History of Hoghton

By lancashirelove

The village of Houghton (Hoghton) lies a few miles South West of Preston, just off the M6 in rural Lancshire.
Dominating the village is Hoghton Tower the home of the de Hoghton family since the Norman Conquest.    The de Hoghtons are descended directly from Harvey de Walter one of the companions of William the Conqueror, and through the female line from the Lady Godiva of Coventry, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia.

Hoghton Tower perches on a hill 650ft above sea level, commanding magnificent views, on a clear day, of Lancashire, The Lake District and North Wales. 
 
This ancient (1110 AD), fortified Manor House, has remained in the unbroken succession of the de Hoghton family since the Norman Conquest.  The house of today was rebuilt by Thomas Hoghton between 1560 and 1565.
During its long life, the house has witnessed the presence of many  Royal and Famous people,  James I, William III, George V and Queen Mary, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; William Shakespeare, JMW Turner and Charles Dickens

 It was here that in August 1617, King James I of England, so enjoyed a loin of Beef offered to him that he knighted it “Sirloin”.

This fortified manor house is situated between Preston and Blackburn and in its long history has welcomed many distinguished guests including King James I, William III, George V and Queen Mary.


The Hoghton family has been at Houghton since the 12th century, but the dramatic manor house that you can see today is primarily a product of the mid-Tudor period. The house is built in an elongated figure-8, encompassing two inner courtyards entered through a fiercely castellated gatehouse.
The house was completed by Thomas Hoghton in 1565, but Thomas, a Catholic, stayed in it only 4 years before fleeing to the Low Countries, where he died. Thomas' nephew Richard enjoyed rather more politically correct views, and earned the favour of James I, who visited Hoghton in 1617.

Sir Richard, who was hoping to convince the king to relieve him of money-losing alum mines, laid out the red carpet for James' visit - literally. Red carpeting was laid for the entire length of the half mile avenue leading to the house.

An amusing but unsubstantiated tale has it that at the feast in the banqueting hall given in James' honour, the king was so moved by the excellent loin of beef he was served that he took his sword and knighted it "Sir Loin", giving us the term 'sirloin'.

Sir Richard's good fortune did not last long; only a few years later he was imprisoned in Fleet Prison for debt. A legacy of the Kings visit no doubt, the king and his followers had litrally ate him out of hose and home

Sir Richard's son, Gilbert, fought for Charles I in the Civil War, though Gilbert's own son (named Richard, like his grandfather), chose the Roundhead cause, and Hoghton Tower was besieged by Parliamentary troops in 1643. Eventually the defenders capitulated, but when the Roundheads entered the house the powder magazine in the tower between the two courtyards exploded with terrifying force, killing over 100 Parliamentary men. The tower was never rebuilt.
Following in Richard Hoghton's footsteps, suceeding generations of Houghtons were fervent Presbyterian Dissenters, and the banqueting hall was often used as a Dissenting chapel (quite a change from the gaiety of entertaining the royal court).

Later generations of Hoghtons took a strong interest in parish affairs, and moved away from Hoghton Tower to be closer to the political action. Without them the house fell into disuse, and when Charles Dickens visited it in 1854 he found it in a depressing state of disrepair. The mood of the place did prompt Dickens to write a story "George Silverman's Explanation", in which the house features prominently.
It is also believed that William Shakespear ‘studed’ here in his late ‘teens’ under the name of Shakshaft

Hoghton Tower was not restored until 1870, after a century of neglect. Despite the loss of many family portraits and collectibles in a fire, the work was finished in 1901, and visitors today can see several attractive rooms in a guided tour that lasts about 40 minutes. Highlights include excellent Queen Anne panelling, the galleried banqueting hall, good period furniture, and a doll house collection. You may also delve into a Tudor well house.

Hoghton Tower is open from July to September. The admission fee includes parking, a guided tour of the house, and access to the gardens, gift shop and tearooms.