Horton was designated as a conservation area on 24th April 1975. A copy of the full statutory conservation area leaflet and maps - the result of a public consultation process, can now be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.
Setting
The old settlement of Horton lies to the north-east of the existing hillside village. It nestles below the Cotswold escarpment near the Iron Age hillfort known as 'The Castles'. Within the settlement a number of fine listed buildings including Horton Court and the parish church of St James provide a picturesque focal point within the conservation area, further enhanced by the expanse of woodland to the east and the surrounding open fields which are traversed by several footpaths including the Cotswold Way.
History
The parish church of St James is 12th century in origin and predominantly perpendicular in style. It was rebuilt in the 14th century and altered in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was further restored in 1865. The church still retains a Norman fort and Jacobean pulpit. The churchyard contains a good collection of 18th century local and classical chest tombs, contributing greatly to the setting of the church.
Adjacent to the church is Horton Court, a 16th century manor house built in 1521 by William Knight. However, the manor incorporates a far older Norman hall which was built c.1140 as property of the church. About 1125 Agnes and Hubert de la Rye gave their estate to the Cathedral of Salisbury and thus it became one of the prebendal estates. Historically, Horton was one of the parishes that gained the title of Golden Prebend. The first known holder of the Horton Prebend was Robert De Beaufeu in c.1140, and it is thought that he or his successor built the earliest element of the existing house - the Norman hall mentioned above.
The hall is a one storey building, the north and south doorways being original and the timbered roof of 14th century origin. In the 18th century the hall was divided horizontally into two and the upper floor made into a Roman Catholic chapel. It was restored to a single room at the end of the 19th century.
William Knight was prebendary of Horton from 1517 until his appointment as Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1541. He presented Henry VIII's case for divorce from Catherine of Aragon to the pope in 1527. His foreign tours, especially to Rome, made him familiar with Renaissance architecture and this is reflected in his work at Horton Court. The entrance doorcase is flanked by bands of arabesque work suggesting a classical entablature with an interesting entranceway. Inside the manor the Renaissance flavour is continued. The hall's chimney piece has fluted Corinthian columns supporting a flat lintel decorated with mermaids and Knight's coat of arms. These features are some of the earliest Renaissance details in any English country house. Horton Court is now owned by the National Trust.
The garden is also noteworthy, having a six bay arcaded loggia or ambulatory dating from 1527-29. it is gothic in form but its conception derives directly from the Italian Renaissance gardens as observed by Knight, further emphasised by the existence of four plaques decorated with the heads of Roman emperors.
Horton Cottages, lying to the south-west of Horton Court, also date from the 16th century and were formerly the farmhouse to the court. Further afield there is also evidence of archaeological remains of a lost part of the village, rabbit warrens, deer park and to the north a large, fairly complete set of fishponds which provided the court with fresh fish.
Character
This small settlement, nestling below the Cotswold escarpment, is highly picturesque in its setting. Entering from the south the view as one reaches the brow of the hill is superb both westward towards the Severn and directly southwards to the village. The narrow winding road lined with mature trees adds an element of surprise to the area, ensuring that the church and Horton Court remain obscured from the roadside until the last minute. The small number of buildings that make up the settlement create its unique charm especially with the use of local Cotswold stone which emphasises the vernacular architectural style. The areas of woodland and clumps of trees add variety, whilst to the east the land rises up to Walk Wood which dominates the skyline, acting as an attractive backdrop to the historic core of the village.