Horton, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Horton is a village
and civil parish in Berkshire
, England
. It is located between Windsor
and Staines
. Horton was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Berkshire in 1974. Through the Horton parish flows the Colne Brook
which runs to the River Thames
from the River Colne
.
The village name is a common one in England. It is Anglo Saxon
in origin and derives from the two words 'horh' and 'tun', meaning 'dirty or muddy farm'. In the Domesday Book
of 1086 it was recorded as Horhtun. The Horton Manor was assessed at 10 hides and held by Walter son of Other.
Also of note is the North doorway under a Norman Arch in the porch.
The tower is square and between 70 feet (21.3 m) and 80 feet (24.4 m) high.
John Milton
the English
poet
is one of the more famous former residents of Horton. His family rented Berkyn Manor, a house that belonged to Sir John Egerton
, in the parish
between 1632 and 1640. The chancel
of the St Michael parish
church contains the grave of Milton's mother Sara; and a 19th century stained glass
window on the church commemorates Milton's poem Paradise Lost
. The current Berkyn Manor was rebuilt in 1848 by Edward Tyrrell (Remembrancer
of the City of London) reputedly on the site of Milton's house.
On Borough level, the town is part of the Horton and Wraysbury
electoral ward and is currently represented by two councillors (John Lenton and Colin Rayner of the Conservative Party
) in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
. Councillor Rayner serves on both the Horton Parish Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council.
Nationally, since 1997 the ward has formed part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor
and is currently represented by Adam Afriyie
of the Conservative Party
.
Before 1997, the town was part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor and Maidenhead
which was consistently held by the Conservative Party
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located between Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
. Horton was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Berkshire in 1974. Through the Horton parish flows the Colne Brook
Colne Brook
The Colne Brook is a river in England that branches off the River Colne at Uxbridge Moor and flows into the River Thames at Hythe End, just below Bell Weir Lock....
which runs to the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
from the River Colne
River Colne, Hertfordshire
The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
.
The village name is a common one in England. It is Anglo Saxon
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
in origin and derives from the two words 'horh' and 'tun', meaning 'dirty or muddy farm'. In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 it was recorded as Horhtun. The Horton Manor was assessed at 10 hides and held by Walter son of Other.
Church of St Michael the Archangel
The nave of St Michael dates from about the middle of the 12th century . The north transept and west tower were first built in the 15th century . The aisle, chancel and vestry was rebuilt in 1875–6. The unusual exterior of the church is chequered with brickwork limestone and flint. The large square tower is set with a clock, and houses the bells, which were augmented from five to six in 1987.Also of note is the North doorway under a Norman Arch in the porch.
The tower is square and between 70 feet (21.3 m) and 80 feet (24.4 m) high.
Famous residents
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
is one of the more famous former residents of Horton. His family rented Berkyn Manor, a house that belonged to Sir John Egerton
John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater
John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater KB, PC was an English peer and politician.The son of the Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley and Elizabeth Ravenscroft, he was a Member of Parliament for Callington from 1597 to 1598, and for Shropshire in 1601. Knighted on 8 April 1599, he was Baron of the...
, in the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
between 1632 and 1640. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
of the St Michael parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
church contains the grave of Milton's mother Sara; and a 19th century stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
window on the church commemorates Milton's poem Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
. The current Berkyn Manor was rebuilt in 1848 by Edward Tyrrell (Remembrancer
Remembrancer
The Remembrancer was originally one of certain subordinate officers of the English Exchequer. The office itself is of great antiquity, the holder having been termed remembrancer, memorator, rememorator, registrar, keeper of the register, despatcher of business...
of the City of London) reputedly on the site of Milton's house.
Politics
On a Parish level, the village is represented by nine councillors of the Horton Parish Council.On Borough level, the town is part of the Horton and Wraysbury
Horton and Wraysbury
Horton and Wraysbury is an electoral ward currently represented by two councillors in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead...
electoral ward and is currently represented by two councillors (John Lenton and Colin Rayner of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
) in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
. Councillor Rayner serves on both the Horton Parish Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council.
Nationally, since 1997 the ward has formed part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor
Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In its modern form, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
and is currently represented by Adam Afriyie
Adam Afriyie
Adam Afriyie is a British Conservative Party politician, and the Member of Parliament for Windsor. He was first elected at the 2005 general election and re-elected at the 2010 election.-Early life:...
of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Before 1997, the town was part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor and Maidenhead was a county constituency in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
which was consistently held by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.