The name Illey derives from the
Old English Hillalēah meaning 'Hilla's wood/clearing'. Illey was historically a
township in the
ancient parish of Halesowen. It was one of the parts of Halesowen transferred from
Worcestershire to
Shropshire in the Middle Ages, remaining a detached part of Shropshire until it was returned to Worcestershire in 1844. Illey became a separate
civil parish in 1866. From 1894 to 1925 it was part of
Halesowen Rural District. In 1925 it was incorporated into the
municipal borough of Halesowen. It remained a civil parish until 1974, but as an
urban parish it had no parish council of its own after 1925, being directly administered by Halesowen Town Council. In 1951 the parish had a population of 133. The parish was abolished in 1974 along with the borough of Halesowen, becoming part of the wider
metropolitan borough of Dudley. == References ==