Houghton on the Hill

Not to be confused with Houghton-on-the-Hill, Norfolk

Houghton on the Hill
Leicestershire
Main Street, Houghton on the Hill
Location
Grid reference:	SK679035
Location:	52°37’30"N, 0°59’52"W
Data
Population:	1,524  (2011)
Post town:	Leicester
Postcode:	LE7
Local Government
Council:	Harborough
Parliamentary constituency:	Rutland and Melton

Houghton on the Hill is a village in Leicestershire, standing six miles east of Leicester. The population of the wider civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,524.

The two pubs in the village are the Old Black Horse, on Main Street, and the Rose & Crown, on Uppingham Road.

There is a selection of local shops including a local store, a newsagent, and a chemist, chip shop, a hairdresser and a beauty salon.

History

The village is recorded in the Domesday Book as Hohtone. It was held by Henry of Ferrers; before the Conquest it was held by Godric, who was dispossessed after the Conquest and the estate given to Earl Waltheof until his execution.

The Manor of Houghton was owned by Thompson Family for many years until it was sold to George Anthony Legh Keck in 1805. It later passed to the Lilford Family until 1913 when it was sold.

There used to be a railway that ran through Ingarsby, approximately two miles north of Houghton. Its station was named 'Ingarsby for Houghton on the Hill' owing to its use by commuters from the larger village. The railway line and station were closed in 1954, but both the station building and the station master's house remain in Ingarsby, having been converted to residential properties. The most notable sign of the railway's existence is a long unused rail tunnel. This is notable because only one side was demolished, leaving only one entry point and no exit.

In Dec 2007, the village made national news headlines, and was dubbed "the village of the scammed" when a large number of fraudulent credit card charges in the Far East were linked to the JET filling station: a cashier, Nyal Rajput, was gaoled for two years and nine months. A total of £6.5 m was stolen, which affected almost every house in the village.

Churches

There are two churches in the village:

• Church of England: St Catharine's
• Methodist: Houghton on the Hill Methodist Church

Sport

• Cricket: Houghton Cricket Club who play on Dixon's field in the southern end of the village
• Football: Houghton Rangers F C
• Tennis: on the Weir Lane Playing facilities

Society

There is a village hall in the centre of the village with a bowling green attached.

Houghton has a scout troop ranging from Beavers to Explorers (Formerly Venture Scouts).

The village has a monthly newsletter, the Houghton News, which features articles from various village groups, events listings, and reports from Parish Council meetings.

Events

Every summer (since The Queen's Jubilee - 2002) the village holds its Summer Funday. This takes place on a Saturday (1st weekend in July) and goes on all afternoon (starts with parade at 2:30). This event attracts all the villagers (young and old) who wish to participate from organising the events in the field and helping with the organising of the Fancy Dress competition to helping set up the stalls and gazebos on the main field at the back of the Pub.

The Fun Day begins with a parade from the newsagent at 2:30 pm towards the field at the back of the Old Black Horse pub where the judging will take place.

The 'Fun Day' has recently been restarted by a village fundraising group and is now called the Houghton Scarecrow Festival. It was first held in 2014, and is an annual event every June, raising money for local groups and societies in the village.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Houghton on the Hill)

• Houghton C of E Primary School
• Harborough Online