SOWERBY, in the parish of Halifax, Morley-division of Agbrigg and Morley,
liberty of Wakefield; 3 miles from Halifax, 9 from Huddersfield. --Pop.
6,890. The Chapel, built in 1763, is a perpetual curacy, dedicated to St.
Peter, value, p.r. 78L. Patron, the Vicar of Halifax.

In this Chapel, is a state of Archbishop Tillotson, erected in
compliance with the Will of his surviving grand-niece, upwards of thirty
years ago. The archbishop was born at Haugh-End, in this township. --See
p.307
At Sowerby, was once a Castle, the foundation of which may yet be
seen in a field near the top of the town, adjoining to which is piece of
ground, called the Hell Croft, where, no doubt, the dead were buried. It is
not known at what time it was built, but it is clear, however, that during
the possessions of the Earls of Warren, there was a Castle here, and that
they frequently resorted hither for the diversions of hunting, hawking, &c.
This was conveyed by John, the last Earl, to King Edward II.; but when the
fort was suffered to decline, does not appear. --Watson.

HEPTONSTALL, in the parish of Halifax, Morley division of Agbrigg and Morley,
liberty of Wakefield; 8 miles from Halifax, 12 from Rochdale, (Lanc.) --Pop.
4,543, The Church is a perpetual curacy, dedicated to St. Thomas a Beckett,
value !132L. Patron, the Vicar of Halifax.

Here is a free Grammar-School, founded by Charles Greenwood, Clerk;
Rector of Thornhill, who by will, dated July 14, 1642, endowed it with lands
and tenements, then of the annual value of 20L. The present rental is about
70L. per annum. He also left rents for the founding of two Fellowships, and
two Scholarships in the University College, Oxford, of which he had been
Fellow, --but they were unfortunately lost by the mismanagement of his
Executors. -- Watson's Halifax.

In a skirmish betwixt the Cavaliers and the Round-heads, during the
Civil Wars of Charles I. part of this town was burnt to the ground.