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