The Venerable William Hey was Archdeacon of Cleveland from 1875 until his death on 22 November 1882. Hey was born at Ockbrook in 1811; educated at Sherborne School and St John's College, Cambridge; and ordained in 1838. He was Head Master of St Peter's School, York from 1839 to 1864 when he became a Canon Residentiary at York Minster. He was member of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for over forty years, serving on its council from 1841 subsequently as a Vice-President until his death. He served for many years as the Honorary Curator of Insects & Crustacea at the Yorkshire Museum and was succeeded in this posts by his son Rev W.C. Hey.