Houghton offers two distinct areas of interest: trails and riverside connections on the one hand, and architectural history on the other. The Test Way and the Clarendon Way have different connections to the village; the buildings mentioned date from the early 12th to the 19th century. This gives you the choice of focusing your stay on outdoor activities, historic architecture, or both.
Walking and Cycling in Houghton
The Test Way is one of two major footpaths that cross in Houghton. It also serves as a cycle route here. On the sixth section of the Test Way, you can take a short detour to Houghton Lodge Gardens. The gardens have paths along the banks of the River Test. This section of the route therefore offers a direct connection to the gardens, while the riverside paths are a distinctive feature of the grounds.
The Clarendon Way runs along the edge of Houghton and crosses the River Test in the village via three footbridges. A detour to a church is also recommended near Houghton on this route. The route connections described here are therefore clearly distinct: for the Test Way, the garden detour is mentioned for its sixth section; for the Clarendon Way, they are its route along the edge of the village, the three footbridges, and the recommended detour to the church.
Historic Buildings and Their Dates
All Saints' Church is listed as a Grade II* building. Its origins date back to the early 12th century; the nave dates from the 13th century and the chancel from the 14th century. Its construction history thus spans several centuries. Services are held in the church on the second and last Sunday of each month. If you would like to plan your visit around a service, check the date in advance.
Houghton Mill and the nearby bridge over the River Test can also be compared by their dates and materials. Houghton Mill is a brick mill dating from the mid-18th century and is listed as a Grade II building. The brick bridge is 30 metres southeast of the mill and dates from the early 19th century. Both buildings are made of brick, but their different functions and dates give each its own place in Houghton's architectural history.
Houghton Manor House is also a Grade II listed building: the brick manor house dates from the mid-18th century and was extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. Houghton Lodge, in turn, is listed as a Grade II* Cottage Orné. Another historic feature is the walled kitchen garden, 50 metres north of Houghton Lodge. It dates from the early 19th century and is listed as a Grade II building. Together, these examples show different architectural forms and periods of development: from the medieval parts of the church to the mill and manor house, and then the bridge and kitchen garden from the 19th century.
Discover more destinations: Cadnam, Lyndhurst, Wickham, East Tisted, Heckfield, Bransgore, Eversley, Rotherwick
For the regional travel overview: Hampshire.
