Horton, Berkshire

Horton is a village in Berkshire, England. It is located between Windsor and Staines. Prior to the administrative boundary changes in 1974 the village was in Buckinghamshire. Through the Horton parish flow various small feeders of the rivers Thames and Colne. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42560 "Parishes: Horton, A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3"] , W. Page (Editor), 1925, pp. 281-286.]

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"."History of the Parish of Wraysbury, Ankerwycke Priory, and Magna Charta Island; with the History of Horton, and the town of Colnbrook, Bucks.", G.W.J. Gyll, 1862, London: H. G. Bohn. [http://books.google.com/books?id=qMcHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA193 Online Version at Google Books] [http://worldcat.org/oclc/5001532 OCLC: 5001532] ] 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 magnificent North doorway under a Norman Arch in the porch. The tower is square and between 70 and 80 feet high.

Famous residents

John Milton the English poet is one of the more famous former residents of Horton. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?rview=1&id=Ii4AAAAAYAAJ "The life of John Milton: narrated in connexion with the political, ecclesiastical, and literary history of his time, Vol. 1."] David Masson, 1859. Boston: Gould and Lincoln.] 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.windsor.gov.uk/site/discover-the-area/horton-p281741 Horton, Windsor]
* [http://www.stmichaels-horton.org/horton/horton-history.php St Michael's Church Horton]