Horton Cemetery - 9000 People Remembered

Discover the Hidden Stories of Horton Cemetery

Horton Cemetery is one of Britain's most remarkable and little-known historic sites. Of national importance, it is one of Europe's largest abandoned asylum cemeteries, where 9,000+ people are buried in unmarked graves.

The Friends of Horton Cemetery are researching the stories of those buried, with more than 500 biographies published so far. The charity's mission is to restore and protect this cemetery.

Horton Cemetery is currently inaccessible, but on land adjacent, meet volunteers, view displays and listen to audio recordings that bring the lives of those buried here to life. Visitors wishing to visit the cemetery should register their interest at The Horton Arts Centre on the day or on our website in advance.

At The Horton, the Grade II-listed former asylum chapel, explore exhibitions and presentations about the cemetery and those buried. Researchers and volunteers will be available to answer questions, and some visitors may even uncover family connections.

Volunteers from The Horton will share the history of Epsom's five psychiatric hospitals and the lives of the patients and staff who lived and worked there.

Visitors will also experience the Freewheelers' 'Us and Them' exhibition, a fascinating and moving photographic exploration of shifting narratives around disability, past and present, experienced through a constructed ‘asylum hospital’ environment that visitors can walk through.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

10.00-16.00

Location & directions

Horton Cemetery, Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8QG

Directions:

Horton Cemetery (KT19 8QG) is at the roundabout junction of Horton Lane and Hook Road, an 8-minute drive or 35-minute walk from Epsom town centre. Free parking is available at Hook Road Arena, directly opposite the cemetery, with volunteers on hand to direct visitors to the bridle path around the cemetery. The cemetery itself is not accessible. By bus: The 418 bus from Epsom Clock Tower reaches Hook Road Arena in 21 minutes. By bike: Cycle parking is readily available near the cemetery. The Horton Arts Centre (KT19 8NP) is a 20-minute walk from Epsom railway station and is served by the circular E9 bus route. The Livingstone Park stop is directly outside. By bike: The Horton is on a quiet road connected to the Surrey Cycle Network and has cycle racks. By car: Haven Way is a bus lane at one end, so drivers should approach via Horton Lane and Abbots Avenue.

Contact on day:

Theresa Kenefick-Conway

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

At Horton Cemetery: access to the area around the cemetery is on a bridle path, which is uneven. Suitable footwear is advised. There are no toilets at the site. At The Horton, the Gardens and Café are fully accessible. The Café is open from 9.15am-4.00pm, serving hot food from 10.30am-2.30pm. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed into The Horton. There is an accessible toilet , non gendered toilets as well as ladies and gents facilities.

Additional information

Sessions at The Cemetery and at The Horton do not need to be pre-booked. However, we expect the venues to be busier later in the day. Information about presentations during the day will be added in advance on to The Horton Cemetery website (www.hortoncemetery.org) on the events page. For further information about the event run by The Horton, please visit their website (www.thehortonepsom.org) Estimated duration: 2 hours

Check out our online channels

Back to results