Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary in Horton, Cramlington, stands on a medieval site. The main structure was rebuilt in 1827, retaining a late 18th or early 19th century transept and remodelled in 1903 by W.S. Hicks. The church is constructed of squared stone with ashlar dressings and a Welsh slate roof.

The architectural style is Georgian "preaching box" design, featuring a west tower and a north transept, with a slightly later north-east vestry/organ chamber and a 1903 porch south of the tower. The 1903 remodelling incorporated features reflective of the 14th and 15th centuries.

The south wall has four bays with a plinth and two-light windows. Built into the wall between the windows is an early 19th century sundial, an inscribed slab relating to Anne Harbottle (?), dated 1517 and featuring incised shears, and a pedimental mural monument from 1783. Similar windows are present on the north side of the transept and further west. The east window is five lights, with a quatrefoil panel above; the east gable has a coping and finial cross. The vestry/organ chamber features early 19th century lancet windows on its north and east sides. The two-stage tower is divided by a chamfered string, with a two-light west window. Single bell openings with roughly-arched heads are on the north, south, and west sides. The weathering of the higher-pitched 1827 roof is visible on the east side of the tower. A band sits below the 1903 embattled parapet, which has crocketed angle pinnacles. The porch has diagonal buttresses, a moulded plinth and cornice, boarded double doors within a moulded arch, a flat parapet and a cross fleury.

Inside, the 1827 south doorway, within the porch, has panelled double doors under a moulded round arch with imposts and a beaded keystone. The arch holds a re-set 12th century tympanum with a diaper pattern. Segmental arches lead to the tower, a four-centred arch to the transept and an elliptical arch to the organ chamber. The church has a hammer-beam roof. Most furnishings and fittings date to 1903, including a panelled dado with a brattished rail, stalls, screens to the organ chamber and tower, pews, and a pulpit. The sanctuary is mosaic floored and features a good quality east window depicting the Virgin and Child. A mural monument commemorates William Reed, who died in 1860 while working as a resident engineer on the Calcutta and South Eastern Railway. A bell in the tower, inscribed ‘Thos. Ogle, Esq., 1681’, is present.

The north transept was built by Mr. Baker for the accommodation of his family and other inhabitants of West Hartford.