In 1801 the population of Houghton was recorded as 340.  By 1841 it had increased somewhat to 400, and in 1851 it had increased to 438.  In 1859 the village boasted two shoemakers, three shopkeepers, a wheelwright, a carpenter, two blacksmiths, a beer seller, a brewer and victualler, a corn miller and several farmers.   By 1867, Houghton had its own post office, now “The Old Post Office”.  By then, the village also had a resident jockey: Thomas Cannon who lived at “Snail’s Creep” in Church Lane, and which he apparently named after one of his winning horses.  The fact that there should be a jockey living in the village is unsurprising given Houghton’s close proximity to Stockbridge and the Stockbridge Races.  The Stockbridge Races enjoyed a huge reputation equivalent to any of the country’s major race meetings  today.  Indeed, it was the Stockbridge Races that brought Edward, the Prince of Wales and Lillie Langtrey to Stockbridge.