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Esher,
on the River Mole, is a popular commuter town.
The settlement
developed as a coaching town on the London to Portsmouth road
(A3). Esher became a wealthy area in the 16th century when
Henry VIII commandeered the district as a hunting ground.
In the
18th century Clive of India built the splendid mansion, Claremont,
to the south of the town. At the time its garden was the
most famous in Europe. The magnificent Palladian building
later became a Royal residence. Today the house is occupied
by the Claremont Fan Court School but the superb Claremont
Landscape Garden, owned and managed by the National Trust,
is open to the public.
One
of the great attractions of Esher is Sandown
Park Racecourse, where racing takes place all year, both
on the flat and over jumps. The facilities are excellent
and the leisure venue also offers an 18-hole golf course and
is used for car shows, toy fairs and property shows. Set
on high ground Sandown Park has spectacular views over Heathrow
Airport and London.
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Esher
