Help Preserve 90 Years of Epsom & Ewell History
Nine Decades of Stories — Your Help Needed
Next year marks a significant milestone for our community as Epsom & Ewell Borough Council reaches its 90th anniversary, looking back at nine decades since the local authority was established in 1937. But this celebration isn’t just about official records and dusty archives — it’s about capturing the real stories, memories, and photographs that have shaped our neighbourhoods, from the historic Ewell town centre to the leafy streets of Epsom and beyond.
The council is now making an urgent appeal to residents like you to dig through your family albums, garage boxes, and memory banks. Whether you have photographs of old local landmarks, memories of community events, stories about how the borough has changed over your lifetime, or recollections of local businesses that have come and gone, they’re looking for it all. These contributions will create a permanent historical record that future generations can access and learn from, ensuring that the personal stories of ordinary residents aren’t lost to time.
Where Your Memories Will Live On
This isn’t a one-off collection — your submissions will have a lasting home. The council plans to archive all contributions at Bourne Hall Museum in Ewell, one of our borough’s most cherished cultural institutions. This means your photographs and stories will be preserved professionally and made available for researchers, students, and curious community members for years to come.
Beyond the archive, selected memories will also be shared across the council’s social media platforms, giving your contributions real visibility within our local community. Whether it’s a photo of how Epsom High Street looked fifty years ago, a memory of attending a local event at a community venue, or a story about changes you’ve witnessed in your neighbourhood — from traditional properties being transformed through loft conversion and loft refurbishment projects to new developments by local builders like Guilford builders — your perspective matters. Council leader Hannah Dalton emphasises that this collection process is about more than nostalgia: it’s about creating a shared legacy that reflects everything that makes Epsom & Ewell distinctive.
What Happens Next — Timeline and Taking Action
The 2027 anniversary will be marked with a full programme of community events designed to celebrate our borough’s heritage, achievements, and the spirit that binds us together. However, with the council set to merge into the new East Surrey Council structure that same year, this anniversary takes on added significance — it’s both a celebration of what’s been and a bridge to what comes next.
If you have memories to share, now is the time to act. You can submit your photographs, stories, and recollections directly to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council. Think about what moments from the past nine decades have stuck with you: childhood memories, family photographs, local events you attended, businesses you remember fondly, or changes you’ve witnessed in your street or neighbourhood. Every submission, no matter how small it seems to you, adds another thread to the tapestry of our community’s story. Watch for upcoming events and announcements about the anniversary programme — this is your chance to be part of preserving Epsom & Ewell’s history for generations to come.
Source: Appeal for memories of Epsom & Ewell borough’s 90-year history
