Rick

Here's my take on villages starting with H local to the A1 near Peterborough (I'm assuming you were travelling South and have looked at places after Peterborough).

You'd have to take a turn or two to get to Hemington, and its church is absolutely massive.

Hamerton might be OK, with a population of just over 100, though the church isn't that small.

Haddon doesn't fit too well either, the church is quite large and the arrangement of the buildings around it just wouldn't be right.

Holme doesn't really fit. Population nearly 500 and the church isn't that small either.

John Clare was born in Helpston, so you might have gone there on purpose. The village has an old Market Cross, which you might have been expected to have seen, but it also has a Methodist chapel which could fit the bill.

Harringworth has an enormous railway viaduct which I don't think you could have missed.

Hail Weston might fit the bill, though it's a little further South. The church is fairly small, with only 3 bells (I'm the Tower Captain though there's no regular bellringing band). The village doesn't really match your description though.

If you're willing to take other than H's then Lutton, Glatton, Upton, Buckworth, Barham or Grafham might be possibilities ... any more memories?

:-)