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Hadleigh in Suffolk County England History and GeographyHADLEIGH, a market town and parish in the hundred of COSFORD, county of SUFFOLK, 10½ miles (W. by S.) from Ipswich, and 64 (N.E.) from London, containing 2929 inhabitants. This town was probably founded during the Heptarchy, and it was called by the Anglo-Saxons, Headlege, whence it derived its modern name. Some of the kings of East Anglia were interred here; as also was Guthrum, or Gormo, a Danish chief, who submitted to Alfred the Great, and renounced paganism after the great defeat of the Danes at the battle of Ethandune: a tomb is still shown in the church as the monument of Guthrum, who died in 889; but it is obviously of much later date than the ninth century. The town is situated in a valley, the air of which is remarkably salubrious: the streets are neither lighted nor paved: the inhabitants are plentifully supplied with water from springs. The woollen manufacture formerly flourished here, but there is now only a small silk-manufactory, lately established. There is a large market, principally for corn, on Monday; another, formerly held on Saturday, has been discontinued: fairs are held on Whit-Tuesday and the 10th of October, for toys, &c. The Corn Exchange, erected by subscription in 1813, is a handsome building. This was formerly a corporate town, governed by a mayor, aldermen, and common council-men, but surrendering its charter upon a quo warranto to James II., these privileges were lost, and have never been restored: it is now within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold petty sessions here. Courts baron are held for the manor, at which the steward presides. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £45. 2. 1., and within the exempt deanery of Bocking, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a handsome spacious structure, surmounted by a lofty spire of wood covered with lead: it is chiefly of the later English character, and has two south porches: the aisles and clerestory are co-extensive with the nave and the chancel. In the chancel is a beautiful altarpiece, erected in 1744, by Dr. Wilkins, the incumbent, constructed of wainscot with neat cane-work, and exhibiting paintings of Moses and Aaron. The font is of great antiquity, and bears an ancient inscription in Greek characters, which being translated is, 'Wash and be clean.' In front of the parsonage-house is a venerable gateway with two hexagonal towers, built of brick in the year 1490, by Dr. Pykenham, Dean of Suffolk, and rector of this parish. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. A house in Hadleigh and some land were given by John Alabaster, in 1667, the produce to be applied for the instruction of four children in reading and writing; and, in 1701, Mrs. Anne Beaumont bequeathed an estate for the same purpose; from which benefactions united a salary of about £34 per annum is paid to a master for the instruction of twenty-four boys. A National school for an unlimited number of scholars of both sexes is supported by voluntary contributions. Twelve almshouses for decayed tradespeople, with a chapel attached, were founded by Dr. Pykenham, in the reign of Henry VII., and are under the management of the rector and the churchwardens: they are now appropriated to the accommodation of twenty-four aged persons of both sexes, and are endowed by the founder with valuable estates in Whatfield, Hadleigh, Aldham, Newton, Elmset, and Semer, and a farm at Foxearth in Essex, the bequest of Mrs. Mary Clark. Four other almshouses were founded in the reign of Edward VI., by John Raven, of Hadleigh, and endowed by him with the profits of two farms in Roydon and Holton, for the support of eight poor aged inhabitants of the parish. There are several other bequests for the benefit of the poor. Dr. William Alabaster, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was a native of Hadleigh. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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