St George's Church, Esher

St George’s Church stands in Esher, a town in Elmbridge, Surrey. Built in the 16th century, it served as the parish church for three centuries before a larger church replaced it in the 19th century. The building avoided Victorian alterations, so its Tudor features remain clear. It is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. The church has strong links to nearby Claremont, a country house where many notable figures once lived. The church is worth visiting for its historical connections and architectural details. In the 18th century, the 1st Duke of Newcastle commissioned John Vanbrugh to add a brick extension containing a family pew. The pew, designed by Vanbrugh, includes Corinthian columns and a pediment, with separate seating areas for the residents of Claremont and Esher Place. A sculpted memorial to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, commissioned by Queen Victoria, stands in the north aisle. Inside, the church retains its original Tudor open roof with timber beams. The wooden clock-turret holds a mechanism from the early 17th century, with a clock face added later. The three-decker pulpit and reredos from 1722 feature fine carving, while the north aisle, added in 1812, has crenellated gables. The building’s mix of materials—sandstone, flint and brick—gives it a distinctive appearance. Visitors can still see the original doorway from an earlier church and the priest’s door on the north side of the chancel.