It is first attested as Horton in 1242. The place-name Horton is a common one in England. It derives from Old Englishhoru 'dirt' and tūn 'settlement, farm, estate', presumably meaning 'farm on muddy soil'.[2]
In 1782 the Ilminster Turnpike Trust constructed Jordans Bridge to carry the main road over a stream.[3]
In 1880 Horton House was built as the manor house. It has been designated as a Grade II listed building.[4]
During the late 1970s a small group of children from Channells Lane in Horton got together to form a club called "The Sword of Justice". They decided to try to raise some money for charity and arranged a village fete to raise money for Dr Barnardos. The fete proved very popular and was repeated the following year to raise money for the then very ropey playing field in the village. Again it was a great success and the yearly fete has since gone on to become a very important part of the village's social calendar, known as "Horton fete and flower show" from 2006. The money raised in previous years has been used to build a replacement village hall at the north side of the village. The Horton Flower Show is where local green-fingered individuals can compete for prizes and prestige, amongst which are the biggest marrow competition or best fairy cake.
Governance
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
^Victor Watts (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), s.v. HORTON.
