Daniel Defoe, Charles II, and Thomas Shadwell brushed metal plaque

This brushed metal commemorative plaque records: Epsom High Street Three hundred years of history have left their mark on the high-street. 1618 The mineral well on Epsom Common is discovered to have medicinal qualities. 1672 Thomas Shadwell's play Epsom Wells is performed for Charles II. 1707 John Livingstone opens entertainment facilities at the New Wells off the High Street. 1724 Defoe’s Tour Through Britain comments:- ‘…the nobility and gentry go to Tunbridge, the merchants and rich citizens go to Epsom… the common people chiefly to Dulwich and Streatham’. 1779 The first Oaks horse race is run on the Downs, followed by the first Derby in 1780. 1833 Epsom market is established in the Highs Street. 1847 railway station opens in Upper High Street, followed by one on the presence of in 1859. 1937 A dual carriageway is completed in the eastern half of the High Street. 1990 The highway moved to the north side try provide a pedestrian Market Place once again. 1993 The new Market Place improvement scheme is completed.

Daniel Defoe was an influential English novelist, journalist, and travel writer, best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe"; King Charles II of England was the monarch who restored the monarchy after the English Civil War and the Interregnum; Thomas Shadwell succeeded Dryden as Poet Laureate and was a prominent playwright during the Restoration period.