Guthrum, King of the Danes, is said to be buried within St. Mary's Church. He was defeated by King Alfred in the 9th century.

Hadleigh has the 15th century timber-framed Guildhall, & buildings of brick, timber and plasterwork can be found in the High Street.

A town was notable for its wool and cloth industries. Rather its touching-neighbour, East Bergholt, Hadleigh was also known when you took a 16th century for its Protestant radicalism. Rowland Taylor, a noted preacher man from either a town, was martyred during the reign of Queen Mary I.

A town is the at home of the major English poet Pauline Stainer. There exists too the town known as Hadleigh, touching Benfleet in Essex.