Houghton-le-Spring: Houghton Area Office

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Houghton Area Office, Council Offices in Houghton-le-Spring

Houghton Urban District Council Chamber in the Rectory building

There is talk in the air that the old Council Offices (officially known as Houghton Area Office) in the Park grounds, are to be demolished following the recent relocation of staff from the building. At the time of writing (October 2010), no official announcement on the building's future has been made. Article Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

Houghton Urban District Council (HUDC) purchased the Rectory grounds on July 20th 1949. The embattled Rectory building was adapted to become the Council Offices and Council Chamber in 1950/51, but by the 1960s it was clear that a more modern building was required for the needs of a functioning council. Article Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

On November 18th 1967, Councillor John Mawston, then Chairman of Houghton UDC, laid the foundation stone for the new building, and almost a year later, on November 1st 1968, the Council Offices were opened by Councillor Mawston's successor, Councillor Edward Kelly. The building was used by HUDC for six years, and became Houghton Area Office under the jurisdiction of Sunderland Borough Council upon the reformation of local government in 1974.

Treasures from the Houghton Area Office, Council Offices in Houghton-le-Spring

These items could be found around and within the Council Offices prior to its demolition. They are currently in storage. To see the latest updates on their location, click HERE to open the report in a new window.

Dedication plaque on Houghton Area Council offices

The foundation stone, located on the southeast corner of the building, reads as follows:

Opening dedication plaque in Houghton Area Council offices

The plaque from the building's official opening, currently found within the reception area, reads as follows:

A bench within the grounds of Houghton Area Office and next to the old Rectory

Within the grounds of Houghton Area Council offices can be found the John Mawston bench:

PRESENTED TO COUN. J. MAWSTON J.P MAYOR OF SUNDERLAND 1987/88 IN MEMORY OF HIS MOTHER AND IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICES TO THE HOUGHTON FEAST STEERING COMMITTEE

This plaque from HMS Wellard used to be housed in the Council Offices, before its demolition

A commemorative plaque was presented to Houghton UDC by the Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty, and can now be found on the wall within Houghton Area Office, in the Broadway. The plaque reads as follows:

PRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY TO HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL TO COMMEMORATE THE ADOPTION OF H.M.S. WELLARD DURING WARSHIP WEEK DECEMBER 1941.

It is accompanied by another plaque which presumably was rescued from the ship when it was scrapped in 1961. It reads as follows:

THIS PLAQUE IS PRESENTED TO H.M.S. WELLARD TO COMMEMORATE HER “ADOPTION” BY THE CITIZENS OF HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING URBAN DISTRICT DURING WARSHIP WEEK DECEMBER 6 – 13 1941. WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING SAVINGS COMMITTEE.

Demolition of the Houghton Area Office, Council Offices in Houghton-le-Spring

Houghton Area Council Offices in 2010

Demolition of Houghton Area Council Offices on June 1st 2011

Demolition of Houghton's Council Offices gets underway

Demolition of Houghton's Council Offices is almost completed

Demolition of Houghton's Council Offices, completed on June 10th

The former site of Houghton Area Offices, August 2011

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PAGE UPDATED: 27/08/2011