Houghton Council Intermediate School. Opened 1 February 1932. Its crest was 'HSMS' and its motto was 'high endeavour'. In 1948 the headmaster was John Forrester. In 1954 the school became Houghton Secondary Modern. It had very good sports facilities - a running track, football pitch, hockey pitch, cricket pitch, tennis courts and a gymnasium. A cinder running track had been installed by Forrester and in 1958 the English Schools Athletics Championship was held there - the first time in a state school. In 1968 the school was renamed Bernard Gilpin Comprehensive School. In 1971 John Forrester was awarded an MBE for his services to sport. Mr J Shurben became headmaster. He eventually moved to Houghton School in 1982. The school merged with Houghton School and Sancroft School in 1987 to form Houghton Kepier School. In 1990 all pupils moved into an extended school on the former Sancroft site. A primary school was built on the Bernard Gilpin site in 1993.

Built in 1926. Its crest featured four lions and a cross and its motto was 'ut prosim' (I may be useful). In 1944 Houghton Secondary School became a grammar school. In 1964 when the 11-plus exam was abandoned, the school again became a Secondary School. From 1974 it was known simply as Houghton School. In 1987 it merged with Sancroft and Bernard Gilpin Schools to form Houghton Kepier School. In 1990 Sancroft School was extended and the old grammar school building closed. Demolished in 1995. The site is now covered by houses (Longlands Drive). Headmasters included Mr J Meurig Jones (retired in March 1950), Mr Moore, Mr Neal. The last headmaster was Mr J Shurben from 1982.

Ox roasting at Houghton began when Rector Bernard Gilpin (1558-1583) fed the parish poor each Sunday between Michaelmas and Easter. A bullock or hog was often roasted. In 1967 Houghton Rotary Club revived the tradition at Houghton Feast. The spit is set up in a breezeblock structure, which is of no architectural merit. But the site is recorded here because the history of ox roasting is of historic interest.

Once part the original Glebe Farm, shown on Bell's map of c.1820 and listed in Thurlow's Survey of 1792. The building, a linear range in sandstone rubble, is likely to be that referred to in the 1647 Parliamentary survey. Lots of blocked openings of various sizes, some just below the eaves. A round-headed arched gateway with modern metal gates passes through the building. Known locally as the Tithe Barn. As yet no documentary records or plans have been found to prove that this particular building was a tithe barn (used to store the tithe, a tenth part of the annual produce of agriculture which was paid by the tenants of ecclesiastical lands). In 1948 the building immediately to the rear (north) of Clergy House (HER 7018) was occupied by the painter Newton Jealous. The building in question was then known as the stables. In the 1960s local historian Cyril Arthur Smith claimed that the tithe barn was on Dairy Lane. Local residents claim that the building in question contains ancient roof timbers which are covered over by cladding. The building was re-roofed in 2011. The building was recorded in 2014. Its dimensions were noted as 17m x 9.6m aligned north-south. Date uncertain but could be medieval in origin. There is some evidence to suggest it was constructed as a threshing barn and was for grain storage - supporting the idea that it is a tithe barn. Converted in the late 18th century for use as a stable. One of the earliest surviving structures on the Rectory site. The barn is entirely surrounded by tarmac paths with a stone wall dividing the park from the yard space to the rear of Clergy House. The interior of the building has been substantially altered with concrete floors, a modern breezeblock office and a modern mezzanine floor. The exterior elevations contain 20th century roller doors and windows in the east and west facing elevations. The north gable has largely been rebuilt.

The fountain is shown on the Ordnance Survey first edition of 1858. The current fountain has been in place since the opening of the park in 1949. The rock in the centre of the fountain is of interest. A geologist suggested in 2010 that it is travertine, a form of limestone found in Italy. Who brought it to Houghton, how (it is a big piece of stone!) and why is unknown. The black painted railings which today surround the feature are a modern replacement of the original 1950s railings erected as a safety measure. Prior to this the feature was surrounded by a circular flower bed.

Rev. John Grey, rector of Houghton 1847 to 1895 and his wife Helen, buried their pet dog in the park when he died in 1878. The gravestone read "DEAR LITTLE BIJOU. THY CHERISHED MEMORY WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF AFFECTION. AND GENTLENESS AND TRUSTING LOVE. MARCH 13 1878. J AND H.M G'.

There is a drawing by Swiss artist Samuel Hieronymous Grimm of circa 1780 which shows a substantial gatehouse. From 1719 this housed George Wheeler's Charity School, a Blue Coat School for Girls. This was replaced in the Victorian period by a smaller castellated gateway with metal gates in its archway (HER 7011). This was flanked on the south by a small house (labelled as an inn on second edition OS) and on the north by St. Michael's Church Hall. The church hall was formally opened by Bishop Lightfoot on 10th January 1882. It was known at first as the 'New Room at Rectory Gate' but was renamed St. Michael's Hall in 1884. The Broadway was widened in the 1950s. This meant demolishing the gate and flanking buildings. The castellated gateway was rebuilt across the road at the entranceway to the church, minus its metal gates.

Sandstone rubble wall with brick coping inserted doorways through it. There are a series of enigmatic features in the wall - semi-circular hollows or niches. Some have been in-filled. Paul Lanagan suggests that they were for growing wall flowers. Date and function of the features is presently unknown {1}. Little is known about the form and layout of the earlier Rectory (HER 264) grounds and gardens. Documentary evidence suggests that Rector Kelyng was the first to enclose the grounds with a stone wall during the fortification of the site in the 15th century, but it is not clear whether this corresponds with the line of the current boundary (rebuilt by Davenport in the 17th century). Until the 18th century the boundary wall stood 12ft high. Over the intervening period parts have ben demolished to become the piecemeal mix of wall we see today. Only parts of the northern boundary, and the south-west corner survive as evidence of a pre-19th century structure. The remains of the earlier wall is distinct from the later interventions, constructed of coursed rubble blocks of local limestone and sandstone, much of which is un-worked and poor in quality. Built into a section of the northern wall are series of small identical niches each formed by a single carved semi-circular sandstone arch head, At least five survive in a row - four equally spaced to the SE entrance with Vine Place and one to the north of the car park. These may have been bee-boles for housing skeps (wicker baskets for housing bees).

Three attractive brick buildings set around a central yard. Now converted to houses. Nos. 1 and 2 are on the Blandford Square street frontage. Brick, two storeys, with an arch with double timber gates leading into the yard in the centre. Renewed windows with sandstone lintels and cills. On the left in the yard are Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Nos. 6 and 7 are at the rear of the yard. The dwellings are called Brewery Stables, and that is presumably what the buildings were, possibly for Westgate Hill Brewery which lay a short distance to the west (HER 10383).

Three two storey houses, now commercial businesses. Rendered and painted white (No. 16 is stone coloured). There is an arched opening between Nos. 18 and 18A into a rear yard. In 2013 No. 16 is SB Signs, No. 18 is Coltman Antiques, No. 18A is Olde Worlde Fireplaces.