Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland
Houghton-le-Spring is a small town located in Tyne and Wear. It dates back to Norman times, and is located between Durham and Sunderland. Close by regions include Seaham, Newbottle and Fencehouses. The first time the town’s name was mentioned was in 1183 in the Boldon Buke as “Hoctona” Translated it said:
In Houghton are thirteen cottagers, whose tenures, works and payments are like those of Newbotill; and three other half cottagers, who also work like the three half cottagers of Newbotill. Henry the greeve, holds two oxgangs of 24 acres (97,000 m2) for his service. The smith - 12 acres (49,000 m2) for his service. The carpenter holds a toft and 4 acres (16,000 m2) for his service. The punder (one who impounds straying animals) has 20 acres (81,000 m2) and the thraves of Houghton, Wardon and Morton; he renders 60 hens and 300 eggs. The mills of Newbotill and Bidic, with half of Raynton Mill, pay XV marks. The demesne, consisting of four carucates, and the sheep pastures are in the hands of the lord.
The name of the town is an Old English word “Hoh” meaning Hill and “Tun” meaning settlement.
In 1311 the village was owned by Albreda who was a widow of Lord Henry Spring which is how some historians believe the town got “le-spring” added to it. But there are other theories as no one knows for sure how it got its full name.
There is a parish church going back to Norman times called St Michael and All Angels which contains the tomb of Bernard Gilpin who was known as “the apostle of the north” and became the rector of Houghton-le-Spring in 1557. That parish was one of the largest ones in England at the time.
The Houghton feast is an annual event held each October in the town, it goes all the way back to the 1100’s and is in memory of the Parish Church of St Michael & All Angels.
Today the festival lasts ten days and has a fairground, carnival, fireworks, they also do ox roasting, which is in remembrance of Rector Bernard Gilpin's feeding the poor. In the 1700’s it was linked with horse racing and so became a much bigger event. In the 1800’s there were steam powered rides and the event continued to grow in size that is until the world war two, when it was downscaled.
Houghton-Le-Spring's major shopping area is positioned in Newbottle Street where there is a supermarket, a library, a Post Office and various other retail outlets. There are many pubs in the area too, including The White Lion, The Copt Hill, The Mill, The Burn, The Britannia and The Golden Lion which is believed to of stood for nearly 300 years and was once owned by the rector.