A trip to Oxford

Our posts on the life of Henry Hiley have reached about the year 1930 and will resume shortly, but in the meantime a visit to Oxford recalls Henry's time at University there.

Henry wrote:

I went up to Oxford in 1937, becoming aware that the world was not at peace. Bolivia fought with Paraguay, the Chinese and Japanese were fighting in Manchuria, the Spanish Civil War involved 'volunteers' on both sides from many European countries, Mussolini invaded Abyssinia, Hitler was making outrageous claims in Germany. I slowly became more and more aware that I was unlikely to take my final schools in a world even technically at peace.

Even so, the two years before Hitler's war started were like magic to me. I had rooms in the New Buildings on the top corridor which had been broken through only during the summer vacation of 1937. I had a scout, Francis, to look after me and my rooms, a lady to make my bed, a boy to clean my shoes. I took a hot bath every morning, usually after a training run round Addison's Walk. Dinner was a four course meal, five courses on Sunday, and cost only half a crown.

New Buildings, Magdalen College

Entrance to Staircase no. 4

Top floor of Staircase no. 4

Bolton Brow graveyard, Sowerby Bridge

This Blog contains a number of posts about graveyards in Calderdale where Hileys/Highleys are buried.

There are over 30 such graveyards, several containing just a single Hiley/Highley grave. Most of the graveyards are accessible with a plan available, so it is usually possible to locate all the graves of interest.

But the graveyard at Bolton Brow Chapel in Sowerby Bridge is now completely overgrown and inaccessible so that it was not possible to find the two Hiley graves there.

The Bolton Brow Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was opened in 1831, extended in 1868, altered in 1897 and finally closed in 1979. The basement included warehouse facilities for the nearby Calder & Hebble Navigation. The premises were also used as a day school, for Salvation Army work and as the first cinema in Sowerby Bridge. The building was eventually converted into private flats.

Graveyard on the left of the path

Below is a map of the graveyard, situated to the left of the chapel between Rochdale Road and the canal. The two Hiley graves are next to each other - R11 and Q11. FH stands for Firth Highly, KHW stands for Kitson Hiley Walsh.

In grave Q11 is buried Priscilla Hiley.  

IN MEMORY OF PRISCILLA HILEY OF KINGS CROSS WHO DIED OCTOBER 10th 1846 IN HER 16th YR ALSO OF HARRIET DAUGHTER OF GEORGE AND SARAH ANN WALSH WHO DIED JUNE 25th 1865 AGED 18 YRS ALSO OF THE ABOVE GEORGE KITSON WALSH W WHO DIED AUGUST 11th 1872 AGED 54 YRS ALSO SARAH ANN RELICT OF THE ABOVE GEORGE KITSON WALSH WHO DIED OCTOBER 9th 1894 AGED 71 YRS "FOR SO HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP"

Priscilla was the daughter of Mark Hiley and Sabina (nee Walsh). Her brothers William and Aquila are buried at King Cross Methodist Church in Halifax. Buried with Priscilla are George Kitson Walsh, son of Sabina, his wife Sarah Ann (nee Garside), and their daughter Harriet.

In grave R11 is buried Hannah Hiley (nee Firth).

THOMAS FIRTH OF BOLTON BROW WHO DIED THE 28th MAY 1850 AGED 19 YEARS ............... ALSO FANNY RELICT OF THE ABOVE ABRAHAM FIRTH WHO DIED THE 24th DAY OF APRIL 1853 AGED 75 ........... ALS0 HANNAH WIFE OF THE ABOVE BENJAMIN HIGHLY WHO DIED AUGUST 23rd 1879 AGED 77 YEARS

Hannah's husband Benjamin was the son of John Hiley and Mary (nee Shaw). Her parents were Fanny and Abraham Firth. The transcription above does not include details of Benjamin and Abraham so maybe the gravestone was partly illegible.

Benjamin and Hannah were married in 1851. The couple lived in Skircoat, Halifax. Benjamin worked as a woollen weaver and died in 1876.

(with thanks to Calderdale Family History Society for the two memorial inscriptions)

Joseph Highley and the Todmorden Relief Committee

The Todmorden Relief Committee was formed in January 1862 to address the widespread unemployment and distress in the area caused by the American Civil War and the resulting cotton famine. After a year it had collected over £26,000 for distribution, and operated a soup kitchen, along with organizing sewing classes as a form of relief. Its purpose was to provide relief to the large number of unemployed cotton workers in the Todmorden area, who were suffering from the lack of raw cotton imported from America due to the Civil War.

The pages below are taken from the Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Historical Almanack for 1890.

As a member of the Relief Committee Joseph might have been required to collect subscriptions locally (from millowners, tradespeople, churches, and private citizens), identify and assist local families in need, and help with “relief works” or “useful employment” schemes, which might include stone-breaking, drainage, road work, or public improvements.

The 1861 census shows Joseph, born in 1821, living at 9 Patmos, Todmorden with his wife Mary Ann (nee Lord) and children Elizabeth Ann, William, Charles, Agnes and Lilie. His occupation is shown as Cotton Manufacturer employing 8 people.

Joseph moved to Rochdale in later life and died there in 1890.