History
THE PARISH CHURCHES
Houghton
and
Wyton
each
possess
a
medieval
church
only
a
quarter
of
a
mile
apart,
but
that
in
Wyton
was
closed
in
1974.
Domesday
Book
1086
makes
mention
of
both
and
states
that
there
was
a
priest
at
Wyton,
but
no
reference
is
made
to
any
at
Houghton.
It
is
probable,
therefore,
that
one
priest
served
the
two
parishes,
a
practice
which
continued
until
1847
when
individual
incumbents
were
appointed.
The
parishes
remained
separate
until
1961.
From
quite
early
times
it
appears
the
two
churches
were
treated
as
if
they
were
one
being
referred
to
in
ancient
documents
as
“the
church
of
Witton
and
Hocton".
Incidentally,
as
Wyton
is
usually
named
first,
this
indicates
that
it
was
the
more
important
of
the
two.
As
is
so
frequently
the
case
in
Huntingdonshire,
the
churches
of
villages
bordering
the
Ouse
are
placed
close
to
the
river
bank
but
exactly
why
this
should
be
so
has
not
been
definitely
explained.
Houghton
church
is
no
exception
to
this
rule,
a
glance
at
a
large-scale
Ordnance
map
will
show
an
old
water
course
by
the
south-west
corner
of
the
churchyard.
Wyton
church, on the other hand, has never been on the river bank.
By
chance,
both
churches
have
developed
almost
identical
ground
plans
over
the
centuries
by
changes
which
took
place
at
different
times.
Thus,
each
has
a
long
chancel,
a
nave
to
which
has
been
added
a
north
aisle
of
four
bays,
a
south
porch
and
a
western
tower
and
spire.
How
they
arrived
at
their
present
plan
will
be
briefly
explained
in
the
accounts
which follow.
T H E CHURCH OF ST. MARY O F H O U G H T O N
We
know
from
Domesday
Book
1086
that
there
was
a
church
in
Houghton
at
that
time.
There
are
no
traces
of
any
earlier buildings on this site.
The
earliest
work
now
standing
is
the
chancel
which
was
rebuilt
and
probably
lengthened
in
the
second
half
of
the
13th
century,
the
middle
window
of
the
three
in
the
south
wall,
of
lancet-shape,
together
with
the
chancel
arch
being
of
this
period.
Early
in
the
next
century
the
lighting
of
the
chancel
was
improved;
a
new
east
window
was
inserted
and
another
with
net-like
tracery
of
two
lights
was
placed
near
the
west
end
of
the
north
wall.
At
the
same
time
a
small
doorway,
a
short
distance
east
of
the
latter
was
formed.
This
is
an
unusual
position
but
perhaps
it
was
for
the
priest's
use
as
there
is
no
sign
of
the
usual
door
on
the
south.
Some
years
later
another
two-light
window
was
placed
in
the
south
wall
west
of
the 13th century one.
About
1350
an
extensive
rebuilding
was
undertaken
and
a
north
aisle
of
four
bays
was
added
to
the
nave.
Above
the
aisle
arches
a
clerestory
of
four
quatrefoils
enclosed
within
square
openings
was
included.
On
completion
this
was
followed
by
the
erection
of
the
present
tower
and
spire,
completed
before
the
end
of
the
century.
The
church
then
assumed
the
shape
it
has
today
which
has
not
been
materially
altered
since.
A
south
porch
would
normally
have
formed
part
of
the
rebuilding
but
it
has
disappeared
and
the
existing
one
has
the
date
1664
in
large
figures
on
the
western
jamb
of the entrance arch.
Minor
improvements
connected
with
better
lighting
were
made
in
the
15th
century.
A
new
two-light
window
east
of
the
central
lancet
was
inserted
in
the
south
wall
of
the
chancel
to
give
more
light
to
the
altar.
The
tracery
of
the
east
window
was
taken
out
and
replaced
by
new
of
“Perpendicular”
character,
and
two
windows
of
three-lights
were
inserted
in
the
south wall of the nave.
HISTORY
THE PARISH CHURCHES
Houghton and Wyton each possess a medieval
church only a quarter of a mile apart, but that in
Wyton was closed in 1974.
Domesday Book 1086 makes mention of both and
states that there was a priest at Wyton, but no
reference is made to any at Houghton. It is
probable, therefore, that one priest served the two
parishes, a practice which continued until 1847
when individual incumbents were appointed. The
parishes remained separate until 1961. From quite
early times it appears the two churches were
treated as if they were one being referred to in
ancient documents as “the church of Witton and
Hocton". Incidentally, as Wyton is usually named
first, this indicates that it was the more important
of the two.
As is so frequently the case in Huntingdonshire,
the churches of villages bordering the Ouse are
placed close to the river bank but exactly why this
should be so has not been definitely explained.
Houghton church is no exception to this rule, a
glance at a large-scale Ordnance map will show
an old water course by the south-west corner of
the churchyard. Wyton church, on the other hand,
has never been on the river bank.
By chance, both churches have developed almost
identical ground plans over the centuries by
changes which took place at different times. Thus,
each has a long chancel, a nave to which has been
added a north aisle of four bays, a south porch and
a western tower and spire. How they arrived at
their present plan will be briefly explained in the
accounts which follow.
The Church of St. Mary at Houghton
We know from Domesday Book 1086 that there
was a church in Houghton at that time. There are
no traces of any earlier buildings on this site.
The earliest work now standing is the chancel
which was rebuilt and probably lengthened in the
second half of the 13th century, the middle
window of the three in the south wall, of lancet-
shape, together with the chancel arch being of this
period. Early in the next century the lighting of
the chancel was improved; a new east window
was inserted and another with net-like tracery of
two lights was placed near the west end of the
north wall. At the same time a small doorway, a
short distance east of the latter was formed. This
is an unusual position but perhaps it was for the
priest's use as there is no sign of the usual door on
the south. Some years later another two-light
window was placed in the south wall west of the
13th century one.
About 1350 an extensive rebuilding was
undertaken and a north aisle of four bays was
added to the nave. Above the aisle arches a
clerestory of four quatrefoils enclosed within
square openings was included. On completion this
was followed by the erection of the present tower
and spire, completed before the end of the century.
The church then assumed the shape it has today
which has not been materially altered since. A
south porch would normally have formed part of
the rebuilding but it has disappeared and the
existing one has the date 1664 in large figures on
the western jamb of the entrance arch.
Minor improvements connected with better
lighting were made in the 15th century. A new
two-light window east of the central lancet was
inserted in the south wall of the chancel to give
more light to the altar. The tracery of the east
window was taken out and replaced by new of
“Perpendicular” character, and two windows of
three-lights were inserted in the south wall of the
nave.
