Historic England has announced £9,988.00 in funding to the Friends of Horton Cemetery Charity in Epsom and Ewell as part of its ‘Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class History.’ [Photo: Aerial shot of Horton Cemetery taken in 1952.]

This grant will help the charity realise their heritage project titled ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ which will amplify in-progress research by 50+ volunteers to reconstruct biographical histories of the thousands of men, women and children buried in ‘pauper graves’ within the largest abandoned hospital cemetery in the UK. Co-creation of 900 ceramic flowers to commemorate former psychiatric patients without memorialisation, an exhibition and crafting workshops.

 This announcement follows an open call earlier this year, inviting community or heritage organisations across the country to apply for grants of up to £25,000.00 in a bid to further the nation’s collective understanding of the past. Competition was intense with 57 successful bids being announced today out of 500 nation-wide applications. 

Historic England hope the grant will contribute positively to participants’ wellbeing, as well as providing innovative volunteering opportunities for young people or those facing loneliness and isolation. Local heritage also gives people a sense of pride in place, a cornerstone of the levelling up agenda, and they are excited to help it act as a powerful catalyst for increasing local opportunities and prosperity.

Dr Alana Harris, Director of Liberal Arts at King’s College London, local Epsom resident and expert consultant to the Friends of Horton Cemetery will direct the Project. She said “The support of Historic England is a ringing endorsement of the importance of Horton Cemetery as a heritage site of national importance and widespread interest. I am excited by the opportunities provided by this prestigious funding grant to involve more people in remembering these forgotten histories.”

Kevin McDonnell, who leads the volunteer research team, responded to the award of this grant: “Winning this grant is down to the skill, dedication and time generosity of the great team of volunteer researchers who are telling the stories of the forgotten people, mainly Londoners, buried in this cemetery as paupers, and bringing them “back to life”.

The Friends of Horton Cemetery are encouraging teams researching other psychiatric hospital cemeteries around London to use a similar model to theirs. Anyone interested in working on these projects should email hortoncemetery@gmail.com

Visit www.hortoncemetery.org for further information

Surrey County Council is bringing back the exciting free summer passport scheme for families with children aged 4 to 11, this time with a focus on culture. The Surrey Culture Explorer Passport holds captivating adventures that encourages families and children to learn about Surrey’s rich heritage, arts and culture, with a chance to win exciting prizes worth up to £100.

Designed to offer a fun way for children to discover Surrey’s unique culture and arts scene, the activity runs from July until October, giving families ideas and inspiration for days out during the summer holidays.

The Surrey Culture Explorer Passport can be collected for free from one of Surrey’s 52 libraries (including Bourne Hall in Ewell and Epsom Square libraries) and will help children to keep track of their adventures as they collect stickers for completing up to 10 fun “local history” challenges.  

Explorers who finish 10 challenges can enter a prize draw and win one of the following sponsored prizes:

• A family ticket for 4 people to visit Brooklands Museum, including the Concorde Experience. 
• A ticket for up to 5 children and one adult for a Top Golf Experience in Addlestone. 
• A £100 voucher to spend at The Adventure Zone. 
• A £100 voucher to spend at Godstone Farm. 
• A family ticket to the Nova Cinema in Woking. 
• 5 tickets for 1 winner for Guildford Airhop. 
• A £15 voucher to spend at Appletree Studio. 
• A painting kit containing 3 Ceramic Bisque Pieces, including acrylic paints and a brush from Calli’s Corner. 
• A family ticket up to a maximum of 6 people to Thorpe Park.  
• A family ticket for four people for a treetop adventure at Go Ape Chessington. 
• A family ticket to the British Wildlife Centre for 2 adults and up to 4 children.  
• A family ticket for 4 people to Bockett’s Farm. 

The activities range from hosting a ‘Big Lunch’ or tea party with friends, families or neighbours, crafting, learning about Surrey’s history, science and making art.

The County is doing this because they want children to discover what culture means to them, whether it’s creating a piece of art, learning about history, dancing, writing their own stories and much more. On top of that, they want to raise awareness about all that the County’s amazing libraries offer and encourage children to read more. Surrey libraries present fantastic resources and offer an incredible events calendar. Find out what events are happening in your nearest library. Find out about all the services available from libraries.

Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Communities at Surrey County Council, said:

“Before you run out of ideas during the holidays check out the brilliant new Surrey Libraries initiative for the summer holidays – the Cultural Explorer Passport has got something for everyone. The libraries team have really gone to town this year after last year’s Surrey Nature Explorer Passport success, this year it’s bigger and better than ever. Our libraries are an amazing source of entertainment, information, culture all with an added big dollop of fun!

“I challenge all young explorers to get involved and I assure you, you will open up a new world that you can visit time and time again and a world that will always pleasantly surprise you.

“Enjoy your holidays and I’ll look forward to drawing the prizes later in the year – I hope to see you at a library near you soon!”

See the website for more information on the activities, prizes and how to join in.

Epsom based sculptor Kendra Haste has created a painted galvanised wire sculptor of Lord Derby’s 1779 inaugural Oaks winner, Bridget. Epsom’s own “The Oaks” became the second oldest “classic” horse race after Doncaster’s 1776 St Leger. The Oaks race is for three year old fillies and is run over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards of Epsom’s Downs racecourse. So called as the first race started from Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby’s estate, in the area now known as Oaks Park in Carshalton.

Bridget, a thoroughbred, was kept in a stable block on the estate and has a very special link to Kendra. 243 years later, the building is home to the sculptor’s studio.

The piece depicted above is the first in a series of small unique maquette sculptures depicting Bridget. For further information about these works, you can enquire here.

Leslie Charles ATTWOOD, b.1899 – d.1917

Enlisted in the army in 1914 aged 15. Awarded the Silver War Badge. Buried in a pauper’s and now unmarked grave in Epsom’s abandoned 5 acre cemetery of 9000 souls.

Leslie Attwood was born in the June quarter of 1899, the third child and second son of Charles Attwood and Alice Amelia née Appleby.

Charles, born in 1858, a plasterer and Alice, born in 1867, had married on 14th September 1895 at St James’s Church, Lambeth. Their respective fathers, Charles Attwood, a bootmaker and Samuel Appleby, a silk merchant were both deceased. The marriage was witnessed by Mark Arthur Attwood and Kate Attwood. Mark was Leslie’s Uncle,

In the 1901 Census Leslie is living with his parents, his brothers Arthur, Harold and sister Leonora at 32, St Mark’s Road in Lambeth.

Births and deaths in the family

By the time of the 1911 census we are privy to further information. Leslie is still at school along with Leonora but now there are three extra siblings, Dorothy May, Leonard Vivian and Amy. Charles and Alice have been married for sixteen years, have had nine children but only six are still living. The family is now living at 8, Gordon Grove in Brixton.

A search on the GRO site reveals that Harold Trevor recorded on the 1901 census died later that year in the December quarter. At the time of little Harold’s death, his Mother was expecting twins which she gave birth to during the March quarter of 1902; sadly both died, Walter during the same March quarter and Ernest during the June quarter.

Leslie enlists in the army

Leslie enlisted with the Territorials on 4th August 1914 as a driver, number 1344 in the 2/6 London Brigade RFA (Royal Field Artillery). The record is very tattered and parts illegible but we are able to build a picture of Leslie’s appearance. He was quite tall – 5’ 7” – and slim with a 35”chest. He had a fair complexion and fair hair with grey eyes. His occupation at that time was as a greengrocer and his religion is given as C of E. He gave his age as 17 years 5 months when in fact he was only just 15 years old!

He was awarded the Silver War Badge which was awarded to soldiers who were discharged on injury or health grounds whether or not they had served overseas.

A mental breakdown

In 1915 he was admitted to 60th London Casualty Clearing Station with what was described as melancholia.

He was transferred to Napsbury Military Hospital on 8th September 1915. He was described as being childish and feebleminded but quiet and well behaved. He had already ‘broken down’ mentally at least once.

The reader will have the impression that the Army was not really a suitable choice of career for Leslie as on January 28th 1916 he was declared no longer fit for war service and his military character is described as ‘Indifferent’ The reason given for this is imbecility which originated ‘probably from birth’.

His age was given as 16 years 11 months but the 16 is scored through and 18 substituted. However, we know that Leslie was not yet even 17 years of age as he was born the second quarter of 1899. This suggests that the enlistment officers were keen to recruit without asking too many questions.

Death in Long Grove

So far I have not been able to find out where Leslie went to between leaving the army on 28th January 1916 and his death on 29th December 1917 at Long Grove from Pulmonary TB. It is probable that he stayed with his parents as on his entry  in ‘Soldiers effects’, we are told that money was paid to his father. Leslie is buried in plot 926b in Horton Cemetery.

Author: Jenni Llewellyn of the Friends of Horton Cemetery

Over the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, Epsom and Ewell  entertained a large group of visitors from its French twin town, Chantilly. Guests included Chantilly’s  Deputy Mayor and members of the Chantilly Comité de Jumelage (Twinning Committee). The occasion celebrated 25 years of the official signing of a Twinning Charter in 1995, the visit having been postponed for two years due to the pandemic.

Chantilly is a commune in Northern France. Surrounded by Chantilly Forest, the town of 10,863 inhabitants (2017) lies about 24 miles northeast of Paris and with six neighbouring communes forms an urban area of 37,209 inhabitants (2017 census).

The Château de Chantilly was home to the Princes of Condé, cousins of the Kings of France, from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It now houses the Musée Condé. Chantilly is also known for its horse racing track, Chantilly Racecourse, where prestigious races are held for the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de Diane. Chantilly and the surrounding communities are home to the largest racehorse-training community in France. Chantilly is also home to the Living Museum of the Horse, with stables built by the Princes of Condé.

Over the years, many such visits have taken place, links between schools, clubs, choirs and individuals have been established, and friendships made. This weekend some of the original contacts from the Chantilly and the Epsom Model Railway Clubs were reunited. There were also new introductions, with two members of Chantilly’s Karate Shotokan club joining the Chief Coach and members of Mo-Ichido Martial Arts Club for an impressive training session, and high school teachers meeting to discuss involvement in an international project in Chantilly. Meanwhile, the rest of the party were taken on a guided tour to Ermyn Lodge breeder and trainer’s yard, and the historic stables at the Durdans. There were some more official, commemorative moments, when The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor Clive Woodbridge, and the Mayoress, Mrs Mary Woodbridge, joined for the planting of a European Oak tree in Rosebery Park, and a visit to Epsom marketplace to show off the recently placed Derby Hall of Fame roundels which feature notable Derby winners, including 1965 winner Sea Bird from Chantilly. Time out was allowed, of course, for lunch at a local pub and essential shopping in the Ashley Centre.

No celebration would be complete without speeches, delivered in English and French by both parties, and the exchange of gifts, with Epsom and Ewell presenting Chantilly with a display case of  limited edition Jubilee coins, and an individual commemorative £5 coin for each visitor. The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell was delighted to receive a very handsome model of a horse’s head, mounted and engraved on interlinked horseshoes. This will be on display in the Town Hall in due course.

The Epsom and Ewell Town Twinning Association 

The Epsom and Ewell Town Twinning Association is always delighted to hear from  organisations looking for their equivalent in Chantilly, as well as individuals offering language skills or seeking a way to improve their French. The Association has a regular programme of local events in the Borough, both social and educational, allowing the chance to practise speaking French. There is a very popular annual French Public Speaking Competition for Schools, run jointly with Epsom Rotary,  and regular Soirées Françaises for members. Of course there are also fundraisers like quizzes and the appreciation of French food and wine from time to time.  Advice on visiting Chantilly, where to stay and what to see, is available too.

Established in 1994, Epsom and Ewell Town Twinning Association is a non-profit association, funded by members’ subscriptions and fundraising, and run by a group of volunteers to fulfil the obligations of the formal twinning agreement signed by the Mayors of Chantilly and Epsom and Ewell the following year. It is not supported financially by the Borough.  

For more information on The Epsom and Ewell Town Twinning Association:

Or to register interest in joining, please see our website www.epsomtwinning.com or

email contact@epsomtwinning.com .

One of 9000 forgotten and buried patients in Epsom’s Horton Cemetery, Grace Jones went into the workhouse aged about 13 and after transfer to Long Grove Hospital in Epsom died aged just 19. That even the expert research of The Friends of Horton Cemetery Charity reveals so little about her tells its own tragic story.

Grace’s parents

Grace Ethel Primrose Jones was born on 19th April 1899. She was the eldest child of Frederick Albert Jones (1874 – 1927), a stationer’s packer, and Ada Rebecca née Byford (1878 – 1983). The couple had married in 1898 in St George, Hanover Square. In the 1901 Census, the family is living at 10, Southwark Bridge Road in Southwark. Grace and her younger brother, Frederick, (born 1st February 1904)  were both baptised on 8th March 1904 at St Matthias’ Church, Earls Court.

The 1900s

Grace was admitted to Millbank School on 11th March 1904 but later moved to the Convent, according to the school records. At this time the family was living at 2, Rosetta Buildings in Southwark. Grace was still attending school in 1911 when her father – described in the census of that year as a wholesale newsagent and bookseller – was living with his wife and two children at 43, Jessel House, Page Street in Westminster.

Admission to the workhouse

Grace was admitted to the Fulham Road Workhouse on 8th September 1913 and then transferred to Tooting Bec Asylum on the 19th November 1913. No reason is given in the register for her admission.

Long Grove – illness and death

We do not know when Grace was admitted to Long Grove but she sadly died there on 22nd July 1918 from Lobar Pneumonia of 22 days duration. There was no Post Mortem. Her death was registered by David Ogilvy the Medical Superintendent of Long Grove. Grace was buried in Horton Cemetery in plot 490b.

READ MORE: Emily Elizabeth Campbell – Horton Cemetery Stories

Is Horton Cemetery in Epsom about to be condemned for good by the Borough’s own Burial Authority?

In a rushed special meeting of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee on 5th May, Councillors will be asked whether to impose a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) against the private property speculator owner who has totally neglected for 40 years this burial ground of 9000 patients of the former five psychiatric hospitals of Epsom.

In a Council Officers’ Report,  Councillors have been advised that the compensation payable to the owner will be in the region of £1/4 million. The valuation is based on the market value of “woodland”. The Report advises the owner will mount legal challenges against a CPO, leading to more expense for Council taxpayers.

Sheila Berry and Honorary Alderman Alan Carlson, former Mayors of Epsom and Ewell and now trustees of the Friends of Horton Cemetery, a Charity requesting the CPO, in a joint statement said: “If the owner gets the correct compensation a high value does not make it more likely that he will challenge a CPO than a low value.” On the valuation, they state: “We have expert advice from both a chartered surveyor and a lawyer that the comparison with “woodland” values is erroneous. The Cemetery is unique and is subject to a wide range of legal restrictions rendering it virtually worthless as a land asset. There is no development value and no possible income value due to these restrictions. We hope the Councillors on 5th May will not be discouraged by this misleading Report in pursuing a long-overdue intervention. A CPO is necessary to rescue the Cemetery from oblivion and belatedly show respect to 9000 souls who died in our Borough.”

You can attend the Council committee meeting on Thursday 5th May at 7.30 pm in The Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom or online.

UPDATE 6th May 2022: Marked as 4th on the agenda for the Strategy and Resources Committee of the Council on 5th May 2022, the item was declared withdrawn by Chairman Cllr Colin Keane. We understand that the Council will revisit the matter later in the year.

b.1871-d.1953

Research and story provided to us by hortoncemetery.org

Pauline Powell, Emily’s great-niece, researched, wrote and supplied the trace material for the story and from whom we have permission to publish the story.

Emily Elizabeth Campbell was my great aunt, my Grandmother’s elder sister, born on 13th December 1871 in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. She was the daughter of Henry John and Fanny Campbell, formerly Cox.

I am 99% convinced that this is Emily.

1881

Emily appears in the 1881 census with her family at 13 Railway Place, High Wycombe as Emma Campbell age 9.

1891

In the 1891 Census, she is a housemaid aged 21 living in East Pallant House, Chichester West Sussex, born in Ilsden (Hillesden most likely), Buckinghamshire.

I can’t find her in the 1901 census.

1911

I believe I have found her in the 1911 Census living at 61 Coleherne Court, Kensington recorded as age 36 single, a domestic servant born in Hillesden, Bucks. It states that she is of Scottish nationality (why?), with an English speaking mother.

Princess Diana lived at number 60 Coleherne Court between 1979 and 1981. Today the building has a Blue Plaque.

1921

In the 1921 Census Emily was living at 159 Coleherne Court, Kensington, London and Middlesex, a servant aged 49.

The head of the household was Alice Anne Read aged 71. Emily’s not very well transcribed birthplace is Buckinghamshire, Hillsdenson. More likely Buckinghamshire, Hillesden. Hillesden is a village near Preston Bissett (where her grandmother Mary Cox came from) and Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. 

Mary Cox had given birth out of wedlock to four girls, Maria, Ann, Eliza and Fanny (Emily’s Mother). She had married (as a widow) in 1874 to William Stuchberry, in Hillesden parish Church Buckinghamshire. In the 1841 and 1851 Censuses, she was living and working in Buckingham Union Workhouse.

Emily is diagnosed

Emily had a history of mental illness and spent the last 29 years of her life in mental hospitals. She was certified on 12 June 1924, aged 53, as “a person of unsound mind” and admitted to London County Mental Hospital, Hanwell. Her employer’s address in 1924 is given as 159 Coleherne Court, Kensington, telephone Kensington 3919. A widow called Alice Anne Read died there on 13 July 1924, who was Emily’s employer.

Emily was diagnosed initially as possible “nervous breakdown” but later was diagnosed as having Non Systematised Delusional Insanity.

On examination, Emily Elizabeth Campbell was “depressed and imagines she cannot do any more work. She cries (sic) when spoken to, her conversation was rambling and incoherent and she thinks people are persecuting her”.

Annie Powell, 33 Filmer Road, her sister and my grandmother, says EEC has behaved strangely for the past three weeks; she imagines people are talking about and coming after her. She hears voices talking to her.

Transfer to St. Ebba’s, Epsom

Emily later transferred to St Ebba’s Hospital in Epsom:

Admitted: to St Ebba’s on 25 May 1927
Informant: Mother, Fanny Campbell
Education: Elementary

Not married, one pregnancy 28 years ago, brought up by mother
Rheumatic fever when 14

Occupation: Housekeeper
Alcohol: not known but mistress took spirits to excess
Temperament: very reserved

Suggested causes: “nervous breakdown”

History: One month ago, the mistress phoned her sister, and said she was depressed and crying a lot. Three weeks ago visited by relatives, they found her very depressed and crying and afraid she couldn’t do her work.

12 months ago relatives noticed that she rambled in her speech, imagines things, delusions of persecution, improved later.

Family History: parents married; mother 18; father 20; not related. Father died in paralysis, in stroke.

Height – 5’ 0.5”
Weight – 10st 13lbs
Hair – greyish-black
Dentures
Eyes – hazel
Hearing – fair
Diagnosis – Non Systematised Delusional Insanity.

Transfer to Long Grove

Emily was transferred to Long Grove Hospital, Epsom on 29 March 1938, to Area 6, Ward A1, Hospital Number 5811, as “not improved”. 

She is recorded in the 1939 Register in Long Grove Hospital, Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey.

Emily died on 7 March 1953 in The Grove, (Long Grove Hospital) Horton Lane, Epsom, aged 82 of senility and cardiovascular degeneration. The record notes that he was formerly a housekeeper.

Emily never married. She was the mother of Harry Mitchell Campbell, born on 15 December 1896, when she was 26.

Emily was buried in Horton Estate Cemetery, Epsom on 14 March 1953 in grave number 3151b. The superscript b (apparently) means furthest away from the footpath. The cemetery is now covered in trees, bushes and bramble patches and is completely neglected.

Related stories

In 1939, following the declaration of the Second World War, thought was given to the real possibility of a German invasion of our shores. When The Channel Islands were invaded on 30th June 1940, thoughts were swiftly turned into actions. Mt Hitler wasn’t kidding!

The German Luftwaffe had begun its bombardment of our cities, softening us up for a land invasion. This caused our boffins at the MOD to come up with some radical defensive ideas. Altering the landscape was one such thought; so that aerial navigators were unable to find points of reference. So, things like the partially filling in, or splitting into two, lakes were intended to sow confusion. Also, particularly on our East Coast, fake villages were hastily erected, a mile or two away from the originals. However, a lot of thought was also given to inland defences, things that would disrupt and delay any concerted attempts of the enemy to take over the country once a landing had been made. Suddenly, in 1940, all across the UK and still recognisable to this day in many places, Pill Boxes were built of varying designs and sizes.

Another form of defence was also devised, one that was designed to slow down and hopefully stop a mechanised land force from racing across the landscape. These came in the form of ‘Tank Traps’, slabs of cast concrete of
varying sizes, from quite small to rather large and weighing several tons, being randomly placed in what were deemed strategic locations and routes.

Epsom, it seems, had these ‘Tank Traps’ in several locations and, in a
fairly close proximity to each other. It would appear that two ‘large’ ‘Tank Traps’ were built between two houses on West Hill, also, nearby at the start of Hookfield, over twenty were strewn across a front lawn it would seem. Just over West Hill itself, at Stamford Green, there were deep and wide ‘Tank Traps’ dug between Stamford Green pond and the Scout Hut in the grounds of the church. These landmarks have long been removed or covered over, leaving no signs of what was ‘the last resort for our defence’.

However, the tale isn’t quite done just yet as, for when I was out exploring on my bicycle, I came across, what I found out to be, the old cricket pitch on the grounds of what was The Manor Hospital, part of the Epsom Cluster. The perimeter of what was the oval is still very obvious and, there is something of a path following it around and it has a couple of benches in one corner. In this corner, I alighted on what I believe to be, the only remaining ‘Tank Traps’ in the Borough. Though when I first came across them they were covered by brambles which, have now been removed, showing them off in their aged glory but, still intact. With four large ones, six feet tall in a line and, set out behind them, around fifteen to twenty much smaller ones they look like a gaggle of goslings following four parents, quite comical, though humour was never the intention. I was astonished when I first found them as, at that time I hadn’t heard of ‘Tank Traps’ being set up in the Borough at all and, people that I spoke to of
them, lifelong E&E residents, had about as much idea as I did, to their existence. They are there if you wish to view them and may they stay among us, but hopefully never need to be used for their original intention.

Having been closed down and dismantled just four years before my birth, the Horton Light Railway always held a certain fascination, for me when growing up in the area, and I often wondered what it would have been like to see the old steam engines going back and forth.

Hollymoor

Up to its demise, there had been five engines running on the line, Hollymoor (1905-1908), Engine No 947 (1905-1909), Crossness (1913-1935), Hendon (1935-1947) and Sherwood (1947-1950). Parts of the latter, Sherwood, were still scattered around the area known as ‘Central Station’ (now David Lloyd Sports Centre), and the ‘Powerhouse’ where the Epsom Cluster hospitals generated their own electricity (before the National Grid) and steam for heating and hot water for the hospitals. Hollymoor, of course, lives on, in name at least, in the road Hollymoor Lane.

The railway was originally built to supply the materials needed for the building of what became the ‘Epsom Cluster’ of five mental health institutions in the early 1900s. It made sense for the railway to remain in use post-construction to deliver supplies to the Cluster.

I grew up close to the shunting yard by Ewell West Station where the area was once shared with an orchard. This became the County Highways Depot, and later Highway House, which eventually gave way to a housing development.

Following the line

The original track bed, shunting branch, ran alongside the existing railway line away from the station, nearly reaching the stile at the end of West Street, replaced by the footbridge which remains today in the early 1960s. From there it swept round to follow a parallel course with Chessington Road, almost immediately finding its first obstacle, a feeder stream for the River Hogsmill, where a concrete bridge was built to accommodate. The bridge was removed in more recent years, though I could never understand why.

Once over the stream, the route followed between what is now, Hollymoor Lane, named after one of the locomotives used on the line, and a few houses built on Chessington Road and then reaching Baker’s Field running along its outer, sewage farm, edge and through a short avenue of mature elm trees, sadly long gone.

From there it crossed into what is now Hook Road Arena, passing the ends of Oakdale Road and then Richards Field, where a footbridge on the original route of the ‘Bridle Path’ crossed over the line, and then carried on behind the shops and what is now West Ewell Social Club, still running parallel with Chessington Road until it met its next obstacle, Hook Road (known as Kingston Lane at that time), where a tunnel was formed as, the road by then was becoming a busy thoroughfare.

Crossing bridges

The original bridge is still there and intact, left in position after Hook Road was re-routed. Though filled in, done when the track was removed, it can be viewed in the Horton Golf Club car park.

From Hook Road, the line carried on, into what is now Horton Country Park, unhindered and into Butcher’s Wood, where a branch line took it right into Long Grove Hospital. Then onto Four Acre Wood where, another branch took the line off to feed what was called ‘Central Station’, before it finally went on to West Park Hospital.

As the railway passed through Horton Country Park there were three footbridges, originally level crossings but, due to an accident in its infancy, a local woman Mary Tobin was killed owing to, what was deemed, neglect. The first between Butcher’s Wood and Four Acre Wood, one on the branch to Central Station and the last just before the line entered West Park. They had been erected on Rights of Way footpaths cutting through farmland that was attached to the hospitals. Here they were able to access fresh dairy, vegetables, and fruit from the orchards when in season.

There can be few people remaining in the borough that can remember seeing the railway and its engines in all their working glory, but if any readers have any memories or indeed pictures, we would love to hear from you.

Tony Collis, March 2022