THE HORTON
Surrey HERITAGE AWARDS The HORTON Epsom shortlisted for the Surrey Heritage Awards 2022
Surrey Historic Buildings Trust has announced The Horton Arts Centre as one of the six projects shortlisted for this year’s Surrey Heritage Awards. The awards recognise the design, work and vision behind saving and renovating the grade II listed Horton Chapel, transforming the venue into a not-for-profit venue for arts and culture – The Horton.
A judging panel led by Dr Seán O’Reilly, Director of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, will be visiting The Horton to assess the project’s achievements alongside other shortlisted projects. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony to be held at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge on 30th March.
The HORTON Epsom A magnificent new destination for arts, heritage and events, created within an iconic and historically significant Grade II-listed chapel space. The Horton is an extraordinary arts and heritage destination with a vision to use creativity and social activities to enrich the community. From the fanfare of its opening in 1901 to final closure in 1997, the former Horton Chapel’s role was to provide solace for people experiencing mental distress, as a place of worship, and from 1961 also as a music therapy centre. The charity Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society was set up in 2016 by Epsom residents determined to see Horton Chapel saved from f @outandaboutmagazines
@outaboutmag
“We are delighted that our project has been recognised by Surrey Historic Buildings Trust. The work to create The Horton has been a labour of love and the whole team is immensely proud to have been able to save such a wonderful building for the community. We look forward to being able to open the doors to the public this year.” Maria Reeves, co-founder and project manager.
dereliction (and from developers) and brought back to life as a valuable social and cultural asset for the whole community. Renovation work began on-site in 2018, funded primarily by a National Lottery Heritage Fund enterprise grant and ‘section 106’ funds contributed by developers of Epsom’s former psychiatric hospital sites. The sympathetic architectural conversion of The Horton enhances the stunning historic features of the building whilst delivering excellent contemporary facilities and welcoming spaces for performances, events, receptions, conferences, workshops or simply a coffee with friends. The Horton will fully open in spring 2022.
thehortonepsom.org www.outaboutmagazine.co.uk
23
