Did you know that...
Esher was called Aissela or Aissele in the 11th century. The Domesday Book records five owners. In the 16th century, this KT10 area was a stagecoach stop on the London to Portsmouth road which is now known as the A3. The first Claremont mansion in Esher dates from 1708. It was a small house built for Sir John Vanbrugh. The stables, walled garden, and the White Cottage were built at that time as well. Thomas Pelham-Holles bought the mansion in 1714. Some of the most famous landscapers such as Capability Brown and William Kent worked on the gardens. In 1727, the Claremont gardens were considered “the noblest of any in Europe”. The second Claremont mansion was built in 1774 by Clive of India, the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency. He demolished the old house and, supposedly, spent more than £100,000 to rebuild a more fashionable house.
Claremont mansion is now a Grade I listed building and a landmark of Esher. Notable residents include Queen Victoria, Louis-Philippe I of France, and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg who became the first king of Belgium. Since 1978, the mansion became the Claremont Fan Court School. Award-winning biographer Anne Sebba, TV presenter Michaela Strachan, actress Joyce Grenfell, and screenwriter Miles Millar are among the most notable alumni.
George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the Beatles band, owned Kinfauns house in Esher. It was used as a recording studio. Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees wrote and recorded the song Juliet at his house The Firs in Esher. This South West London area features in The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Everyman cinema used to be called the Odeon. Moore Place restaurant featured in Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares TV show. The world’s largest flower festival, Hampton Court Flower Show, is held nearby. Esher West End organizes a local yearly flower show.