HOUGHTON, LITTLE. 306 IIOUNAM. 1563. The church was formerly held by archbishops Bancroft and Seeker, Bishop Lindsell, Heylin, Sir G. Wheler, the antiquary, &c. In the churchyard is the Royal Kepier grammar school, founded in 1574 by the Rev. Bernard Gilpin and John Heath of Kepier. The parochial charities produce above 70 per annum. Here are also the Devonport and Lilburne's almshouses, founded in 1666, which have since been enlarged by the Rev. George Devonport. There is a National school for both sexes; also places of worship for the United Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, "Wesleyans, and Catholics, all of which have Sunday-schools attached. HOUGHTON, LITTLE, a tnshp. in the par. of Darfield, wap. of Staincross, West Riding co. York, 1 J mile from Darfield, 6 miles from Barnsley, and 1 mile from Great Houghton. This township is small, and con- tains only a few scattered farmhouses. The Rev. G. "Wright of Bilham is lord of the manor. HOUGHTON, LITTLE, a par. in the Imnd. of Wymersley, co. Northampton, 85 miles S.E. of North- ampton. The village is considerable, but the inhabitants chiefly engaged in agriculture. The living is a vie.,* with that of Brafield-on-the-Green annexed, val. 285. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. There are National schools with a small endowment. HOUGHTON, LITTLE, a tnshp. in the par. of Long Houghton, ward of Bambrough, co. Northumberland, 4 miles N.E. of Alnwick. It is united with Little Mill. Lead has been found here. HOUGHTON, LITTLE, a hmlt. in the par. of Worsley, co. Lancaster, 6 miles N.W. of Manchester. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the hat trade and in the collieries. HOUGHTON, LONG, a par. in the S. div. of Bam- brough ward, co. Northumberland, 4 miles E. of Alnwick, its post town. It is situated on the coast, and contains the tnshps. of Long and Little Houghton, Boulmer, and Seaton House. Near here is Ratcheugh Crag, which commands an extensive view of the coast. The soil is various, but generally a strong loam. In this parish is Boulmer Bay, a natural basin, 800 yards in length by 400 in breadth, with a commodious entrance 12 feet deep at low water. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Durham, val. 162. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a stone structure, with a square tower contain- ing one bell. In the interior of the church are two memorial windows. The parochial charities produce about 3 per annum. There is a National school, in which a Sunday-school is also held. The Duko of Northumberland is lord of the manor. HOUGHTON, NEW, or HOUGHTON-NEXT- HARPLEY, a par. in the bund, of Gallow, co. Norfolk, 12 miles W. of Fakenham, 13 N.W. of Lynn, and 7 N.W. of Rougham, its post town. The village, which is small, is situate near Peddar Way, and is wholly agricultural. The soil is chiefly sandy, with marl and chalk. Half the parish is comprehended within the park and plantations of Houghton Hall, the seat of the Marquis of Cholmondeley, who is lord of the manor, and sole proprietor. This noble mansion has a frontage of 460 feet in length, with a dome at each corner. Its erection was commenced about the year 1722 by Sir Robert Walpole, when prime minister, and occupied a period of 15 years. Before its completion Sir Robert was deprived of his choice collection of pictures, which are now at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg. The hall is situated on low ground, but is surrounded by gardens. The land not included within the park is arable. The vicarial tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 108 17. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 68. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, with a small tower containing one bell, is situated in the park, and was rebuilt by Sir Robert Walpole. The parochial charities produce about 3 per annum. There are two schools for both sexes. HOUGHTON-ON-THE-HILL, a par. in the hund. of South Grenhoe, co. Norfolk, 4 J miles S.E. of Swaffham, and 4 N.W. of Walton, its post town. The parish, which is inconsiderable, containing but one farm, is situated on the river Wissey. The soils are sand, light loam, and chalk. The land is chiefly arable, with a small proportion of pasture and meadow. The living is a rect. annexed to that of North Pickenham, in the dioc. of Norwich. The church is a small stone edifice, with a square tower containing one bell, and is dedicated to St. Mary. E. A. Applewaite, Esq. , is lord of the manor and sole landowner. HOUGHTON-ON-THE-HILL, a par. in the hund. of Gartree, co. Leicester, 6 miles S.E. of Leicester, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated near the river Soar, and on the Uppingham road. There is a mineral spring in the neighbourhood. The soil is a stiff clay resting upon gravel. The land is chiefly pasture, and is well watered by numerous small streams. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1765. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Peterborough, val. 262. The church, dedicated to St. Catherine, is an ancient structure, with a tower con- taining five bells. The interior of the church contains a piscina, a font of large dimensions and wooden screen. The parochial charities produce about 5 per annum. There is a place of worship for the Wesleyans. George A. L. Keck, Esq., is lord of the manor. HOUGHTON-REGIS, a par. in the hund. of Mans- head, co. Bedford, 1 mile N. of Dunstable, its post town, and 5 miles N.W. of Luton. The village, which is consi- derable, is situated near the Roman road Watling Street. The par. comprises the hmlts. of Bedwell, Puddle- hill, Sewell, and Thorn. Houghton-Regis formerly belonged to the crown. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in straw plaiting and in agriculture. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act, in 1796. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 250. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient structure, with a square tower containing six bells. The interior of the church contains several monuments, also effigies of a knight, and two brasses of priests. The charities produce about 60 per annum, of which 50 goes to Whitehead's free school. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, and Baptists have places of worship. Houghton House, which is situated near the green, is the principal residence. The Duke of Bedford is lord of the manor. HOUGHTON, WEST, a chplry. in the par. of Dean, hund. of Salford, co. Lancaster, 5 miles E. of Wigan. The village is very considerable, and many of the inhabitants are engaged in the manufactures of muslin and jaconet. The living is a perpet. cur.,* val. 160, in the patron, of the Vicar of Dean. The church is dedi- cated to St. Mary. The Wesleyans have a chapel. HOUGHTON- WINTERBOURNE, or WINTER- BOURNE HOUGHTON, a par. in the hund. of Pirn- perne, North Blandford div. of the co. Dorset, 4 milm S.W. of Blandford, its post town. It belonged to the Despensers. The village is small and wholly agricul- tural. The living is a rect. * in the dioc. of Sarum, vat 180. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, 'is an ancient structure, with a tower containing three In the register dates from 1558. There is a parochial school. HOUGHTON WITH CLOSEHOUSE, a tnshp. in the par. of Heddon-on-the-Wall, E. div. of Tindal ward, co. Northumberland, 7 j miles N.W. of Newcastle-upon- Tyne, and 3 N.E. of Wylam railway station. It is situated near the Roman wall, and has .an old tower 100 feet by 44 feet. There is a free school for both sexes. Close House, the principal residence, is a stone mansion commanding a view of the Tyne valley. HOUNA. See HCNA, co. Caithness. HOUNAM, a par. and post vil. in the district of Kelso, co. Roxburgh, Scotland, 9 miles S.8.E. of Kelso It is situated on the English border, and is otherwise bounded by the pars, of Oxnam, Jedburgh, Eckford, and Morebattle. It is 9 miles long by 6 broad. The sarfafr is hilly, having some of the principal summits of the Cheviot range on its S. border sending offspurs into the interior. Hounam La w attains an elevation of 1,464 feet. There are extensive sheepwalks, and but a small area of arable soil. The Kale Water traverses the greater part
