Horton is a village in the borough of Epsom and Ewell, in the county of Surrey, England. It is situated between the towns and villages of Epsom, West Ewell, Chessington and Malden Rushett. Its principal road is Horton Lane, which runs the length of the area between West Ewell and Epsom Common. Horton Country Park also runs along the length of the area, between Epsom Common and West Ewell.
| Horton | |
|---|---|
  Horton Location within Surrey | |
| Area | 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) |
| Population | 5,000 |
| • Density | 3,333/sq mi (1,287/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ1962 |
| • London | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) NNE |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EPSOM |
| Postcode district | KT19 |
| Dialling code | 01372 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
The place-name Horton is relatively common in England. It derives from Old English horu 'dirt' and tūn 'settlement, farm, estate', presumably meaning 'farm on muddy soil'.[1] It gave its name to the Horton Light Railway which served a number of the psychiatric hospitals in the area during the 20th century, collectively known as the Epsom Cluster.
Since the 1990s, Horton has undergone rapid change. The hospitals which made up the Epsom Cluster closed as Care in the Community took over from inpatient care. Multiple housing estates including Manor Park were constructed on the site, in addition to a number of shops in the centre of the area. In 2022, Horton was made a ward in Epsom and Ewell borough due to the population increase in the area.[2]
History
editAncient use and the Horton Manor Estate
editThe earliest evidence of human activity in Horton is from the mid-Bronze Age. Remains of pits, ditches and post holes in Long Grove Road indicate that the Horton area was used for agriculture in prehistoric times, which may suggest the presence of an established settlement nearby.[3] Pottery sherds and worked flints, found on the site of the former Manor Hospital site in Horton, show that human activity continued into the early Iron Age[4] and two staters (coins) from this period have been found in the area.[5]
As shown in an 1816 Ordnance Survey map of the area, Horton was a hamlet, separated by fields from the more substantial settlements of Ewell and Epsom.[6]
During the 19th Century, the Horton Manor Estate existed across what is now present-day Horton. Owned by Thomas Buxton, it contained the hamlet of Horton, where the present day Horton Local Centre is located. A map from 1890 shows Horton Farm existed (now Hobbledown). Horton Manor House was located on what is now the western edge of the Manor Park Estate today. The Horton Manor Estate was part of the Epsom Parish. The north of the estate bordered the Ewell Parish.[7]
20th Century: Epsom Cluster
editThe Horton area was occupied by five psychiatric hospitals for almost all the duration of the 20th Century. Known as the Epsom Cluster, the hospitals were built by London County Council to institutionalize the city's psychiatric patients.[8] These hospitals were largely shut down in the 1990s and early 2000s as Care in the community became the predominant government policy at the time.
Housing and retail development
editFrom the early 1990s to the mid 2010s, housing estates rapidly sprung up on the former sites of the Epsom Cluster institutions, including Clarendon Park (completed in 1992) and Manor Park. They are all connected to Horton Lane via the extensive network of roundabouts. Around 2010, a retail centre was developed, containing about 14 units including a Tesco Express supermarket. [9][10]
Geography
editHorton is centred on the area of shops near the roundabout of Horton Lane and Chantilly Way. This shopping parade gives the area a village centre like feel. Horton Lane travels the length of Horton (SSW to NNE) from Epsom Common to Hook Road Arena. The road contains cycle lanes both on the road and pavement, alongside a wide footpath. Hobbledown children's park is located close to Horton's centre.
Horton Country Park runs along the length of the western side of the area. Newly constructed housing estates can be found on both sides of Horton Lane on the site of former hospitals. Horton Park Golf Course occupies the north-west of the area, contiguous with the county park. This park is adjacent to Epsom Common and Castle Hill Nature Reserve. This links the park to the wider Surrey and London countryside, resulting in Horton having a more rural setting than suburban Ewell and Chessington.[11]
A smaller park, Long Grove Park and a primary school is in the east of the area, with the Old Moat Garden Centre in the south.
Topography
editHorton is situated on a gentle incline running South-south west from West Ewell to Epsom Common, along Horton Lane and Horton Country Park. The lowest part of Horton is at 27 m (89 ft) where the Horton Stream (a tributary of the Hogsmill River) flows out of the north-east of Horton Country Park adjacent to Chessington Road (B284). The highest point can be found near the junction of Horton Lane and Christchurch Road (B280) in the grounds of Hollywood Lodge, at 71 metres (233 ft) above sea level.
The Horton Stream forms a valley in the west of Horton, in the Country Park. The east and south of Horton is higher owing to a ridge of land between the Horton Stream and the Green Lanes stream which is sourced at nearby Epsom Common. The area is in the low-lying London Clay geological region, just south of the North Downs chalk ridge of Epsom Downs and Headley. Further this stream connects to the Hogsmill River.[12]
Localities
editHorton Park Golf Club
editContains an 18-hole course, a Par 3 9 hole course, a driving range in addition to a crazy golf course which opened in 2014. Located in the north of Horton, contiguous with Horton Country Park.[13][14]
Hook Road Arena
editAn area of enclosed green space located in the north of Horton. Hosts funfair events in addition to the annual firework and bonfire night. The Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) horse riding charity is based adjacent to the arena.
Horton Country Park
editA 1.5 mile long area of open space just west of Horton Lane, with a large car park. A mixture of woodland and fields, containing some horses in the fields. Contains Epsom Polo Club. Adjacent to Epsom Common and Castle Hill Nature Reserve, Chessington.[15]
Hobbledown
editAn children's adventure park and zoo, located just west of Horton Lane, adjacent to the David Lloyd Centre and Horton Country Park. Contains a soft play area. Formerly known as Horton Park Children's Farm.[16]
Long Grove Park
editAn enclosed space located in the east of the area. Contains a playground and is adjacent to the residential area in the west of Epsom. The park is also continuous with open space beside Abbots Avenue.[17]
Surrounding Area
editThe nearest towns to Horton is Epsom and Chessington, located 2 miles to the east and west. The residential area of West Ewell is contiguous with Horton.
References
edit- ^ Victor Watts (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), s.v. HORTON.
- ^ "New political map for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council". March 2022.
- ^ Stevenson, J. (2005). "An archaeological excavation at Long Grove Road, Epsom" (PDF). Surrey Archaeological Collections. 92: 161–170. doi:10.5284/1069347. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Saunders, M.J. (2000). "Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement evidence from Manor Hospital, Epsom" (PDF). Surrey Archaeological Collections. 87: 175–178. doi:10.5284/1069276. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Pattison, G. (2000). "An Archaeological Watching Brief During the 'Epsom Hositals Cluster' Road Scheme Development, Horton Lane, Epsom". Surrey County Archaeological Unit.
- ^ GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Horton, in Epsom and Ewell and Surrey | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time. 'http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26824' Date accessed: 24th May 2022
- ^ https://eehe.org.uk/?p=25027 'Epsom Cluster'Epsom and Ewell History Explorer
- ^ "The Horton Estate, Epsom Cluster, Epsom". Retrieved 23 December 2008.
Following the Legislation passed in 1888 the London County Council begun to build the necessary institutions around the London Borough. However these became over-crowded very quickly and a solution was needed and in 1896, 1096 acres of the Horton estate in Epsom was acquired for the price of £35,900. The original plan was to build six hospitals on the site with the ability to house up to 12,000 patients, the hope to alleviate the over-crowding in the London Hospitals; only five were built in the end.
- ^ Atkins, David (2 August 2020). "Surrey's former asylums and mental hospitals and what they are now". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Clarke, Chloe (13 March 2022). "Historic Surrey buildings lovingly restored or protected". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Amani (10 August 2017). "Travellers set up at Epsom park ordered to leave immediately". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Crowther, Karl; Groome, Giles (2006). Hogsmill Local Nature Reserve Management Plan (PDF).
- ^ "Meet the course manager: Horton Park's Simon Adby". Golf Club Management. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Evans, Alec (28 December 2021). "The Surrey walk with golf, a farm and WWII history on route". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Evans, Alec (22 January 2022). "Surrey country park teeming with wildlife set for upgrades". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Battison, Jessica (6 August 2022). "'I went to West London's new adventure park and my muscles are still sore'". MyLondon. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Phillips, Jamie (9 August 2019). "Large unauthorised encampment moves into Long Grove Park in Epsom". SurreyLive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.