I went to the Houghton Feast to try the famous ox roast sandwich and 'it wasn't a pretty sight'
The Houghton Feast is running until Sunday, October 13
by David Huntley · ChronicleLiveYou know autumn has finally arrived when the Houghton Feast gets under way.
The massively popular event is one of the highlights of the year for families as the darker nights draw in and the weather gets a bit colder. Running until October 13, the 'Festival of Houghton Feast', to give it its full name, is always packed full of activities and brings the community together.
But for many, me included, one of the best days of the feast is the famous ox roast. An entire roasted ox, which is usually prepared overnight, is served up in sandwiches in the grounds of the Old Rectory. The grounds were where the first oxen were roasted by Rector Bernard Gilpin to feed the town's poor in the 16th century and it has turned into a Houghton tradition.
On Saturday, Rector John Barron blessed the traditional roast and later that afternoon, I took a drive down to get in on the ox action. The beautiful weather had brought out the crowds, it felt like a spring day, and Newbottle Street and The Broadway were jam-packed with families as they watched the parade. Pipers, a brass band and choirs were all involved entertaining the crowds, but I honed in on the Old Rectory and made a beeline for the roast ox tent.
By the time I got there, there was still a healthy queue but I was told that earlier in the afternoon the line had stretched well out of the gates. To make things run a bit smoother, I paid while waiting in the queue and was given a ticket, when I got to the front of the line, I handed it over and was given a brown paper bag containing a hearty white bread bun packed with meat.
I knew the wait would be worth it, and as I walked past the almost completely carved ox, I sat myself down on the grass to get stuck in to my sarnie. There's nothing like spending a Saturday afternoon in the sun with gravy and meat juices running down the front of your top - is this a good time to mention that I used to be a vegetarian?
The ox meat was beautiful and cooked perfectly, it fell apart as I ate it. You can't go wrong for six quid. You can't exactly eat one of these sandwiches in a refined manner, either, you just have to get elbows deep into it, which is exactly what I did. It wasn't a pretty sight.
If you've not been to the Houghton Feast before, you should definitely have a wander down this month. On Monday night, a fireworks display will be put on which can be viewed from the area surrounding Durham Road Playing Fields.
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