HADLEIGH, a market-town and parish in the hundred
of COSFORD, county of SUFFOLK, 10 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 mueh 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
nourished 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 Cora Exchange, erected by subscription in 1813, is
a handsome building. This was formerly a corporate
town, governed by- a mayor, aldermen, and common
eouncilrmen, 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 i
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 briek;
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 bot
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 Seiner, 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, forthe
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.