Heritage open days
Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE
Within Epsom and Ewell, we are aware of the following - note these are not organised by us, please pay particular attention to any requirements requested by the organisers.
Horton Chapel
Saturday 8 September; 10am - 4pm
Horton Chapel, Haven Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 7HA
Pre-booking required - There are a limited number of spaces, booked on a first-come first-served basis. See: http://www.hortonchapelproject.org/heritageopenday
Take a look inside grade II-listed Horton Chapel - the last surviving chapel of Epsom's vast, 
pioneering Victorian psychiatric hospital cluster - before renovation work begins to transform it into an exciting venue for arts and culture. Horton Chapel, also known as Harewood Hall, was built in 1901 by Victorian architect G T Hine, famed for designing what were then called asylums. It was the asylum chapel for Horton Hospital. This impressive building has been vacant for several decades and has recently been saved by a bid from a group of local residents with a vision to renovate the chapel and run it as a not-for-profit centre for arts and culture, including a multimedia exhibition on the history of the 1000-acre psychiatric hospital cluster, and the people who lived and worked there.
On Heritage Open day, visitors will be able to hear about the history of the building and its context in treatment of, and attitudes towards, mental health and disabilities.
Access: There are no toilets or facilities of any kind on site. The building itself is partially wheelchair accessible but the ground around the site is currently very uneven with long grass and no path. There is no parking on-site. Children must be supervised at all times by an adult.
Nonsuch Mansion House
Sunday 9 September; 9am - 4pm
Off Cheam Rd/Ewell Rd A232 at Cheam Gate on corner, park and walk 200 yds
As part of Nonsuch Open Day, visit Nonsuch Mansion House and see what life was like below stairs in this building designed by Jeffrey Wyatt in 1802. Rooms open include the kitchen, sculleries, pastry and game larders, and the wet and dry laundries. Exhibition of rare stained glass from over 400 years.
Ewell Court House
Sunday 9 September; 11am - 3.30pm
Ewell Court Avenue, off Kingston Road (westbound lane only) down Ewell Court Avenue and follow signs at foot
A nouveau-riche Victorian couple, Henry Bridges and his bride Edith, transformed this 17th-century mansion into a small country house in 1879, with gun store and billiard room. It feels as if the butler, cook, and housemaids could come back at any minute.
Durdans Riding School
Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 and Monday 17 September; 9am - 12noon
Off Chalk Lane, access from Woodcote Road: KT18 7AX
A rare chance to visit the historic racing stables of Lord Rosebery, the racing Prime Minister, used as a stud from 1874 until his death in 1929. Here were bred or trained eleven horses that won Classics including three Derby winners. See the Grade II* listed Indoor Riding School built in 1881 – possibly the last one still in equestrian use. Built by George Devey, pioneer of the English vernacular style, it boasts Dutch gables and diaper-patterned brickwork. Visitors will also have the chance to see the newly restored graves of the four Epsom-trained horses that have won the Derby – Amato, Ladas, Sir Visto and Cicero.
St Mary the Virgin, Cuddington
Saturday 15 September:; 11am - 5pm
The Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7HL
A chance to see inside St Mary’s Church, designed by local architect John Alick Thomas and opened in 1895; Victorian and modern stained glass; walk-round leaflet; display about St Mary’s. Special exhibition: Women of Worcester Park, Cuddington, Old Malden and North Cheam through the centuries; ‘400 Years of Worcester Park’ exhibition.
Woodcote Park
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September; 9am - 10am and 10.30am - 11.30am
Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Wilmer hatchLane, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EW
Visit Woodcote Park, home to the world-famous Royal Automobile Club where you will see the recently renovated Motor House – winner of the 2017 Surrey Heritage Awards – before enjoying a guided tour of some of the historic clubhouse and grounds. Due to the nature of the property and how it has evolved, large parts of this tour are outside in the splendid grounds so outdoor clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Pre-booked guided tours (25 people per tour) only, go to https://woodcoteparktours.eventbrite.co.uk