MARDEN (anciently Mateurdin) is an extensive parish situated on the river Lugg, about 1½ miles E. of the main road leading from Hereford to Leominster, and the same distance N. of Moreton station on the Shrewsbury and Hereford joint railway. It is distant 5½ miles N. of Hereford, 9 S. of Leominster, and 14 S.W. of Bromyard; is in Broxash hundred, Hereford union, petty sessional division, and county court district, and Bodenham polling district. The population in 1861 was 929; in 1871, 988, viz., Marden, 951, and Amberley, 37. The number of inhabited houses was 215, viz., Marden, 209, and Amberley, 6. The number of families or separate occupiers was 257, viz., Marden, 251, and Amberley, 6. The area of the parish is 4,048 acres, viz., Marden, 3,671, and Amberley, 377. The annual rateable value is - Marden, £8,975, and Amberley, £727. Mrs. Harriett Evans, of Moreton court, is lady of the manor. The principal landowners are Mrs. Evans, Edward Hodges, Esq., Charles Watkins, Esq., the Rev. H. Fleming St. John, D.H. Burr, Esq., Messrs. Thomas Grundy, John Preece, Edward Brace, and John Symmonds.

The soil is clayey and loamy; subsoil, stone and gravel; chief produce, wheat, beans, hops, fruit, and pasture. The neighbourhood abounds with good orchards, and the cider made here is particularly celebrated. The river Lugg is famed for trout, grayling, and other fish. Sutton Walls, about one mile distant, are noted as the site of the palace of Offa, King of Mercia, where the unsuspecting Ethelbert was treacherously murdered, A.D. 782. This place continued to be the residence of the Mercian kings until Egbert united the kingdoms of the Heptarchy into one sovereignty, A.D. 827. Although the place bears the name of "Sutton Walls", yet there is not the least trace of building remaining. Giraldus Cambriensis speaks of this place by the name of "King's Sutton", and "Southtown Walls", and mentions some ruins of a castle which he saw here. Leland also notices the "notable ruines of some auncyent and great building, sumtyme the mansion of King Offa, at such time as Kenchestre stood, or els Herford was a begynning". The spot comprehends a spacious encampment, on the summit of a hill, surrounded by a single rampart about 40 feet high, with entrances on the east and west ends, and north and south sides.

The area includes about 30 acres, and is nearly level excepting towards the centre, where there is a low place called Offa's Cellar. In digging on this spot an antique ring was found some years ago. This place is also celebrated as having been the position of the camp of Caractacus, and commands an interesting view of the surrounding country. Sutton is included in the extensive manor of Marden, which was an ancient demesne belonging to the Crown, but given by King Offa to the Canons of Hereford, then termed the Presbytery of Marden, in expiation of the murder of Ethelbert. Marden church was built over the spot where Ethelbert was first buried, and where a well, which still exists and is called St. Ethelbert's Well, is said to have miraculously sprung up at the time. His body was afterwards removed (and statue also) to Hereford Cathedral. This edifice was dedicated to his memory, and stands on the banks of the river Lugg.

The present noble structure is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and is in the Early English style of architecture, having a square tower, with four pinnacles and a spire, and containing six beautiful toned bells. It consists of nave, two aisles (rebuilt in 1860), chancel (repaired in 1865). north and south porch, organ, font, and a brass monument to the memory of Lady Chute, formerly a resident of the parish. The living is in the diocese, archdeaconry, and rural deanery of Hereford; it is a vicarage with the chapelry of Amberley annexed; value, £310, with residence and 1 acre of glebe; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Hereford; vicar, Rev. Thomas Henry Clutton-Brock, of the Theological College, Lichfield, who was instituted in 1875. The registers go back as far as 1612. The charities belonging to the parish amount to about £12 yearly. New and handsome schools have been recently erected, and are under the management of a school board. The cost of building schools and teacher's residence was £1,478, and the site £112. The number of children on the books is 130; average attendance, about 86. The Vicarage House is a modern erection pleasantly situated adjacent to the church, on the N.E., and Marden Court, the property and residence of Edward Hodges, Esq., is on the E.

Amberley is a township and chapelry, distant about 2½ miles E. of Marden, and maintains its own poor. The area is 377 acres and the rateable value £727. The greater part of the township belongs to Lady Lindsay, in whom the nomination to the chapelry is vested. The interesting little chapel had been roofless for many years, but in 1865 was thoroughly restored under the superintendence of Thomas Nicholson, Esq., of Hereford. The walls were very perfect; and new roofs, open sittings, and a handsome carved oak screen, have been added after the ancient type of a few existing remains. Wisteston is a chapelry in Weston rural deanery, distant about 1 mile N.E. of Marden. The chapel was restored in 1860, and a stained glass memorial window to the late William Chute Gwinnett, Esq., has been erected. The donative is worth about £56 yearly, and is in the gift of trustees, and held- by the Rev. John B. Vale, M.A., of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, appointed in 1869. Wisteston Court, the property of Charles Watkins, Esq., of Hereford, is distant about 1½ miles from Marden church. Ash Grove Hill, about 3 miles distant, commands a delightful view of seven counties.