Sowerby, West Yorkshire
Encyclopedia
Sowerby is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale
, in West Yorkshire
, England. It lies amongst the Pennines
, contiguous with Sowerby Bridge
, 3.7 miles (6 km) west-southwest of Halifax
and 7.6 miles (12.2 km) west-northwest of Huddersfield
.
Historically
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
, Sowerby appears in the Domesday Book
of 1086, and was one of the most important settlements in its immediate region, long before Halifax began to dominate. The ancient district of Sowerbyshire
, a large stretch of forest centred around the town of Sowerby leading down the Ryburn and Calder valleys and almost up to Halifax itself, was at one time an important Royal chase.
Sor for sour and suffixed with by representing a parished area. Although outsiders persistently follow the cartographers error in pronunciation, the local pronunciation follows the original Norse. (saw+bi as in 'biscuit').
The town appears in the Domesday Book
and was one of Calderdale's most important, long before Halifax assumed the role of district capital. The area formerly known as Sowerbyshire
, a large stretch of forest centred around the town of Sowerby leading down the Ryburn and Calder valleys and almost up to Halifax itself, was at one time an important Royal chase.
There long existed a local legend describing the former existence of a castle in Sowerby, the truth of which has since been confirmed by excavations upon 'Castle Hill' at the high end of the old town. Archaeologists there uncovered the decayed foundations of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, a notably unusual find for West Yorkshire.
until the 1983 general election
, when the constituency was expanded and renamed Calder Valley
.
, 'The people's priest', Archbishop of Canterbury
between 1691 and 1693, was a native of Sowerby. A statue of Tillotson still exists in St. Peter's church and an avenue is named after him in the lower end of the town.
The summer home of the MP for Great Grimsby
, Austin Mitchell
, is situated within the town, and the mansion of Fieldhouse was the seat of the illustrious Stansfeld family, who contributed much to the local community, including building St. Peter's church. Sowerby Hall, close to the church, was built by Josiah Horton in 1650 and the Rawson family who owned Brockwell contributed a lot to the town in the 18th century.
Another character of note was a certain Robert Hood who lived in the early 13th century and who was established as an outlaw in local magistrates records, this for the crime of hunting the King's deer in a Royal chase. It seems he continued this pursuit without much fear of reprisal as his two sons Richard and John were also later accused of the same crimes. Some amateur historians have pointed out the possibility that in these three we could be looking at another example of the ubiquitous Robin Hood
character. However, what marks them apart is that they represent Robin Hood for the first time as a righteous rebel, rather than the brigand he began life as and remained for so long. There has even been low-level speculation as to whether John Hood was in fact the 'Little John
' of Robin Hood legend, little referring to the fact he was the younger brother of the two.
Calderdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England, through which the upper part of the River Calder flows, and from which it takes its name...
, in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England. It lies amongst the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
, contiguous with Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge is a market town that lies within the Upper Calder Valley in the district of Calderdale in the county of West Yorkshire, in northern England.-Geography:Sowerby Bridge is situated on the edge of Halifax, about three miles from its centre...
, 3.7 miles (6 km) west-southwest of Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
and 7.6 miles (12.2 km) west-northwest of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
.
Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, Sowerby appears in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, and was one of the most important settlements in its immediate region, long before Halifax began to dominate. The ancient district of Sowerbyshire
Sowerbyshire
Sowerbyshire, formerly a small shire of northern England in Norman times, was based around the West Yorkshire town of Sowerby. It was administered as a manor during the 15th century; the court for the manor of Sowerbyshire met at Sowerby or Halifax from 1433, before 1430 it met at Wakefield...
, a large stretch of forest centred around the town of Sowerby leading down the Ryburn and Calder valleys and almost up to Halifax itself, was at one time an important Royal chase.
History
The name Sowerby, is made up from the NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
Sor for sour and suffixed with by representing a parished area. Although outsiders persistently follow the cartographers error in pronunciation, the local pronunciation follows the original Norse. (saw+bi as in 'biscuit').
The town appears in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
and was one of Calderdale's most important, long before Halifax assumed the role of district capital. The area formerly known as Sowerbyshire
Sowerbyshire
Sowerbyshire, formerly a small shire of northern England in Norman times, was based around the West Yorkshire town of Sowerby. It was administered as a manor during the 15th century; the court for the manor of Sowerbyshire met at Sowerby or Halifax from 1433, before 1430 it met at Wakefield...
, a large stretch of forest centred around the town of Sowerby leading down the Ryburn and Calder valleys and almost up to Halifax itself, was at one time an important Royal chase.
There long existed a local legend describing the former existence of a castle in Sowerby, the truth of which has since been confirmed by excavations upon 'Castle Hill' at the high end of the old town. Archaeologists there uncovered the decayed foundations of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, a notably unusual find for West Yorkshire.
Governance
Sowerby was the centre of the Sowerby parliamentary constituencySowerby (UK Parliament constituency)
Sowerby was a county constituency centred on the village of Sowerby in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
until the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, when the constituency was expanded and renamed Calder Valley
Calder Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :-Sources:*...
.
Landmarks
Once home to many chapels and churches of several Christian denominations, St. Peter's, an Anglican church of remarkable architectural interest, is now the main focus of religious worship in the town.Notable people
John TillotsonJohn Tillotson
John Tillotson was an Archbishop of Canterbury .-Curate and rector:Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. He entered as a pensioner of Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1647, graduated in 1650 and was made fellow of his college in 1651...
, 'The people's priest', Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
between 1691 and 1693, was a native of Sowerby. A statue of Tillotson still exists in St. Peter's church and an avenue is named after him in the lower end of the town.
The summer home of the MP for Great Grimsby
Great Grimsby (UK Parliament constituency)
Great Grimsby is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, consisting of the town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, Austin Mitchell
Austin Mitchell
Austin Vernon Mitchell is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby since a 1977 by-election.-Education and early life:...
, is situated within the town, and the mansion of Fieldhouse was the seat of the illustrious Stansfeld family, who contributed much to the local community, including building St. Peter's church. Sowerby Hall, close to the church, was built by Josiah Horton in 1650 and the Rawson family who owned Brockwell contributed a lot to the town in the 18th century.
Another character of note was a certain Robert Hood who lived in the early 13th century and who was established as an outlaw in local magistrates records, this for the crime of hunting the King's deer in a Royal chase. It seems he continued this pursuit without much fear of reprisal as his two sons Richard and John were also later accused of the same crimes. Some amateur historians have pointed out the possibility that in these three we could be looking at another example of the ubiquitous Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
character. However, what marks them apart is that they represent Robin Hood for the first time as a righteous rebel, rather than the brigand he began life as and remained for so long. There has even been low-level speculation as to whether John Hood was in fact the 'Little John
Little John
Little John was a legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood, and was said to be Robin's chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.-Folklore:He appears in the earliest recorded Robin Hood ballads and stories...
' of Robin Hood legend, little referring to the fact he was the younger brother of the two.