This time, Esher Residents’ Association Chair and local councillor, Simon Leifer looks at Broom Close.

C18th milestone in Broom Close

Broom Close is a tadpole shaped hilly cul-de-sac built in the 1920s. It sits on the local Bagshot Sands atop Black Park Gravel so the gardens are not bogged down with clay as are many other homes in the locality.

From mid C18th the land had been part of the Claremont Estate but, after the estate was confiscated from the disgraced Prince Charles Saxe-Coburg in1922, parcels of land were sold by the Public Trustee for private housing.

Many of the original houses were designed by architect (George) Blair Imrie (1885-1952) a proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement in architecture, along with architects such as George Devey and Edwin Lutyens and designer William Morris. Imrie designed many other houses in Esher and also the RHS Wisley building. His houses are renowned for their use of quality materials such as oak window frames and doors with wrought iron fittings, leaded light glazing, hand made roof tiles and yorkstone garden walls and driveways.

Records show us that ‘La Brome’/’Bromhull’ C13-14^th means ‘next to the gallows’ which Broom Close was! However, it was probably named for adjacent ‘Broom Hill’ (now ‘Broomhill Court’ in Esher Close) a large house built in the late C19th and, although divided into apartments, still a magnificent landmark building. Parts of Broom Hill’s garden artefacts still exist in Broom Close along with some mighty ancient trees and, remarkably, an C18th milestone. Although currently in Broom Close, this is shown on old maps as being originally located on Claremont Lane. The milestone tells us on one side that, in 1768, it was 15 miles and 3 Quarters From (sic) Westminster Bridge and on another side 17 Miles From (sic) the Standard Cornhill London in 1747. 

Interesting modern history: iconic pop star Errol Brown (and family) of ‘Hot Chocolate’ used to live at no.11 ‘Longview’ and has now been memorialised on Esher High Street by the Esher Planters’ Club.

Esher Planters Club tribute to the late Errol Brown, resident of Broom Close and founder and lead singer of Hot Chocolate…https://youtu.be/JIN36NweL6I?si=xycEnE_6J3k_mKmu