IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Crescent, EPSOM, KT18 7LJ

This shows the first Epsom Spa Well, now in the centre of a housing estate which occupies the circular area of the commercial grounds of the well. The healing powers of the water from this well were discovered about 1618. By the 18th Century the wells were in a large brick building. There was a coffee house, gaming rooms, and shops selling food. The Epsom salts which are the mineral content of the water have strong purgative powers and cartoons show the customers running for the bushes after drinking the water. See Epsom and Ewell history website http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/EpsomSpa.html .

1930s housing in The Greenway, which forms the outer circle of The Wells.

1930s housing in The Greenway, which forms the outer circle of The Wells.

1930s bungalows surrounding a small green at the head of Well Way, containing the site of the original well.

Commemorative plaques at the site of the original Epsom Well (see Image). The top one reads: "The Well and adjoining land was donated to the public by H K Roll and F E Roll in 1946." The lower one (a continuation of the history in Image) reads: "The first Epsom Spa Well. By shortly after 1700 the Lord of the manor had taken away common land status from an area about 450 yards in diameter around the well and had had buildings erected for patrons including a coffee house, gaming rooms and shops for sweetmeats and fruit. The circular area formed around the well has persisted and can be recognised in the layout of the present houses. The old well on the common went out of general use following the opening of a new well nearer the centre of Epsom in 1707. The buildings were finally demolished when Oldwells Farm was erected in the early 1800s. This in turn was demolished in the late 1800s. In Victorian times the well was capped with a small box-like well-head. This remained until the present well-head was constructed following a suggestion by local historian Maurice Exwood that this would be an appropriate way in which to mark the golden jubilee in 1987 of Epsom and Ewell becoming a Borough. The design was based on ideas put forward by local schools and colleges. The opening ceremony was performed by Councillors Pam Ballard and Michael Staples on 25 June 1989." For wider view see Image

The site of the original Epsom Well in Well Way, marked by a new wellhead added in 1989 for close up see Image I didn't taste the water in the puddle in the foreground, in case it wasn't from the spring itself.

Commemorative plaque at the site of the original Epsom Well (see Image). It reads: "Epsom & Ewell Borough Council. The first Epsom Spa Well. This well-head is built at the site of the original Epsom well, said to have been discovered in 1618. It gave water rich in magnesium sulphate (Epsom Salts) which became popular because of its medicinal properties and led to the development of Epsom as a spa town. Visitors included Nell Gwyn, Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe." The history is continued on a second plaque, seen in Image For wider view see Image

This well is on the site of Epsom's first spa well discovered about 1618. See Image for more information and link.

Steps leading to the site of the original Epsom Well at the end of Well Way. For a wider view see Image For close ups of the two plaques either side of the steps see Image and Image and of the wellhead see Image

The site of the original Epsom Well, marked by a new wellhead added in 1989. For a wider view see Image