Rosebery Road Epsom, is one of a number of roads named after Archibald Philip Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery. Also, its leafy turning off Langley Vale Road where cyclists whizz past on the Surrey Cycle Link route, leads to a quiet cul-de-sac. Mainly detached and individual houses line the street, leading to a pathway at the end onto the Epsom Downs. There is also a wide access path with notice board giving a plan of the Downs half way along the road, leading up almost immediately to the training course for the race horses kept in nearby stables. Rosebery Road also is home to the local Langley Vale Village Hall and St Martin of Tours church, both of which run a range of events and groups for the community.
The Earl of Rosebery
Like Rosebery House in public school, Epsom College, Rosebery Park in the centre of town, and a number of other roads, Rosebery Road recognises the gifts of land bequeathed to the borough by Lord Rosebery after his death. In addition, Rosebery was a British Prime Minister 1894-95, who succeeded Gladstone, as leader of the Liberal Party. Accordingly, he was also first chairman of London County Council, who tired of politics after the Liberals lost the 1895 election and left the boredom of political office and focused on his skills as an outstanding sportsman and marksman, an orator, writer and historian, connoisseur and collector. Also he remained closely associated with Epsom throughout his life. So, having first become affiliated by buying and entering a race horse called Ladas in the Derby in 1869, costing him his place at Oxford University from which he was expelled for this illegal misdemeanour. Sadly for Lord Rosebery, Ladas came in last place. However, he became a prominent figure in British horse racing for the next forty years. You can find more blog posts about Epsom from the homepage of your Expert Plumbing Company Epsom website.