Houghton on the Hill, Norfolk
| Houghton on the Hill | |
|---|---|
St Mary's Church, Houghton on the Hill | |
Location within Norfolk | |
| Population | 0 |
| OS grid reference | TF868053 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Swaffham |
| Postcode district | PE37 |
| Dialling code | 01760 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Houghton on the Hill is a deserted medieval village and former civil parish, now in the parish of North Pickenham in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, notable for its Grade I listed church. The only surviving buildings are a farm and St Mary's Church. The church was rescued in the 1990s after being left in a ruinous state. During the restoration some wall paintings dating from about the time of the Domesday Book were discovered; these are the earliest-known large-system wall paintings in the country. The restoration was driven by the efforts of one man, Bob Davey MBE. The church is supported by a charitable trust 'The Friends of St Mary's', who open the church on a regular basis and provide guided tours. In 1931 the parish had a population of 21.