HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING, market town, urban district, in the Houghton-le-Spring parliamentary division, Durham, England, 6 m. north-east of the city of Durham. Pop. 10,492. It is situated at the head of a small tributary of the Wear. St. Michael's church is an Early English and Decorated building, with an embattled rectory. Bernard Gilpin was rector from 1556 to 1583, and founder of the grammar school. Houghton Hall is a fine mansion of the late 16th century. The main road from Durham to Sunderland here passes through a cutting in the lime stone 8o ft. deep. The population is mainly dependent on the neighbouring collieries, and on limestone quarrying.