Cragg Hall Group 1907

Below is a photograph of Cragg Hall:
 'Cragg Hall, the grounds and mill employees, taken in 1907 after the Hall had been rebuilt and enlarged and the grounds laid out as shown. Thanks to Sam Hellowell we are fortunate indeed to have nearly all 180 people named.' (Pennine Digital Archive, included with the permission of Ann Kilbey)

Cragg Hall was built by William Algernon Simpson-Hinchcliffe and his wife Helen in Cragg Vale in 1904. In its day it was recognised as one of the finest mansions in Yorkshire but it burnt down in 1921.

There are three Highleys in the photo:
William Henry Highley (?) - Back row, men standing, 5th from left
Jane Highley (nee Smith) - Under wall, standing, furthest on right
Mary Ann Highley (wife of William Henry) - Under wall, 2nd row, standing, 7th from right

Cragg Hall Group 1907

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

William Henry was a brother of Alfred Highley, the Innkeeper featured in the previous blog.

Alfred Highley Innkeeper

A branch of the Yorkshire Highleys lived in Cragg Vale, a small village in Calderdale. Cragg Vale lies on the old turnpike road which ran up Cragg Road from Mytholmroyd to the top of Blackstone Edge.

Alfred was a grandson of John and Mary Highley of Law Hill, Erringden. John was a farmer born in Ovenden, Halifax in 1799, but it has not yet been possible to connect him to the other Hiley families living in Calderdale in the 1700s.

Alfred was baptised on Christmas Day 1870 in St John in the Wilderness church in Cragg Vale. The family were living at Four Gates End, Sowerby and Alfred's father Joseph was the Innkeeper at the Sportsman Inn in Cragg Vale.

Alfred became landlord at the Sportsman Inn and later at the Shoulder of Mutton Inn at Mytholmroyd. The photo shows the Coal Man being paid outside the Inn.

Look out for future Blogs about this branch of the Hileys.

Alfred Highley's Inn at Mytholmroyd

Leonard Hiley

Another Hiley to lose his life in the First World War 103 years ago this week was Leonard Hiley.

Leonard was born in Eccles, Lancashire in about 1885. In 1905 he married Ethel May Whitehead in Weaste and a daughter Dora was born the following year. Leonard and his father Beaumont Hiley were both Tripe Dressers. In 1911 Leonard, Ethel May and Dora, along with another child Winston Beaumont were living with Ethel May’s father George Whitehead, now a widower. Another son Leonard was born in 1912.

Leonard enlisted in Salford in 1915 with the Lancashire Fusiliers 19th Battalion, the 3rd Salford Pals. Their first taste of action was at Thiepval Ridge in the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916, the Salford Pals being almost wiped out. Leonard was one of those killed in action on this day and his name is remembered on the Thiepval memorial in northern France.

Leonard Hiley's name on the Thiepval memorial

(Included courtesy of Steve Rogers, The War Graves Photographic Project)

Albert Edward Hiley

Today we return to the Hileys killed in the First World War.

Albert Edward Hiley was killed in this week 103 years ago. He was born in Sheffield in 1897. His father William Henry was a Sheet Steel Roller and he had 5 brothers including Ernest, who had been killed the previous November. In 1911 Albert was working as an Errand Lad.

Albert joined the York and Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion. 1st July 1916 marked the start of the Battle of the Somme and the 8th Battalion began its assault near the village of Ovillers. Immediately after leaving their trenches they came under heavy machine gun fire and most of the men were killed or wounded. Only 68 out of 680 men returned and the Battalion had effectively ceased to exist. Albert was one of those killed in action.

He is buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, near Albert in northern France.

Albert Hiley's gravestone

included courtesy of Stephen Ntly, Billion Graves

Blighty Valley Cemetery

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