Peter Hiley, who entertained King Charles II

Peter Hiley (1631-1672) was the son of Haviland Hiley (1601-1669), and a grandson of William Hiley who featured in the post of 12th February 2022.

Peter was Mayor of Poole in 1662 and 1669. His father Haviland had been Mayor in 1641, 1649 and 1660.

The plaque in Poole to commemorate the visit of Charles II
 

In 1665 King Charles II honoured the town of Poole with a royal visit. Because of the plague Charles's court had removed from London, first to Hampton and then to Salisbury. A great many local people and dignitaries attended and the visit was well received. A dinner was provided for the King at the house of Peter Hiley which was set apart for that purpose. The house was situated in the cornmarket but it is no longer standing. 

King Charles II, the 'Merry Monarch'

John Sydenham in  'The History of the town and county of Poole', first published in 1839, writes that :

A part of his wardrobe was left by his majesty on this occasion, which has now been preserved by the Hiley family, and is now in the possession of its lineal representative, Charles Hiley, esq., of Planefield Lodge.

Peter Hiley was a merchant, shipowner, property owner and brewer. When he died in 1673, an inventory was taken of his High Street house and its contents. The total value of his assets was nearly £1600, a huge sum in those days. Among the items listed in the inventory were:

five fat pigs  £10/0/0

five sixteenths of the ship 'Happy Return'  £100/0/0

forty old beer casks  £3/0/0

two bedsteads, one bed and covering, and four bushels of beans £1/10/0

twenty dozen of worsted stockings  £20/0/0

due for fish on the ship Rachel  £47/9/5

With thanks to Jenny Oliver for permission to use some of her material from the Poole High Street Project.