Esher

History

Esher lay within the Saxon feudal division of Elmbridge hundred.

Esher appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aissela and Aissele, where it is held partly by the Abbey of the Cross in Normandy; partly by William de Waterville; partly by Reginald; partly by Hugh do Port; and partly by Odard Balistarius (probably a crossbowman). Its domesday assets were: 14 hides, 6 ploughs and 2 acre of meadow. It rendered £6 2s 0d per year to its feudal overlords.

In the 16th century King Henry VIII annexed several of the manors to the Honour of Hampton Court, including Esher, to form a royal hunting ground. The town slowly grew as a stagecoach stop on the London–Portsmouth road that was later numbered the A3, although it was bypassed in the mid-1970s when it became the A307. Clive of India built the Claremont mansion and this later became a royal residence used by Queen Victoria. In 1841 Esher had 1261 inhabitants across 2075 acres. Queen Victoria lent Claremont to the exiled French King Louis-Philippe and his consort Queen Marie-Amelie after the revolution of 1848. Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg lived there until he became King of the Belgians.

By 1908, Esher contained the fashionable residences of several important figures including Lady Emma Talbot; Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins,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 (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 the Duchess of Albany and Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G. who was later created 1st Viscount D'Abernon.

George Harrison of The Beatles owned a house named Kinfauns in Esher, in the 1960s. The other Beatles were regular visitors to the house, and Harrison's primitive home recording studio.

Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees owned a home called The Firs in Esher, from the 1970s until 2004, which was sold after his death. The hit single "Juliet" was written and recorded by Maurice and Robin Gibb in the Studio at The Firs for Robin's solo album project in the 1980s.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle placed 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 Holmes' arrival in Esher by stating, "It was nearly six o'clock before we found ourselves in the pretty Surrey village of Esher, with Inspector Baynes as our companion."

Government

Esher is within the Esher and Walton parliamentary constituency which is represented by Monica Harding, a member of the Liberal Democratic party, since July 2024.{{cite web |access-date = 7 March 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317095914/http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/council/elections/mps.htm |archive-date = 17 March 2012 |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-date=27 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227074807/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/special_features/s/2069986_ian_taylor_looks_back_on_23_years_as_an_mp |url-status=live

Esher is part of the East Molesey and Esher ward of Surrey County Council. The ward is represented by a Residents' association councillor.{{cite web |access-date=7 March 2012}}

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

Education

Esher has a mix of state and private schools. There are four state primary schools across the postal district of Esher, including Esher Church School and Cranmere in Esher itself, as well as schools in Hinchley Wood and Claygate.{{cite web |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019191038/https://online.surreycc.gov.uk/education/schools.nsf/SchoolsByLocation?OpenView&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=21#21 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419133243/http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/teachers-and-education-staff/schools-and-learning-finance/numbers-on-roll-statistics/school-status-changes-in-academic-year-11-12 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 19 April 2012 |access-date = 7 March 2012 |access-date=7 March 2012}} Esher College is in nearby Thames Ditton. Esher is also home to the West End Playgroup & Forest School, a pre-school for 2-5 year olds.

Culture, community and sport

Cinema

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

Sport

Esher Cricket Club was established in 1863. 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. A second cricket club arrived in 1875 as West End (Esher) Cricket Club.

Esher has a history with horse racing since the purpose-built Sandown Park race course opened in 1875.

In 1881 Esher Leopold football club was established which was formed out of the ashes of the dissolved Weybridge Swallows club. The club played at Sandown Park, close to the racecourse. The club's sole contribution to the national game was its one appearance in the FA Cup, a 5–0 home defeat to the holders, Old Carthusians, in 1881–82, although the club did reach the semi-finals of the Surrey Senior Cup, losing to Reigate Priory. The club continued into the 1883–84 season.

Esher Rugby Club was established in 1923 and play on the Hersham borders at the Molesey Road stadium, where they have several training grounds there.

A smaller football club AFC Westend was established in 2003.

Amenities, local events and media

Esher Theatre is a 300 seat performing arts venue on Esher High Street, which opened on 4 September 2021.[[File:Esher02.JPG|thumb|240px|right|[[St George's Church, Esher]]]]

Esher West End hosts an annual flower show and the Hampton Court Flower Show is nearby. Similarly, Surrey Wildlife Trust manage Wisley and Ockham Commons, partly within the borough of Elmbridge and Esher is approximately midway between the two leading Surrey and International Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and RHS Garden, Wisley.

A weekly newspaper, Esher News and Mail, closed down in 2009. Current newspapers include the Surrey Herald: Cobham, Esher and Claygate edition and Living Within monthly magazine/newspaper.

Vantage points include various outcrops of Esher Commons close to Hersham, Cobham and Oxshott for free public use; Esher Place (national training centre of Unite, the union) where a grass garden amphitheatre was built by Lutyens for what was the manor house; the facilities at Sandown Park racecourse and Claremont Landscape Garden.

Housing

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

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

• Pattie Boyd (1944–), model and photographer.
• John Cobb (1899–1952), racing driver.
• Maurice Gibb (1949–2003), pop musician.
• George Harrison (1943–2001), musician.
• Lily James (1989–), actress.
• Sam Kelly (1943–2014), actor.
• Ada Lovelace (1815–52), mathematician, lived at Sandown House, no. 1, Esher High Street.
• Roots Manuva (1972–), hip-hop musician.
• Montague Phillips (1885-1969), composer and his wife Clara Butterworth lived at Clare Cottage, Clare Hill for 50 years.
• Roger Scantlebury (1936–), computer scientist.
• Sophie Dora Spicer Maude (1854-1937), writer.
• Eric Sykes (1923–2012), comedic actor and writer.
• Chris Tarrant (1946–), television light entertainment presenter.

References

1. [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] {{Webarchive. link. (11 February 2003 [[United Kingdom Census 2011]] ''[[Office for National Statistics]]'' Retrieved 21 November 2013)
2. "Esher Built-up area sub division".
3. [http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] {{webarchive. link. (30 October 2007)
4. Hutchins, Lisa. (2001). "Esher and Claygate Past". Historical Publications.
5. (1848). "Erith – Essex". Institute of Historical Research.
6. Banerjee, Jacqueline. ""Dear Old Claremont": Queen Victoria and Surrey's Royal Estate". Victorian Web.
7. 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
8. (1911). "Parishes: Esher". Institute of Historical Research.
9. White, Roland. (22 June 2003). "Last records of a Bee Gee's life". Sunday Times.
10. {{NHLE
11. "History". Esher Cricket Club.
12. "Our History". Esher Lawn Tennis Club.
13. "About West End Esher Cricket Club". West End Cricket Club.
14. Plumptre, George. (1985). "The Fast Set - The World of Edwardian Racing". Andre Deutsch.
15. (9 November 1881). "Esher Leopold 0-5 Old Carthusians". Athletic News.
16. (12 November 1881). "report". Field.
17. (17 March 1883). "Reigate Priory 5-0 Esher Leopold". West Surrey Times.
18. (7 December 1883). "Esher Leopold v Kingston". Sporting Life.
19. "History of Esher Rugby Club". Esher Rugby Club.
20. "About the Club". AFC Westend Football Club.
21. [https://www.eshertheatre.com/findus Esher Theatre - Find Us] Retrieved 21 July 2023
22. (24 May 2017). "Beatles guitarist George Harrison blue plaque unveiled by first wife Pattie Boyd at former Esher home". Surrey Live.
23. (30 September 1952). "Mr John Cobb".
24. 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.
25. Davison, Phil. (16 January 2014). "Obituary: Sam Kelly, actor". The Scotsman.
26. (5 November 2015). "Roots Manuva on mental health, Bleeds and his 'nasty little mutant' sound | Roots Manuva | the Guardian".
27. Norris, Gerald. ''A Musical Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland'' (1981), p. 273
28. Gray, Frances. (7 January 2016). "Sykes, Eric".