The Minor Family of Somerset

Sowerby, in the parish of Halifax,Morley-division of Agbrigg an
d Morley, liberty of Wakefield; 3 miles from Halifax, 9 from Hud
dersfiel - pop 6,890. TheChapel, built in 1763, is a perpetua
l curacy, dedicated to St. Peter, value pr 78 pounds. Patron, th
e Vicar of Halifax.
In this chapel, is a statue of Archbishop Tillotson, erected i
n compliance with the will of his surviving grand-niece, upward
s of thirty years ago. The archbishop was born at Haugh-end,i
n this township - see p 307.
At Sowerby, was once a Castle, the foundationof which may yet b
e seen in a field near the top of the town, adjoining to which i
s a piece of ground, called the Hell Croft, where, no doubt, th
e deadwere buried. It is not known at what time it was built
, but it is clear, however, that during the possessions of the E
arls of Warren, there was a Castlehere, and that they frequentl
y resorted hither for the diversions of hunting, hawking etc. T
his was conveyed to John, the last Earl, to King Edward II:bu
t when the fort was suffered to decline, does not appear. --Wats
on.