Did you know that...
There is evidence that East Ewell and the nearby land had been used by prehistoric man. Experts even managed to find pieces from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age. The name of this area derives from the Anglo-Saxon word for river source or spring. Playwright Michael Frayn is one of the most notable East Ewell residents. He lived in a house on Hillside Road.
East Ewell is part of the borough of Epsom and Ewell which covers around 8,500 acres. And 2,000 of those are open space! However, the most outstanding “open space” of them all is certainly Nonsuch Park that is on the English Heritage register of historic country parks. The park’s history begins in the 16th century when King Henry VIII established deer hunting grounds in this part of South West London. Nonsuch Palace and Nonsuch Mansion can be found within the park. The palace is built on the site of Cuddington village. The settlement and its church were cleared so the palace could be built. Henry VIII wanted to build a palace that had no such equal. This is the story behind the name. However, he did not see his dream come true as the construction was not finished by 1547 when he died.
Nonsuch Mansion is another landmark of this SM2 area. This Grade II listed building dates from the 18th century. It was built by Joseph Thompson. The construction works took 12 years starting with 1731. Samuel Farmer bought the mansion in 1799. He hired architect Jeffry Wyatville to rebuild the place in Tudor Gothic style. Wyatville is also known for his work on Windsor Castle and Chatsworth House. In 1838, Nonsuch Mansion still belonged to the Farmer family. That’s when the gardens became a local attraction. The local authorities bought the mansion from the Farmers in 1937. The building bears two notable marks. One says “1543 Henry VIII in the 35th year of His reign” and the other one reads the Farmers’ motto “Hora e sempre”.
