Editing Epsom (section)

===Early history===
The earliest evidence of human activity in Epsom is from the mid-[[Bronze Age Britain|Bronze Age]]. Remains of pits, ditches and post holes in Long Grove Road indicate that the area north of the town centre was used for agriculture in prehistoric times, which may suggest the presence of an established settlement nearby.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stevenson |first1=J. |year=2005 |title=An archaeological excavation at Long Grove Road, Epsom |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_92/Surrey_Arch_Vol_92_161-170.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=92 |pages=161–170 |doi=10.5284/1069347 |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605151304/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_92%2FSurrey_Arch_Vol_92_161-170.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Pottery [[sherd]]s and worked [[flint]]s, found on the site of the former [[Manor Hospital, Epsom|Manor Hospital]] site in Horton, show that human activity continued into the early [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saunders |first1=M.J. |year=2000 |title=Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement evidence from Manor Hospital, Epsom |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_87/surreyac087_175-178_saunders.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=87 |pages=175–178 |doi=10.5284/1069276 |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605151305/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_87%2Fsurreyac087_175-178_saunders.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and two [[Stater#Non-Greek staters|staters]] (coins) from this period have been found in the area.<ref name=EUS_2003>{{cite web |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-726-1/dissemination/pdf/epsom/epsom_eus_report.pdf |title=Extensive Urban Survey of Surrey: Epsom |last=Poulton |first=Rob |date=June 2003 |orig-year=2001 |publisher=Surrey County Archaeological Unit |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605151306/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-726-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fepsom%2Fepsom_eus_report.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

Although the route of [[Stane Street (Chichester)|Stane Street]], the road between ''[[Londinium]]'' and [[Noviomagus Reginorum|Chichester]], passes immediately to the east of St Martin's Church, there is not thought to have been a [[Roman Britain|Roman]] settlement there.<ref name=EUS_2003/><ref name=Hall_2008>{{cite journal |author=Hall A |year=2008 |title=The archaeological evidence for the route of Stane Street from Mickleham Downs to London Road, Ewell |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |publisher=Surrey Archaeological Society |volume=94 |pages=225–250 |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_94/surreyac094_225-249_hall.pdf |access-date=2 January 2021 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102102535/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_94%2Fsurreyac094_225-249_hall.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Archaeological evidence of Roman activity has been found to the north of the present town centre: A [[tile]] [[kiln]], which may have been connected to the 1st- and 2nd-century [[brickworks]] on [[Ashtead Common]], was discovered during the construction of the [[West Park Hospital, Epsom|West Park Hospital]] in the 1920s.<ref name=Abdy_2001_pp2-4>{{harvnb|Abdy|2001|pp=2–4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Goodchild |first1=R.G. |year=2000 |title=The Roman Brickworks at Wykehurst Farm in the Parish of Cranleigh, with a note on a Roman Tile-Kiln at Horton, Epsom |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_45/surreyac045_074-096_goodchild.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=45 |pages=74–96 |doi=10.5284/1068822 |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605151305/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_45%2Fsurreyac045_074-096_goodchild.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> There may also have been a [[Roman villa|villa]] at Epsom Court.<ref name=EEHE_Brief_History/>

The [[Anglo-Saxon]] settlement at Epsom was most likely established in the late 6th or early 7th century.<ref name=Abdy_2001_pp2-4/><ref name=White_Harte_1992_intro>{{harvnb|White|Harte|1992|loc=Introduction}}</ref> It would have been administered as part of [[Copthorne Hundred]] and was probably located close to the site of the present St Martin's Church, which is built on a [[hillock|knoll]] of chalk at the base of the North Downs.<ref name=Abdy_2001_pp2-4/><ref name=White_Harte_1992_intro/><ref name=Nail_1965>{{cite journal |last=Nail |first=Dorothy |year=1965 |title=The meeting place of Copthorne Hundred |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_62/surreyac062_044-053_nail.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=62 |pages=44–53 |doi=10.5284/1068944 |access-date=24 September 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102102521/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_62%2Fsurreyac062_044-053_nail.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>{{refn|The meeting place of Copthorne Hundred has been suggested to be marked by an earthwork and ancient hedge at the southern end of Woodcote Park, close to [[Langley Vale]]. The earthwork is denoted as the ''Nutshambles'' on a map of [[Ashtead]] dating from 1638.<ref name=Nail_1965/>|group=note}} Saxon burials have been excavated at two sites to the east of the modern town centre, close to the church.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHHER_1107 |title=Saxon burials: Epsom |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=18 January 2012 |publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past |access-date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915231656/http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHHER_1107 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHHER_1118 |title=Burials from Epsom, possibly late Roman or Saxon date |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=18 January 2012 |publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past |access-date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915212946/http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHHER_1118 |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[garnet]] [[pendant]], depicting a bearded male wearing a [[Phrygian cap]], was discovered in the same area in the 1960s. The pendant is thought to have originated from the Mediterranean in the 7th century and its discovery suggests that high-status individuals were living in or travelling though Epsom in the Anglo-Saxon period.<ref name=White_Harte_1992_intro/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1970-0301-1_1 |title=Pendant; cameo |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=October 2014 |publisher=The British Museum |access-date=8 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191019/https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1970-0301-1_1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The origins of the modern town centre are obscure, but the principal road pattern may have developed during the Middle Ages. In the 12th century, a [[nucleated village]] is thought to have been founded at the west end of the present High Street.<ref name=EUS_2003/> The 1840 [[tithe map]] shows a series of narrow, regular [[land lot|plots]] along the north side of the High Street, which would be consistent with a planned, medieval settlement.<ref name=EUS_2003/>