Much has happened since we wrote this website about Houghton and it is time for some more notes.

The ongoing restoration of the Shrubbery has revealed beautiful views over the valley which had been obscured by vegetation.

The number of grandchildren has increased, the "puffing" topiary dragon has appeared by the river, and Tom and Dick, our new alpacas, have made themselves at home in the water meadows.

Over recent years there have been events of many kinds: weddings, days for charity and filming. Thousands of people have come to the house and garden. Especially welcome have been the visits from people who remember the house in the old days or those whose forbears lived here. And we have learned so much from them. We were loaned the gardening diary for 1910 written by the famous head Gardener, Mr Morris, and a photograph book of the Daubeny family who were here in the 1900’s. We have had an email from someone in France who had discovered from the census return of 1871 that her great, great grandmother had been part of the household here! We were able to arrange a reunion for some of the wartime evacuees who really enjoyed their time at Houghton in the 1940s.

Most importantly, thanks to a visit from a member of the Georgian Group, we now have an earlier advertisement for the sale of the house in 1799 "complete with the furniture to be taken by the purchaser at a fair appraiƒement". If only we knew what would have been deemed "ƒuitable to the dwelling" at that time. 18^th century classical taste or rustic gothic?

But in spite of great experts exploring many lines of research we still have little to add to what we have already printed about the earliest days of this house. What was he like, the original builder? Was he an architect? When exactly was the house built? Why was it put up for sale?

One day perhaps an early drawing of the house will turn up, or a reference in a letter will be found and more light will be cast on those shadowy early days. Please let us know if ever you come across even the smallest piece of the puzzle.