Houghton-le-Spring, fortified rectory

Houghton-le-Spring, fortified rectory

HER Number
264
District
Sunderland
Site Name
Houghton-le-Spring, fortified rectory
Place
Houghton-le-Spring
Map Sheet
NZ34NW
Class
Domestic
Site Type: Broad
Clergy House
Site Type: Specific
Vicarage
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Description
This building is first mentioned in 1483 when John Kelinge began to enclose, fortify and embattle a house within his rectory with a wall of lime and stone, and to make a fortress of it without licence. Bishop Dudley pardoned the offence and granted a licence. In the second half of the 17th century the building was demolished, except for its tower and flanking rectory which were finally lost in the early 19th century. It is possible, however, that some parts of the medieval structure survived these bouts of demoliiton and rebuilding. LISTED GRADE 2*
Easting
434090
Northing
549830
Grid Reference
NZ434090549830
Sources
<< HER 264 >> W. Hutchinson, 1787, History of…Durham, II, pp. 539-540
R. Surtees, 1816, History of…Durham, I, p. 157
Rev. C.E. Adamson, 1913, Houghton-le-Spring,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 3, V (for 1911-12), pp. 51-52
Rev. H. Gee, 1913, The Correspondence of George Davenport,…Rector of Houghton… Archaeologia Aeliana, 3, IX, pp. 1-10
N. Pevsner, revised by E. Williamson, 1983, The Buildings of England: County Durham, p. 332
E. Mackenzie & M.Ross, 1834, Historical View of…Durham, Vol. II grangerised version, acc. No. 94126, opp. P. 343; Department of National Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest, 7/20; Paul Lanagan, 2013, Houghton-le-Spring Rectory - A Walk Around the Grounds (www.houghtonlespring.org.uk); Northern Archaeological Associates Ltd. 2014, Rectory Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Archaeological Assessment and Building Recording; TWAS, 1947-1956, Houghton Rectory, planned conversion to Council Offices (UD/HS/22);TWAS, Various plans relating to the conversion of existing buildings to Council Offices 1947-1950 (UD/HS/25/62-64); TWAS, The Rectory, Houghton-le-Spring showing existing floor plans, Sept 1947 (UD/HS/25/88); Northern Archaeological Associates, 2014, The Old Rectory, Houghton-le-Spring Building Recording