Horton, Surrey
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 |
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| Region |
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| 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'. 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.