Houghton Regis Bedfordshire Family History Guide
Houghton Regis is an Ancient Parish in the county of Bedfordshire.
Other places in the parish include: Puddle-hill, Chalk Hill, Bidwell, Sewell, and Thorn.
Alternative names: Houstone, Houton
Parish church: All Saints
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1538
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1602
Nonconformists include: Baptist, Primitive Methodist, Society of Friends/Quaker, and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Studham
- Chalgrave
- Flamstead Hertfordshire
- Kensworth Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Dunstable
- Whipsnade
- Tilsworth
- Toddington
- Caddington
- Totternhoe
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
HOUGHTON-REGIS, a village and a parish in Luton district, Beds. The village stands near Watling street, 1 mile N of Dunstable r. station; and has a post office under Dunstable.
The parish contains also the hamlets of Bidwell, Puddle hill, Sewell, and Thorn. Acres, 4,500. Real property, £8,920. Pop., 2,169. Houses, 452. The property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to the Duke of Bedford. Houghton Hall is the seat of H. Brandreth, Esq.
The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely. Value, £400. Patron, the Duke of Bedford. The church is early English; was recently restored; consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with a a tower; and contains an effigies of a knight and monuments of the Brandreths.
There are chapels for Baptists, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists, a large national school of 1847, an endowed school with £50 a year, and a charity with £10.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
HOUGHTON-REGIS (All Saints), a parish, in the union of Luton, hundred of Manshead, county of Bedford, 1¾ mile (N.) from Dunstable; containing 1661 inhabitants.
This place, as its name imports, was formerly held in royal demesne. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £11. 3. 4.; net income, £212; patron, the Duke of Bedford; impropriator, H. Brandreth, Esq.: the tithes were commuted for land and a money payment in 1796. The church contains an ancient monument with the figure of a man in armour, beneath a highly decorated arch, in the early English style.
A school was endowed in 1654, by Thomas Whitehead, with an estate and £250.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Registers
London Marriage Licences and Allegations 1521 to 1869
The following have been extracted from London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869.
Abbreviations. — B. Bishop of London’s Office; D. Dean and Chapter of Westminster; F. Faculty Office of Archbishop of Canterbury; V. Registry of the Vicar-General of Canterbury.
Brandreth, Nehemiah, of Haughton Regis, co. Beds, esq., bachelor, 30, and Rebecca Price, of St. Paul, Covent Garden, spinster, 23 — at St. Paul, Covent Garden. 29 Sept. 1683. B
Source: London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869; Edited by Joseph Foster; London 1887
Quarter Sessions Rolls
The following have been extracted from the Notes & Extracts from the Bedfordshire County Records comprised in the Quarter Sessions Rolls from 1714 to 1832 compiled by Messrs. Hardy & Page, Record Agents
1737 Indictment of John Olney, of the parish of King’s Houghton, for laying in, upon, and over a certain rivulet or brook called Seywell Dryness Brook, otherwise called Cross Brook, in the said parish of King’s Houghton, several large pieces of wood and timber whereby the common and usual course of the stream of the said rivulet or brook was stopped and obstructed, by which stoppage and obstruction the common footway, leading from the parish of King’s Houghton aforesaid, to the parish of Tilsworth on the north-east part of the said rivulet or brook and near or thereto adjoining, was overflowed, and the meadows, pastures and commonable places near the said brook in the parish of King’s Houghton were entirely overflowed and drowned.
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Church records
Bishop’s transcripts for Houghton-Regis, 1602-1860
Parish register extracts, 1538-1875
Parish registers for Houghton-Regis, 1538-1977
Parish registers of Houghton Regis, 1538-1812
Church records – Indexes
Computer printout of Houghton Regis, Beds., Eng
Parish register printouts of Houghton Regis, Bedford, England ; christenings, 1813-1876
Parish register printouts of Houghton-Regis, Bedford, England ; christenings, 1538-1812
Cemeteries
Houghton Regis churchyard [monumental inscriptions]
History
The book of Dunstable & Houghton Regis Author: Evans, Vivienne; Evans, Lewis; Roucoux, Omer
Royal Houghton Author: Lovering, Pat; Evans, Vivienne; Lowen, Elizabeth
Schools
Court records
Court records, 1253-1925 Author: Manor of Houghton-Regis. Court (Bedfordshire)
Census
Census returns for Houghton Regis, 1841-1891
Taxation
Land tax assessments for Houghton-Regis, 1797-1946
Directories
Kelly’s Directory of the Wine and Spirit Trades, with which are included Brewers and Maltsters 1884
Marked thus * are Small Brewers who brew the beer they sell.
UPPER HOUGHTON REGIS, Dunstable
Bottle Envelope & Wax Makers, Coopers & Wine Bin, Case & Lath Makers
Howard Walter & Co
Hotel
Railway Vincent Meakin
Source: The Post office directory of the brewers and maltsters [afterw.] Kelly’s directory of the wine and spirit trades, with which are included brewers and maltsters By Kelly’s directories, ltd. 1884
The Post Office Directory of Bedfordshire 1869
HOUGHTON REGIS with the Hamlets of BIDWELL, PUDDLEHILL, SEWELL, and THORN
HOUGHTON Regis is a village and parish, 6 miles west north west from Luton, and one mile north from Dunstable, in the hundred of Manshead, union and county court district of Luton, rural deanery of Dunstable, archdeaconry of Bedford and diocese of Ely. The London and North Western Railway has a station at Upper Houghton Regis.
Here is a Free school supported by land left by Mr T Whitehead, who formerly resided here; there is also a National school, with class rooms, and comfortable dwelling house, erected in 1847 for 160 scholars.
There are Baptist, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels.
The peasantry are principally employed in plaiting straw.
Bidwell is about 2 miles north west from Houghton Regis, and 2½ north from Dunstable. The Duke of Bedford lord of the manor and chief landowner.
Puddlehill (or CHALK HILL), situated on the road to Dunstable, and distant therefrom a mile and a half north west, and 6½ miles west north west from Luton, stands on the rise of a hill, surrounded by chalk hills. Here is a Wesleyan chapel. The Duke of Bedford and others are the landowners.
Sewell is 2½ miles from Dunstable, and 3 from Houghton Regis. It has three farms which occupy a large area. The property is divided amongst several owners, amongst them is Mrs Brandreth.
Thorn is situated in a valley 7½ miles from Luton, and 2½ from Houghton Regis. The Duke of Bedford is chief owner of the soil, the surface of which is fertile and good.
Parish Clerk George Tompkins
Post OFFICE David Tearle, receiver. Letters arrive from Dunstable at 7 am; dispatched at 6.30 pm. The nearest money order office is at Dunstable.
INSURANCE AGENT – Norwich Union Fire, Michael Cook
Schools :-
Free, Richard Cumberland, master
National, Mrs Tompkins, mistress
CARRIER TO BEDFORD – Thomas Randall, every wednesday & saturday
Railway Station, Upper Houghton Regis; Benjamin Gregory, station master
Houghton Regis
Brandreth Mrs Houghton hall
Davies Rev George Hicks [Baptist]
Grandle Mrs
Newland Captain Pritzler
Smyth Rev Hugh Blagg MA JP vicar Vicarage
COMMERCIAL
Abel William butcher
Armstrong George farmer
Axtell Mary Ann Mrs shopkeeper
Billington Joseph shopkeeper
Bird Daniel shopkeeper
Brinklow David beer retailer
Burt George Unicorn’s Head
Burt Sophia Mrs shopkeeper
Clay Frederick grocer
Cook John farmer & at Great Bramingham
Cook Michael grocer & draper
Cooper John miller
Cooper Joseph farmer
Creek Mrs farmer
Duncomb Charles beer retailer
Duncomb Dan beer retailer
Eames Edward blacksmith
Eames John The Cock & whiting manufacturer
Eames William farmer
Evans Thomas shopkeeper
Facer Thomas blocker
Fletcher William shopkeeper
Groom William tailor
Hill George Old Chequers
Hill William King’s Arms
Mayles Eli Mrs baker
Newland Pritzler farmer
Pratt John butcher
Pratt Thomas farmer
Rhodes William shopkeeper
Sanders William butcher
Sharp Joseph shopkeeper
Smith James beer retailer
Smith John butcher
Smith Thomas farmer
Smith William farmer
Snoxell David shopkeeper
Spittal Thomas boot & shoe maker
Squire Thomas shoeing smith
Tearle David grocer
Tofield Joseph builder wheelwright & collector of taxes
Tomkins William boot & shoe maker
Tompkins William & George butchers
Tompkins William blacksmith
Webb Henry carpenter
Wickham John Live & Let Live
Wilson George Five Bells
Bidwell
Barnard Edward farmer
Bourn Hannah Mrs beer retailer
Deacon John shopkeeper
Tompkins John beer retailer
Puddle hill
Hivens William Green Man
Mooring Joseph butcher
Scroggs William farmer
White John butcher
Sewell
Carter William farmer
Cook Joseph farmer
Scroggs Frank farmer
Scroggs Joseph farmer
Thorn
Allen Richard dairyman
Fensom Benjamin dairyman & gamekeeper to the Duke of Bedford
Pratt Thomas farmer
Turner James dairyman
Upper Houghton Regis
Bird Charles John miller
Carruthers George shopkeeper Beale st
Champness James Railway hotel
Fowler John plait & straw dlr Union st
Goosey Alfred baker
Grace Thomas Bird in Hand
Harris Rev Chas MA Collegiate schl
Hollon John beer retailer
Marshall Thomas stone mason Beale st
Odell Charles baker Union street
Olney George Black Bull
Sanders Thomas shopkeeper
Simpson Henry (Mrs) ale & porter brewer & maltster
Smith George tailor &c Union street
Wolff Louis Spread Eagle
Source: The Post office directory of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire By Kelly’s directories, ltd 1869
Maps
Administration
- County: Bedfordshire
- Civil Registration District: Luton
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedford
- Diocese: Pre-1837 – Lincoln, Post-1836 – Ely
- Rural Deanery: Dunstable
- Poor Law Union: Luton
- Hundred: Manshead
- Province: Canterbury