Memorials
At a bend in Main Steet is a small circular green on which stands a 4m high memorial of the First World War erected in 1921. It is constructed of stone and comprises a square pedestal on stepped plinth from which rises a square tapering shaft. On top of this is a miniature gabled shrine with spirelet. Within the 4 niches are statues of saints. Names and inscriptions are on the pedestal. At its base are two millstones from the demolished windmill in Ingarsby Lane. The War Memorial is grade 2 listed.
The February 2021 edition of Houghton News contained an article which is faithfully reproduced below.
Memorial milestone
It was February 15 1921 when Houghton war Memorial was officially dedicated by Archdeacon McNutt of Leicester Cathedral.
Unveiled by Mrs Oliver the wife of Lieutenant Colonel CF Oliver TD DL, the cost of the Portland stone memorial was donated by the Houghton on the Hill British Legion.
Memorials are often set in village graveyards, but sometimes are also sited in a prominent position in the village, as is ours.
The memorial's placement at the junction of Scotland Lane and Main Street has long been a central point in the village, just yards from the main road east from Leicester where the village turnpike was located and on the site where the village stocks once stood. Villagers would have often paused here in our 'mini square', a short distance from the Old Boot Inn and round the corner from the Blacksmiths and Bakers.
You can imagine the solemn occasion of the dedication on that cold February morning in 1921. The whole village would have been in attendance; tension and grief palpable, with mothers and grandmothers grief stricken at the loss of their young sons and grandsons, whose lives had been cut cruelly short, while surviving soldiers, many suffering trauma and physical injury remembered the friends they had grown up with, playing with as boys; pals they would never see again.
Impressive and fitting
Our memorial is both an impressive and fitting monument to the village's sacrifice. 'In honour and praise for all who served their King and Country in the Great War' is the feature inscription. The monument is topped by a tabernacle featuring four carved figures of St Catharine, St George, the crucifixion and the dove of peace. In each corner is an angel bearing a shield.
On February 21 it will be 100 years since the War Memorial was erected. In November the village will gather again on Armistice Day, as it has every year, to commemorate the end of the Great War and to remember all armed service members who fought and died for our country.
We will also gather at the memorial on Remembrance Sunday, when the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts lead a parade to Church, accompanied by the ringing bells (half muffled) of St. Catharine's.
For we villagers this impressive stone monument is a daily reminder of the dreadful consequences of War and its devastating effect on our village just over 100 years ago.
WW1 Casualties
Stacey Avenue is named after Harold John (died 21 March 1920) and Thomas Walter Stacey (died 25 October 1915).
Harris Drive is named after Frank William (died 13 May 1915) and Walter Fred Harris (died 18 April 1917).
Brothers in arms
Those of you who live in Harris Drive or Stacey Avenue will notice that the street signs bear a poppy. This is because the names are shared on the War Memorial.
The Harris and Stacey brothers were Houghton lads, both farm labourers, who lived on Main Street and who left a grieving family at the end of World War 1.
Frank Harris died on May 13 1915, Aged 22, he signed to join the Leicestershire Yeomanry and was killed in action, one of many among the massive losses at the battle of Ypres. Frank is also commemorated at the Menin Gate, Ypres and at Oakham Castle, the home of the Leicestershire Yeomanry.
Gunshot wound
Frank's brother Walter joined the Leicestershire Regiment and headed for Africa, then India, eventually seeing action in Basra. He sustained a gunshot wound to the cranium in Amara and died later in hospital, aged 26. He was buried in the War Cemetery in Amara.
The Stacey boys were also farm workers who lived on Main Street. Like Frank Harris, Thomas was in the Leicestershire Regiment and was sent to France, He died, age 19, on October 25 1915, recorded with that cruel epithet 'killed in action'.
Harold was in the Corps of Hussars, the cavalry of the line and like many of the Houghton lads, was probably placed with horses, as a good farm hand. Harold survived the War and disembarked back to England on 19 April 1919. He was not well though and he died in 1920 aged 22 suffering from influenza and pneumonia.
Both sets of brothers are commemorated on the memorial and on the road signs of the estate off North Way, a very fitting tribute.