GENEALOGICAL RECORDS
The following records were researched, transcribed and digitised into a searchable format by local historian Paul Lanagan between 2002 and 2014.
The hundreds of hours of work have paid off as the records represent the historical burials in the two main locations in Houghton-le-Spring, the churchyard of St Michael & All Angels Church and its detached churchyard, Hillside Cemetery.
There are also indexes to many local trade directories, Houghton Workhouse inmates and staff, local War Memorials, plus indexes to cuttings from the Houghton Star and Sunderland Echo newspapers.
These records can be searched for free for those who have made a donation to Houghton Heritage Society. To submit a search requisition, complete the forms below.
SEARCH REQUISITIONS
These records can be searched for free for those who have made a donation to Houghton Heritage Society. To submit a search requisition, complete the two forms below. Your request can also be sent by e-mail.
[REQUISITION FORM] | [DONATION FORM]
HOUGHTON STAR INDEX
We have full copies of the relaunched Houghton & Seaham Star which ran from 2012 until 2013. The full index for cuttings relating to Houghton and surrounds can be accessed on the link below.
[HOUGHTON STAR 2012 - 2013]
SUNDERLAND ECHO INDEX
We keep cuttings of local stories from the pages of the Sunderland Echo, covering Houghton, Newbottle, Shiney Row, Penshaw, Fence Houses and Chilton Moor. The full index can be accessed on the link below.
[SUNDERLAND ECHO 2014] | [ECHO WEBSITE]
PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE
Houghton Heritage Society has over 5,000 images in its collections, many of them unpublished or unseen. You can access the photograph catalogue below which includes details of the photos logged thus far.
[PHOTOGRAPH CATALOGUE]
DOCUMENT ARCHIVE
The Society has many vintage documents/books in its collections. We eventually hope to get these catalogued, before donating the documents to the regional archives for safer storage and public access.
[DOCUMENT ARCHIVE]
ITEM ARCHIVE
The Society has acquired many rare and unusual items from the history of Houghton-le-Spring, including pub signs, doors, ornaments, confectionery tools, bottles, cups, and pieces of stone. Details coming soon!
[ITEM ARCHIVE]
CHURCHYARD BURIAL LIST
Names of those people listed in Hillside Cemetery's numerous burial registers and grave registers. The lists can be searched for your ancestors and, in exchange for a small donation, details of the grave be sent to you.
[BURIALS 1581 - 1854]
CHURCH MEMORIALS & PLAQUES
Many of the remaining headstones and memorials at Hillside Cemetery have been logged and a transcription of the memorial inscriptions made. The link below leads to a list of the names found on those memorials.
[MEMORIALS & PLAQUES]
MARRIAGES & BAPTISMS
A digital-tracing has been made of high-res photographs of Hillside Cemetery's burial plans. This printable document is a handy guide to help you plot graves of interest when you visit the Cemetery.
[MARRIAGES & BAPTISMS]
HILLSIDE CEMETERY BURIAL LIST
Names of those people listed in Hillside Cemetery's numerous burial registers and grave registers. The lists can be searched for your ancestors and, in exchange for a small donation, details of the grave be sent to you.
[BURIALS 1854 - 1971]
HILLSIDE CEMETERY MEMORIALS
Many of the remaining headstones and memorials at Hillside Cemetery have been logged and a transcription of the memorial inscriptions made. The link below leads to a list of the names found on those memorials.
[MEMORIAL TRANSCRIPTIONS]
HILLSIDE CEMETERY PLANS
A digital-tracing has been made of high-res photographs of Hillside Cemetery's burial plans. This printable document is a handy guide to help you plot graves of interest when you visit the Cemetery.
[BURIAL PLANS]
STREET DIRECTORIES
House-by-House and Shop-by-Shop directories for all of Houghton's main streets, including: Newbottle Street; Sunderland Street; Church Street; Mautland Street; Nesham Place; Durham Road; and others.
[STREET DIRECTORIES]
STREET NAMES
Have you ever wondered where the streets of Houghton-le-Spring acquired their names from? This guide looks at the streets of our town and explains many of their origins. Can anybody help to fill the gaps?
[STREET NAMES]
WORKHOUSE INMATES & STAFF
A digital-tracing has been made of high-res photographs of Hillside Cemetery's burial plans. This printable document is a handy guide to help you plot graves of interest when you visit the Cemetery.
[WORKHOUSE NAMES]
CENOTAPH NAMES
Houghton's Cenotaph was unveiled on November 7th 1925 to commemorate those killed during the Great War between 1914 and 1919. The link below leads to an article plus transcription of the names listed.
[CENOTAPH NAMES 1914 - 1919]
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
The leather bound book of remembrance can be found inside St Michael & All Angels Church. The names of those remembered with honour have been reproduced here for those unable to visit the church in person.
[BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE 1939 - 1945]
ROLL OF HONOUR
The marble Roll of Honour tablet is erected on the north wall of St Michael & All Angels Church, facing the porch entrance. It was erected by the congregation. A list of the names featured can be found on the link below.
[ROLL OF HONOUR 1914 - 1918]
OLD BOYS WHO FELL
This metal panel could be found erected inside Houghton Grammar School, commemorating the old boys who died during World War II. It is now erected inside Kepier Academy's Garden of Remembrance.
[OLD BOYS WHO FELL 1939 - 1945]
AIR RAID WARDENS
The following list shows the forty-six personnel of the Houghton-le-Spring Warden Service (several of which were female), plus their signatures from the Farewell Dinner souvenir programme, October 1945.
[AIR RAID WARDENS]
METHODIST WAR MEMORIALS
Names and transcriptions from the Nesham Place United Methodist Chapel's memorial plaque for the Great War plus transcriptions for Mautland Chapel's stained glass windows featuring dedications for the fallen.
[METHODIST MEMORIALS]
CHURCH CLOCK DONORS
In 1884 the people of Houghton agreed that an illuminated clock would be beneficial and the best place to erect it would be in the tower of the Parish Church to mark the tercentenary of Bernard Gilpin's death.
[CHURCH CLOCK DONORS 1884]
SCHOOL BOOK OF HONOUR
A digital version of the Book of Honour can be viewed on the link below as the original is housed in the Shurben Library at Kepier Academy. Links are included where further information is known about the alumni.
[BOOK OF HONOUR]
FAMILY TREE QUESTS
A digital-tracing has been made of high-res photographs of Hillside Cemetery's burial plans. This printable document is a handy guide to help you plot graves of interest when you visit the Cemetery.
[FAMILY TREE QUESTS]
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]
PENSHAW MONUMENT VIDEOS
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 our visits to Penshaw Monument!
[YOUTUBE VIDEOS]
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.
