Editing Houghton-le-Spring (section)

==History==
The earliest mention of the town's name is in the [[Boldon Book]] in 1183 as 'Hoctona'.<ref>[http://www.wearsideonline.com/houghton_le_spring.html Wear side online]</ref> An English transcription states:

:''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 {{convert|24|acre|ha|abbr=off|0|disp=sqbr}} for his service.  The smith – {{convert|12|acre|ha|0|disp=sqbr}} for his service. The carpenter holds a toft and {{convert|4|acre|ha|0|disp=sqbr}} for his service. The punder (one who impounds straying animals) has {{convert|20|acre|ha|0|disp=sqbr}} 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.''

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

During excavations under the church of St Michael and All Angels in 2008–09 as part of the church's refurbishment, not only were Roman remains discovered but some very ancient stones which suggest that the area has been settled since prehistoric times and that the site of the church has had some religious significance for thousands rather than hundreds of years. Glass inserts in the new floor of the church enable some of these to be seen.

[[File:LeSpringArms.svg|thumb|Arms of Le Spring family of Houghton-le-Spring: ''Argent, an escutcheon in an orle of martlets sable''<ref>Foster, Joseph, ed. (1887). Pedigrees recorded at the Visitations of the County Palatine of Durham made by William Flower, Norroy King-of-Arms, in 1575, by Richard St George, Norroy King-of-Arms, in 1615, and by William Dugdale, Norroy King-of-Arms, in 1666. London, p.12, "Bellasis of Morton"[https://archive.org/stream/pedigreesrecorde00lond#page/12/mode/2up]</ref><ref>Armorial Index', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of Cambridge (London, 1959), pp. 397–414 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/cambs/pp397-414]</ref>]]
In 1311, the village was owned by Albreda, widow of [[Henry Spring|Sir Henry Spring]], hence the addition of 'le spring'. That explanation of the addition of 'le Spring' is debatable and there are alternatives. One opinion is that it is derived from the ''Le Spring'' family, Lords of Houghton in ancient times.<ref>Mackenzie, Eneas, ''An historical, topographical, and descriptive view of the county palatine of Durham'', 1834, p.355 [https://archive.org/details/anhistoricaltop01rossgoog/page/n492/mode/2up]</ref> Another explanation, which is backed up by a "Regester Booke belonginge to the Paryshe of Houghton in the Springe" from 1598,<ref>Lanagan, Paul; (2009). Houghton-le-Spring in Old Photographs Vol 1 {{ISBN|978-0-9555059-3-5}}</ref> is based around the medicinal springs which flow from the surrounding limestone rocks. This latter explanation ties in with the Roman names in the area in which "le" is taken to be "in the" as in Chester-le-Street, Witton-le-Wear, Dalton-le-Dale, Hetton-le-Hole.<ref>[http://www.houghtonheritage.co.uk/ History of the town]</ref> Credence is added to this consideration by the area of the town formerly known as the Lake and the stream/spring that nowadays still runs through the centre of the town, although this has long since been directed to run through a culvert.
[[File:St Michael and All Angels Church (geograph 4316142).jpg|thumb|[[St Michael and All Angels Church, Houghton-le-Spring|St Michael and All Angels]]]]
The parish church of [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Houghton-le-Spring|St Michael and All Angels]] dates back to Norman times and contains the tomb of [[Bernard Gilpin]], known as 'the Apostle of the North'. Gilpin was [[Archdeacon of Durham]] and in 1557 became the rector at Houghton-le-Spring, which at that time was one of the largest parishes in England.

During [[World War II]], Houghton was relatively unscathed from the German bombing raids, though some fleeing German planes did jettison their loads after bombing attempts on the nearby coastal town of Sunderland.<ref>[http://www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/war/ Houghton-le-Spring during World War II]</ref>

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 pit employed over two thousand workers.<ref>[http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/h014.htm Durham Mining Museum]</ref>