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The name of Epsom derives from Ebbi's ham, Ebbi being a Saxon lady about whom nothing is known. There were a string of settlements, many ending in -ham, along the northern slopes of the Downs, including Effingham, Bookham, and Cheam. The only relic from this period is a 7th century brooch found in Epsom and now in the British Museum.
The early history of the area is bound up with the Abbey of Chertsey, whose ownership of Ebbisham was confirmed by King Athelstan in 933. The town at the time of Doomsday Book had 38 peasant households grouped near St. Martin's Church. Later, other small settlements grew up at the town pond (now the Market in the High Street), and at Epsom Court, Horton, Woodcote, and Langley Vale. Some country houses were built in the 1500's. In the early 1600's, the therapeutic powers of the well on the common became known (some say because the cows refused to drink it!). Visitors flocked to take the waters, and, since they needed entertainment, a number of fine mansions and the Assembly Rooms were built, hotels and lodging houses were opened, all kinds of shops were opened, and bowling greens and other leisure pursuits were provided.
But in 1730, the centre of fashion moved to Bath, building boom ended, shops were closed, and Epsom reverted to a more sedate way of life. However, the presence of the mansions ensured some trade, and the increasing coach traffic to Brighton brought more trade.
There had always been some racing on the Downs, but the foundation of The Derby in 1780 gave a formal structure, and provided the shorter more exciting race demanded by the public. Derby Day became increasingly popular, and led to enormous traffic jams for several miles around. This encouraged the development of The Railways from Croydon (1847) and Wimbledon (1859). Further lines were completed, mainly for race-goers, to Epsom Downs (1865) and Tattenham Corner (1901). The increasing pulse of life in the town encouraged the local authority (then known as the Vestry) to rebuild the Watch House, which stood beside the pond and housed a fire engine. They replaced it with the Clock House which still stands today.
Epsom now had 600 houses, including about 200 of the traditional "clapboard" houses, a few of which still survive. Health became an increasing problem, and a local board of health was elected in 1850. They made sewers and filled in the town pond. Great building schemes were mooted, initially for the area of Epsom Common, but these were abandoned. Instead, the common fields to the south and east were enclosed in 1869 and gradually divided up into building plots. In 1895, another great expansion started when Epsom Court Farm was divided up for building.
The Board of Health was superseded in 1895 by an Urban District Council. Another major development at this time was the building by the London County Council of three large mental hospitals on the western outskirts of the town: Manor (1899), Horton and St. Ebba's (1901) and Long Grove (1907). Most of these magnificent buildings have now been abandoned as hospitals, in favour of "care in the community". The buildings remain as a monument to the Victorian drive and energy for schemes of public welfare.
The foundations of Epsom's excellent parks system was laid when the Earl of Rosebery gave the land for Rosebery Park in 1913.
In 1934, the Urban District of Epsom expanded to include its sister community of Ewell, and in 1937 the Council received its charter creating the Borough of Epsom and Ewell.
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