In 1868, Hadleigh was described as a parish, market, and post town, in the hundred of Cosford, county Suffolk, 7 miles N.E. of Nayland, 10½ W. of Ipswich, and 64 from London. It is situated on the river Bret, and is a station on the Eastern Union section of the Great Eastern railway. The town is well paved and lighted with gas, and contains some good streets, the principal one being three-quarters of a mile in length. The chief buildings are the corn exchange, townhall, and police station, in which the petty sessions are held every three or four weeks. It is also a polling place for West Suffolk. Here is an iron foundry, machine works, and an extensive silk-mill employing a great number of hands, also malt-houses and corn-mills.