The Epsom Cluster is a name given to the five psychiatric hospitals built around Epsom in the early 1900’s

They were built by the London County Council to relieve the pressure on London’s existing lunatic asylums and managed by the Council until the National Health Service was established in 1948.

When the London County Council (LCC) was established in 1888, its responsibilities included responsibilities for the mentally ill. Existing “lunatic asylums” couldn’t cope with the number of patients and the quality of care was very poor (sadly many were committed to such asylums  who, by today’s standards would not, such as unmarried mothers).

An aerial view of Horton Hospital

To overcome this problem, in 1896 the LCC bought Horton Manor in Epsom for £35,900 (around £40 million by today’s prices). It was a rundown estate comprising 1096 acres of land, a manor house and four farms. Cheap compared to London costs.

In the early 1900s five large hospitals were built: Horton, Long Grove, Manor. St Ebba’s and West Park hospitals. At its peak in the 1930s it housed over 8,000 patients. It had its own power station generating electricity and heating. There was also a light railway line built firstly to transport building materials but also to deliver coal and other materials to the five hospitals. It ran from just south of Ewell West station.

Five farms were also established to provide food for patients with labour provided by the inmates.

When patients died, they were buried in a central cemetery, Horton Cemetery, where, between 1899 and 1955, 9,000 patients were buried  most in unmarked graves (more of this later).

Following changes in mental health care provision, with greater emphasis on care in the community, most patients were discharged into the community in the 1990s and early 2000s and much of the hospital sites redeveloped for housing.

The derelict West Park Hospital which has now been redeveloped

Long Grove Farm became Horton Park Children’s Farm, now the Hobbledown children’s farm and play area.

And part is now a nature reserve open to the public. Horton Country Park is managed by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and offers country walks, some following the route of the old railway line. The car park is situated in Horton Lane (postcode KT19 8PL)

There is also a golf course and equestrian centre on the site and a fitness centre occupies the former power station.

Horton Country Park covers 400 acres and half is public open space. It is a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) with the public open space being designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2004.

Horton Country Park

But mention was made earlier of the 9,000 patients buried in Horton Cemetery. A charity, The Friends of Horton Cemetery, was set up with the goal of bringing dignity and respect to the memory of the many mental health patients who died whilst resident at the Epsom hospitals, including a number of war heroes. 9,000 remain buried on what is now a neglected piece of land many in unmarked graves.

The charity is researching and publishing the life histories of these patients. Many hundreds have already been completed and their stories can be read on their website. Many are tragic stories of decades in care often for illnesses that would be cured today or treated with medication.

This month, The Friends of Horton Cemetery  are holding a special event as part of World Mental Health Day activities. On Tuesday the 10th October from 1.00 pm, in the Memorial Gardens, 1,500 ceramic flowers painted by many people across the Borough over the last year will be planted. This event will be open to the public and will provide an ideal opportunity to understand an important piece of local history and learn more about the lives of some of the thousands of patient who spent large parts of their lives there.

We would like to thank The Friends of Horton Cemetery and Epsom & Ewell History Explorer, a website run by volunteers in partnership with Epsom & Ewell Local and Family History Centre for providing content for this article. Visit their website for more information about The Epsom Cluster and other local history topics: https://eehe.org.uk