Facts about Hadleigh
Hadleigh History
Hadleigh was a moderately-sized town, with a reckoned population of about 1,100 or 1,200 in 1306. At that time there were 118 “unfree tenants”, who had to pay rent and provide labour services, and 75 “free tenants” who had had fewer obligations and dues. The manor had 2,000 acres. The manor was a working farm, with crops and some animals, and had quite an important dairy. Hadleigh Hall was the site of the medieval manor house, in 4 acres.
It has been suggested by Woods (2018) that Walter “Wat” Tyler and his wife were Hadleigh tenants about 20 years before he was one of the leaders of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt. Records show a Wat Tyler taking over a freeholding in Coram Street in 1358/59 and it is possible he worked as a tiler.
Leisure
Hadleigh has a Non-League football club Hadleigh United F.C. who play at Millfield. The town is also home to Hadleigh Rugby Club (HRFC). Both the football and rugby club boast thriving youth and senior sections. The town’s bowls and cricket clubs are among the oldest in Suffolk. The bowls club was founded in 1754. The cricket club is over 200 years old and pre-dates the Marylebone Cricket Club. Other sporting clubs include the Hadleigh Tennis Club, Hadleigh Hares running club and Hadleigh Cycling Club.
