Houghton-by-Harpley / Houghton-in-the-Brake / Houghton-juxta-Harpley / Houghton-next-Harpley / Houghton St. Martin / Houtuna

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "In Houtone, one socman had 30 acres; there were under them 3 villains, and 3 bordarers, with one carucate, and a church, but not endowed. [...] This part was held by Ralph—, ancestor of the family of De Caineto, or Cheyney, lord of Rudham", detail which appears in Domesday as "i. ecclia. sine tra. Radulfus ten." Blomefield (ibid.) further notes: "The Church of Houghton is a regular pile, having a nave, a north and south isle covered with lead, and a chancel with tile, with a steeple; dedicated to St. Martin, and was appropriated to the priory of Coxford", and reports "Ralph de Faldone instituted vicar, presented by the prior and convent of Coxford, and nominated by the Bishop of Norwich.", in 1311. There is no indication in the available sources of whether the church was pre-Conquest or built between 1066 and 1086. Kelly's Directory of 1883 reports the church, which is located in the park of Houghton Hall, as Perpendicular, with a mejor restoration undergone in 1867, and a register for baptismal [etc.] records since 1650. The present font is of the 'bird-bath' type, probably 18th-century. [NB: we have no information on the font from the original church here].