A Heritage Open Day to Remember

An extraordinary day for the Friends of Horton Cemetery, and one that will remain with us for a long time.

On September 12th 2026, more than 450 people came to learn about Horton Cemetery, the Epsom Hospital Cluster and, most importantly, some of the people whose lives ended within those institutions and who now lie in the cemetery.

Throughout the day, our volunteer researchers gave a series of high-quality presentations, sharing the stories that have emerged from many months – and sometimes years – of painstaking research. These were not simply accounts of names and dates, but stories of real people: their families, their achievements, their difficulties and the circumstances that eventually brought them to Epsom.

Particularly special was the presence of relatives of people buried at Horton Cemetery. For some, the day provided an opportunity to discover more about a family member; for others, it was a chance to meet the researchers who had brought their relatives life back. 

The response was often deeply emotional. Visitors spent considerable time reading the displays, listening to the presentations and talking with our researchers. Many told us how moved they had been by the individual stories and by the knowledge that around 9,000 people lie in Horton Cemetery, their graves unmarked.

For the Friends, the day demonstrated exactly why our work matters. Behind every name in a register was a person, a family and a life worth remembering.

To everyone who visited, contributed, shared a family story or simply stopped to listen – thank you.

The success of the day strengthened our determination to continue researching these forgotten lives and working towards a future in which Horton Cemetery itself can once again become a place of dignity, remembrance and peace.