Houghton le Spring

Houghton-le-Spring is part of the City of Sunderland and has its recorded origins in Norman times. It is situated almost equidistant between the cathedral city of Durham and the centre of the City of Sunderland. The town of Seaham and the North Sea lie about 5 miles directly to the east. 

Other towns within the Houghton-le-Spring postal district include: Philadelphia, Shiney Row, Chilton Moor and Woodstone Village.

Houghton-Le-Spring's main shopping area is located on Newbottle Street which includes a supermarket, a library, the Post Office, and various pubs.

An ancient document dated 1220 describes the town as 'Houghton Sprynges', the name 'Houghton' comes from the Old English 'hoh' meaning hill and 'tun' meaning settlement.

Houghton Feast is an ancient festival held every October in the town, it originates from the 12th century festival dedicated to the Parish Church of St Michael & All Angels. Nowadays, the festival lasts ten days and typically features a fairground, carnival, fireworks and an ox roasting event, in commemoration of Rector Bernard Gilpin's feeding of the poor.

In more recent times, Houghton was an active coal-mining town. The local mine began to sink its first shaft in 1823 and was active until its closure in 1981. At its peak in the early 20th century, the mine employed over 2,000 workers and many of the properties in this area evolved from the need to house these workers.