An abandoned cemetery in Surrey, the final resting place of around 9,000 former psychiatric patients, has been described as a national shame. The Horton Cemetery in Epsom holds the remains of individuals from all walks of life, including a Titanic survivor, a Polish noblewoman, and a muse of Pablo Picasso. Now, a campaign led by the charity Friends of Horton Cemetery aims to bring the five-acre site back into public ownership and ensure the memory of those buried there is preserved.
A National Treasure in Disrepair
Lionel Blackman, honorary secretary of the charity, stated: “We think Horton is of national importance. We believe it is the largest abandoned hospital cemetery in Europe. That makes it a rich resource for historians. The more stories we uncover of the people who are buried there, the better we can understand their lives and society at the time.” Blackman, a lawyer from Surrey, also hopes that revealing these stories will help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness today. “These were people just like me and you - butchers, hat makers, piano tuners - but they fell into poverty or became ill and came to an unfortunate end.”
Plans for Restoration
Once returned to public hands, the charity envisions transforming the site into a garden, nature reserve, and memorial. Volunteer researchers have already identified around 500 of the buried individuals. Currently, a granite memorial outside the cemetery, funded by public subscription, is the only indication of its past.
The Epsom Cluster
The Horton Cemetery was part of the Epsom cluster, five large psychiatric hospitals built by the London County Council: The Manor, Horton, Ewell Epileptic Colony, Long Grove, and West Park. They began operating in 1899, offering patients a chance to recover in the countryside. However, reasons for committal were often shocking. Blackman noted: “Trauma after miscarriage, for example. Remember, there was a time when a man could decide to have his wife certified. Women who had children out of wedlock ended up in psychiatric hospitals, while soldiers with shell shock might also be admitted.” Between 1899 and 1955, those who died without family or financial means were buried in paupers' graves on the estate.
Forgotten Lives
Felicja Staszewicz, a Polish noblewoman, was admitted in 1947 after fleeing her country estate during World War II. She died at Horton in 1950. Her great-grandson, Alex Buchinger, said: “We think she may have had dementia. A noblewoman who ended up in a pauper's grave. It would be lovely to be able to go and see her last resting place.” Mary Ann Godfrey arrived at the Manor Hospital in 1912 with 'chronic melancholia' and died three years later. Derek Andrews, whose wife is her great-granddaughter, remarked: “Today she would probably be diagnosed with anxiety and depression. There should be no shame.” He described the cemetery as “more like a rubbish tip.”
Other Notable Burials
Others include Byron Pedley, a comedy actor, and Felix Garcia, a Spanish dancer sketched by Picasso. Burials ceased in 1955, and the hospitals were later sold. In 1983, the Department of Health sold the cemetery to a local property firm. Blackman said: “Nothing has happened with it since. It’s mainly overgrown, largely impenetrable and protected only by an old iron fence.”
Political Support
Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire backs the campaign. She said: “Horton Cemetery remains a site of profound historical significance. It is the resting place of around 9,000 people, many of them among the most vulnerable in society.” She has raised the issue in Parliament and believes Horton could serve as a pilot for new legislation on neglected burial grounds.
Personal Stories
George Pelham survived the Titanic sinking in 1912 only to be torpedoed during WWI. He was admitted to Horton in 1935 after a breakdown and died in 1939. Tottie Fay, a Victorian conwoman dubbed 'the worst and wickedest woman in London,' was instrumental in passing the Inebriates Act of 1899. She died at Horton in 1908.
For Lionel Blackman, the campaign is personal. “Their stories never fail to move me. There is one about a boy soldier, Leslie Attwood, who lied about his age to join the military in 1914 - he was only 15. These people may have been born before our time but we’re not too distant from them.”
