MADLEY is an extensive parish and village, situated on the main road from Hereford to Hay via Blakemere, distant 7 miles W. of Hereford, 17 N.W. of Ross, and 21 N. of Monmouth; is in Webtree hundred, Dore union and petty sessional division, Hereford county court district, and is a polling place for county elections. The population in 1861 was 970; in 1871, 911; inhabited houses, 205; families or separate occupiers, 230; area of parish, 5,360 acres; annual rateable value, £8,350. The parish is in several manors. The principal landowners are R.H. Lee-Warner, Esq., the Governors of Guy's Hospital, London, Mrs. Maddy, Rev. John Crugar Murray Aynsley, and John Morris, Esq. The soil is rich loam and gravel; subsoil, red sandstone and limestone; chief produce, wheat, barley, hops, roots, and fruit. A market was formerly held here, but it has long been discontinued. In the village is a stone cross, consisting of a pedestal and shaft, and in the churchyard are the remains of another cross. In this parish was formerly a castle, but nothing whatever remains to point out its site. The foundation of a Catholic chapel was removed a few years since at Chilstone, the residence of William B. Street, Esq. Near to here are visible traces of a circular mound, supposed to be the remains of a tumulus, at which there is a very ancient yew tree.

Madley is in the diocese, archdeaconry, and rural deanery of Hereford; living, a vicarage with the chapelry of Tyberton annexed; joint value, £566, with residence and 1½ acres of glebe; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Hereford; vicar, Rev. Charles Edward Underwood, M.A., of Balliol College, Oxford, who was instituted in 1870. The Rev. Arthur Esmond Riddle; B.A., of Worcester College, Oxford, is the curate. The church, dedicated to the nativity of St. Mary, is a very ancient stone edifice in the Early English style of architecture. It consists of nave, chancel, north and south aisles, north porch, and square embattled tower containing six bells. This beautiful and interesting fabric has just undergone extensive restoration. The fine vaulted oak roof over the nave, arches, and porch has been restored; much decayed stonework has been replaced, and the tower put in thorough repair. The edifice, capable of seating 1,500 persons, far exceeds the requirements of the parish, and was in former years partitioned so as to contain chapels for the chantry priests attached to it. There are three beautiful stained glass windows in the chancel, a crypt under the chancel, stone font, ten monuments and several tablets. The earliest register is dated 1559. The charities belonging to the parish are of £56 yearly value. There is a national school for boys and girls, erected in 1853. It has a certificated master, and is under government inspection; average attendance, about 80. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel here.