HERITAGE EVENTS
Houghton Heritage Society holds many events throughout the year with our main exhibitions taking place during the ancient festival of Houghton Feast every October.
The annual Houghton Heritage Walk and photograph exhibitions are very popular. One of our best attended events is the Haunted Houghton Walk - the allocated spaces tend to go quickly!
Over the years we have attended Sunderland Heritage Forum's Local History Month, Yesterday Belongs To You; Gentoo's Family Fun Days; and local craft fairs where we sold our books, booklets, calendars, badges and Christmas cards. Many of our events between 2014 and 2019 commemorated the Great War Centenary.
Our photographic exhibition of Houghton soliders on Remembrance Sunday is very poignant - please come along if you can.
HOUGHTON FEAST 2023
Houghton Feast is a 10 day festival featuring a fairground, ox roasting, church events, carnival parade, theatre, community events, exhibitions, talks and tours, and fireworks! Fri Oct 6th - Sun Oct 15th 2023.
[HOUGHTON FEAST 2023]
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2023
HODS takes from Friday 8th – Sunday 17th September 2023. A photographic exhibition will be held in the town centre for HODS 2023. Come along and learn about your town.
[HODS 2023]
PERMANENT EXHIBITION
A large selection of old photographs from our collections was acquired by Wetherspoons for permanent exhibition in the Wild Boar public house. The large scale pics are sumptuously framed - and look impressive!
[WILD BOAR PHOTO EXHIBITION]
DURHAM MINERS' GALA 2023
On Saturday July 8th 2023 come along and support the Houghton Colliery Banner with Houghton Heritage Society. See the banner paraded early along Newbottle Street before we head to Durham City for the Big Meeting.
[DURHAM MINERS GALA 2023]
HOUGHTON LITTER PICK 2018
On Saturday Date to be confirmed, we will be carrying out our 4th annual litter pick at Copt Hill. Refuse sacks provided. Please bring own gloves and suitable footwear. Meet at 10:00am outside of the Copt Hill pub.
[LITTER PICK 2018]
LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2018
On Tuesday May 29th 2018 Houghton Heritage Society will hold the 6th annual Linden Travers Movie Day, commemorating Houghton's star of the stage and screen. See poster for full details.
[LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2018]
HERITAGE WALKS 2017
For the past few years, Houghton Heritage Society has been leading free heritage trails around the historic town of Houghton-le-Spring. Our thorough and insightful walks are free to attend - bring your map (below).
[HERITAGE WALK DATES] | [PRINTABLE WALKS & MAP]
HOUGHTON LITTER PICK 2017
On Saturday February 25th 2017, we will be joining staff from COSTA to carry out a litter pick at the Hillside. Meet at 10:00am in Costa, Newbottle Street. Hot drinks will be served afterwards to the helpers.
[LITTER PICK 2017]
LOCAL HISTORY MONTH 2017
Free event on Thursday May 25th 2017. The Houghton Heritage Walk will be themed on Rector Bernard Gilpin to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his birth. Meet at the steps of Lidl on Mautland Street at 6:30pm.
[LOCAL HISTORY MONTH 2017]
MAUTLAND ST. EXHIBITIONS 2016
A photo/video exhibition showing the erection and demolition of buildings on Mautland Street 1875 - 2016, inc. the Methodist churches, Mautland Square shops, the Co-Operative supermarket and the newly completed Lidl store.
[SEPT 2016] | [OCTOBER 2016]
HAUNTED HOUGHTON WALKS 2016
Dare you join local historian Paul Lanagan and his fellow ghost hunters on an intimate sequel to the first Haunted Houghton walk which had an unexpected 200 in attendance at Houghton Feast 2004?
[HAUNTED HOUGHTON 2015]
LINDEN TRAVERS 2016
Special events at Houghton Feast 2016 to commemorate Linden Travers as part of the Houghton Feast's "Hollywood and Moving Pictures" theme - full details available on the official Houghton Feast website on the link below.
[HOUGHTON FEAST WEB] | [HERITAGE EVENTS]
LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2015
On Saturday May 23rd 2015 Houghton Heritage Society will hold the 3rd Annual Linden Travers Movie Day, commemorating Houghton's star of the stage and screen. Free admission.
[LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2015]
LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2014
On Saturday May 24th 2014 Houghton Heritage Society will commemorate Linden Travers' 101st birthday with a special event to remember Houghton's star of the stage and screen. Free admission.
[LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2014]
LINDEN TRAVERS 100TH BIRTHDAY
On Saturday May 25th 2013 Houghton Heritage Society will commemorate Linden Travers' 100th birthday with a special event to remember Houghton's star of the stage and screen. Free admission.
[LINDEN TRAVERS MOVIE DAY 2013]
LOCAL HISTORY MONTH 2013
Special heritage events in Houghton-le-Spring in May 2013 as part of Sunderland's Local History Month. The Houghton Heritage Walk will take place on Friday May 24th at 6:00 PM. Admission £4.00 (inc. free book).
[LHM BROCHURE] | [HH WALK]
JUBILEE BENCHES 2016
The old benches on Jubilee Cottages, near Newbottle Street, have been replaced for the Queen's 90th birthday thanks to Sunderland Council Coalfield Area Committee. The official unveiling is Wednesday August 10th 2016. All welcome.
[UNVEILING 2016]
DIAMOND JUBILEE TREE PLANTING
On Friday April 12th 2013, Houghton Heritage Society will be planting trees with pupils from Burnside Primary School as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Woods, and was kindly supported by the Woodland Trust.
[WOODLAND TRUST JUBILEE WOODS] | [RECORD]
COPT HILL SPRING CLEAN 2015
On Saturday March 21st 2015, we will be joining staff from the Copt Hill Bar & Restaurant to carry out a litter pick at the Seven Sisters. Meet at 9:45am for a hot drink before the litter pick.
[LITTER PICK 2015]
GRANNY WALK 2015
On Saturday March 18th 2017, we will be raising money for the Society and for Red Nose Day - do you want to join in with Granny Walk, a funny sponsored walk? Red Nose Day is Friday March 24th 2017.
[GRANNY WALK 2015] | [RED NOSE DAY 2015]
GRANNY WALK 2013
On Saturday March 18th 2017, we will be raising money for the Society and for Red Nose Day - do you want to join in with Granny Walk, a funny sponsored walk? Red Nose Day is Friday March 24th 2017.
[GRANNY WALK 2013] | [RED NOSE DAY 2013]
VIDEOS OF HOUGHTON
Houghton Heritage Society's YouTube Channel features exclusive videos of Houghton-le-Spring as well as footage from our heritage events throughout the year - and of course the ancient festival of Houghton Feast!
[YOUTUBE VIDEOS]
FACEBOOK GROUP
You can join Houghton Heritage Society by becoming a member on Facebook - or Fyass Byuk as we call it. We have over 8,500 members and the group is very popular with residents, descendants and ex-pats.
[FACEBOOK]
MAKE A DONATION
The Society could not operate without your much appreciated help! Find out below how you can donate via PayPal, Cheque or Bankers Order Form.
