EPSOM, a town of Surrey, England, on the edge of Banstead Downs, 15 m. S.W. by S. of London, on the main road to Dor king, with stations (including Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner, on the racecourse) on the S.R. Pop. of urban district (I 93I) 27,089. The parish church of St. Martin is a modern Gothic restoration. Epsom (a contraction of Ebbisham, the name of the old manor) first came into notice when mineral springs were discovered there about 1618 and as a spa reached its zenith a century later. Horse races appear to have been estab lished here as early as James I.'s residence at Nonsuch, but they did not assume a permanent character until 173o. The principal races—the Derby and the Oaks, named after the twelfth earl of Derby and his seat, the Oaks, in the neighbourhood—were estab lished in 178o and 1779 respectively. The spring races (which include the Metropolitan and the City and Suburban) are held towards the close of April; while the great Epsom meet ing takes place during the last week in May or the first week in June,—the Derby on the Wednesday, and the Oaks on the Friday (see HORSE-RACING). The grandstand was first erected in 1829, and subsequently enlarged; there are numerous training stables and several well known residences in the vicinity. Close to the town are the extensive buildings of Epsom college, founded in 1855, which by the terms of the foundation grants scholarships to the sons of medical men. Epsom Downs ac.) and Epsom Common (435.5 ac.) have been common land from time immemorial. The council also maintains recreation grounds, and owns the water and electricity supplies and certain of the stables. The urban district and certain parishes in the rural district fall within the metropolitan police district of Greater London. Epsom was created a borough in