Epsom, High Street c.1960

Photo ref: E37123

More about this scene

The right to hold a market in the High Street was originally granted to the lords of the manor by Charles II, and afterwards confirmed by his brother James in 1685. Like other signs of civic life it lapsed with the decline of the spa and was not revived until 1833, but after a few years it lapsed once more. The present market is due to Thomas Hersey of South Street who put out some stalls, and defied the council to remove them. Then Lord Rosebery, while passing by, said how picturesque they looked - and that was that. In 1914 the council took over the Saturday market, leasing the right to hold it from the manor until, in 1955, they bought the lordship itself. The market was held in the centre of the road, with cars passing on either side - a dangerous arrangement brought to an end in 1991 when both streams of traffic were moved to the north side. Two years later the market area was paved over, and additional trading took place each Thursday, followed by a Friday antiques market.