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The Old Vicarage in 2015 |
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St. Michael's, Horton, 2015 | St. Michael's Horton | |
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The lych gate | Millennium Sign | |
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Parish War Memorial | Horton Hall | |
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Autumn light, Sept 2003 | Colchicum Autumnale |
Horton is a very quiet village - it had a public house at one time but there is neither a shop nor a post office. St. Michael's church in Horton dates largely from the late 15th century. The tower and chancel are early 16th century but the south aisle, porch and east window in the chancel were built in 1864. The church was not open on the day that I visited but it has a brass dedicated to John Wedgwood, who died in 1589. In the churchyard is the grave of George Heath, the poet, who died of tuberculosis aged 25 in 1864. He published poems at the age of 21 and worked on the restoration of the church as a builder's apprentice. This is a very peaceful and beautiful spot on a fine warm day.
Horton Hall is a 17th century house with a recessed centre. The gables have ball finials. The vicarage dates from the early 18th century and is brick built with five bays.
The stone memorial is unusual in commemorating wars and Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The inscription on the side pictured reads:
Died Jany 22nd 1901
Boer War
Began Oct: 11 1899
Ended June 1 1902.
On another face are inscription relating to the two World Wars, the date given for the end of the Great War is not Armistice Day (11 November 1918) nor even the signing of the Treaty at Versailles, which was on 28 June 1919. The United States rejected the Treaty of Versailles and signed a separate peace treaty with Germany on 31 August 1921.
Great War
Began Aug: 4 1914
Ended Aug 31 1921.
The east face commemorates the birth, coronation and death of Edward VII and George V.
The Buildings of England, Staffordshire, by Nikolaus Pevsner, Penguin,
1974, ISBN 0 14 071046 9
Staffordshire Churches, by Mike Salter, Folly Publications, 1996.
The King's England, Staffordshire, by Arthur Mee, Hodder and Stoughton,
London, first published in 1937.