The History of Horton Asylum and Horton Cemetery
The Horton Arts Centre, Haven Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8NP
The Horton is the grade II-listed former Horton Asylum Chapel in Epsom, Surrey, built in 1901 - now a centre for arts and heritage. For this special Heritage Day event, there are a host of activities to enjoy.
Horton Cemetery researchers will be on-site, talking about the 9000 people buried in unmarked graves in the nearby Horton Cemetery between 1899 and 1955.
Visitors will also be able to view a temporary exhibition about the 9000, view The Horton's permanent exhibition about pioneering mental healthcare of the five psychiatric hospitals built between 1899 and 1924 that formed Epsom's historic Hospital Cluster; and hear stories of the people who lived and worked in the hospitals and of the people buried in Horton Cemetery.
Freewheelers’ Us & Them Exhibition
A fascinating and moving photographic exploration of shifting narratives around disability, past and present, experienced through a constructed “asylum hospital” environment that the visitors can walk through - in The Horton's main Atrium gallery space.
Horton Cemetery itself is currently inaccessible but visitors can also attend a separate Heritage Open Days event, organised by Friends of Horton Cemetery on the land adjacent to the site. It is suggested that anyone wanting to visit the cemetery itself, registers their interest first with researchers based at The Horton Arts Centre, who will provide directions.
Timings
- Saturday 12 September:
- 10am - 4pm
Location & directions
The Horton Arts Centre, Haven Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8NP
- Directions:
- The Horton is located one mile north of Epsom town centre. Travelling by Car: There is a free car park at The Horton. Travelling by Train: The Horton is a twenty minute walk or a short 'E9' bus ride from Epsom railway station. Epsom is very well-connected, offering direct trains to and from stations including: London Waterloo, London Victoria, London Bridge, Guildford, Croydon and Horsham. Travelling by Bus: The Horton is on the circular E9 bus route to and from Epsom Station. The ‘Livingstone Park’ bus stop is directly outside The Horton. Travelling by Bike: The Horton is located on a quiet road linked to the Surrey Cycle Path Network. Cycle racks are provided. Haven Way is a bus lane at Haven Way is a bus lane at one end so drivers should approach via Horton Lane and Abbots Avenue. Open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Contact on day:
- The Horton Welcome Desk
- Telephone number:
- +441372747662
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The Horton Gardens and Cafe are also fully accessible. The Horton Cafe is open 9.15am to 4pm - serving hot food 10.30am to 2.30pm. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed in to The Horton. The Horton has an accessible toilet, non-gendered toilets as well as Ladies and Gents facilities.
Additional information
Sessions at The Horton with Horton Cemetery researchers are not pre-bookable. Visitors seeking information about family members are advised to arrive earlier in the day, as it is expected to get busier later. The exhibitions will be open 9.15am to 4.30pm. Presentations will be scheduled throughout the day and times added to The Horton's website the week before. Find our more at: thehortonepsom.org To find out more about how to visit the event run by Friends of Horton Cemetery next to the cemetery site, please visit the separate event listing for: The History of Horton Cemetery.
- Estimated duration:
- 2 hour(s)
