Houghton - Sir Robert Walpole

Sir Robert Walpole was born here in 1676 and died 1745. First Prime Minister from 1715-1717 and again from 1721 to 1742.

Between Huntingdon and St Ives and on the north bank of the Great Ouse, these villages run into one another and, indeed, are now one parish. This extends north across the main road to include the airfield of RAF Wyton together with its extensive area of married quarters housing, quite a small town in itself.

The villages, on a quiet road close to the river, are attractive with half-timbered houses and shops, pleasant country gardens and surrounding trees.

At Wyton, with its medieval church built mostly of brown cobbles, is the Three Jolly Butchers, a timber-framed inn built in 1622, near the village green on which is a Gothic water pump. Apart from some recently discovered early wall paintings, the fare it offers is as attractive as its name.

At Houghton, by the river, this great little village is definitely worth turning off the main road for. Full of thatched cottages, beautiful church with a spire that dominates the surrounding countryside and a pub called "The Three Horse Shoes".

A typically English country village scene with wonderful thatched cottages