In 1851 Upper Arley, or Over Arley, was descreibed as being on the banks of the River Severn, a village and parish, containing 667 inhabitants, and 3803 acres of land, occupying a narrow neck of Staffordshire, bounded on three sides by Shropshire and Worcestershire, and distant four miles NNW of Bewdley, and ten miles WSW of Stourbridge.