Henry Hileley, Sowerby Constable

A number of articles have been written giving summaries of sections of the Sowerby Constables' Accounts over the years.

The only mention of a Hiley Constable is that of Henry :

Henry Hileley, Constable, 1677-8, busied himself with the repair of the roads. The travellers he had to relieve were of no moment.
To James Bankcroft , when he went to get stones for stocks...……………………..0  1  6
For repayre of stocks ………………………………………………………………………..…....0  6  0
To Jno: Willman for leading 2 stones for stocks ………………………………………..0  0  9
                                                                        
In 1645-6 the Constables were Richard Houlgate and John Hopkinson. There are two entries in the Accounts which mention Edm. (Edmund) Hileley.

Paid to Edm. Hileley, James Sladen and Peter Mawde for makeinge a Watchehouse att Sowerby Bridge, the 13th of Novem. ……………………………………………………………………………………………........0  0
Paid to Edm. Hileley for theakinge the watchhouse att Sowerby Bridge, 
the 6th day of Dec. (1645) ………………………………………………………………………. 0  1  0
Paid for a load of coles which the watch had …………………………………………….0  0  6

(From Sowerby Constables' Accounts Parts II and IV. Lectures by Mr H P Kendall)

A theaking-rake was a small rake used by thatchers.

W B Crump wrote an article in 1928 for the Halifax Antiquarian Society on Sowerby Highways. He provided examples of work carried out in the summer of 1689 including the following:

29th July: Pd. to Henry Hiley for a man and horse 3 daies and leading stones with a sled to Sowerby Townegate.

He wrote: Certainly too much praise cannot be given to the Constables of Sowerby for their systematic repair of the highways. Year by year from 1629 to 1691 they kept men employed on the work

Sowerby Towngate with the Church (centre) and the Hall (left)

(with the permission of David Greaves)