MIDGLEY is a small village situated on a lofty eminence and is a mountainous moorland township, forming a part of the north side of the vale of Calder, and is a polling place for the Northern division of the Riding, in the parish, union and county court district of Halifax, Morley wapentake, Halifax rural deanery, Craven archdeaconry and Ripon diocese, 5 ½ miles west from Halifax, 7 east from Todmorden, 27 northeast from Manchester, containing parts of the villages of Mytholmroyd, Luddenden and Luddenden Foot; the two latter being principally in the township of Warley. At Luddenden Foot is a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway. The township is comprised in the ecclesiastical parishes of Luddenden and Mytholmroyd. Part of the township is governed by a Local Board of 9 members. The Wesleyans, Wesleyan Methodists, Congregationalists and Baptists have each a chapel here. Miss Riley, of Ewood Hall, left £1,000, the interest to be divided amongst the poor of Sowerby, Wadsworth and Erringden. Miss Wadsworth’s charity of from £10 to £12 a year, a charge on a farm in Sowerby, is distributed in money. Here are some extensive cotton and worsted mills and a paper mill. Brearley Hall, the residence of William Greenwood Lockwood esq. is an ancient house. Ewood Hall, the residence of Thomas Riley esq. J.P. a stone building, situated on a hill side and commanding a fine view of the Calder Valley, was built by Henry Farrer about 1580, but has been modernised by the present proprietor. Castle Carr is the residence of Joseph Laycock esq. J.P. The principal landowners are Thomas Riley esq. J.P. of Ewood Hall, who is lord of the manor, John Murgatroyd esq. of Oates Royd, Thomas Titterington esq. and Richard Bracken esq. The soil is light; subsoil, stone. The land is in pasture. The population of the township in 1861 was 2,842; 1871, 3,192 and of the parish of Luddenden 5,723; and the area is 2,629 acres, nearly half of which is uncultivated; rateable value, £13,960.

School Board, Mark Crossley, clerk.

Assistant Overseer, Richard H. Whitworth, Rose mount, Sowerby Bridge.