1881.
  23. ^"report".Field:709. 12 November 1881.
  24. ^"Reigate Priory 5-0 Esher Leopold".West Surrey Times:4. 17 March 1883.
  25. ^"Esher Leopold v Kingston".Sporting Life.4.7 December 1883.
  26. ^"History of Esher Rugby Club".Esher Rugby Club. Archived fromthe originalon 28 April 2010.Retrieved18 March2010.
  27. ^"About the Club".AFC Westend Football Club.Retrieved18 January2023.
  28. ^Esher Theatre - Find UsRetrieved 21 July 2023
  29. ^abSmurthwaite, Tom; Larter, Grahame (24 May 2017)."Beatles guitarist George Harrison blue plaque unveiled by first wife Pattie Boyd at former Esher home".Surrey Live.Retrieved9 April2024.
  30. ^"Mr John Cobb".The Times.No. 52430. London. 30 September 1952. p. 8.
  31. ^Hoffman, Grace (31 January 2022)."Pam & Tommy: Lily James's early life in Surrey, family tragedy and ex-relationship to Doctor Who star".Surrey Live.Retrieved9 April2024.
  32. ^Davison, Phil (16 January 2014)."Obituary: Sam Kelly, actor".The Scotsman.Retrieved9 April2024.
  33. ^Jonze, Tim (5 November 2015)."Roots Manuva on mental health, Bleeds and his 'nasty little mutant' sound | Roots Manuva | the Guardian".TheGuardian.Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2020.Retrieved5 October2020.
  34. ^Norris, Gerald.A Musical Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland(1981), p. 273
  35. ^Gray, Frances (7 January 2016). "Sykes, Eric".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/105345.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
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