HADLEIGH, a market-town of England, county of Suffolk, on the Bret, a tributary of the Stour, 9 miles W.S.W. of Ipswich. It was formerly a corporate town, and a place of considerable trade, but it has lost its charter; and its trade, which was chiefly in cloth, has declined. Silk-spinning is carried on to some extent, but the inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture. The church is a large and handsome building, with a tower and spire. Dr Rowland Taylor, rector of Hadleigh, was burned here in the reign of Queen Mary, the spot being marked by a stone with this inscription,—"1555. Dr Taylor, in defending that was good, at this place left his blode." Market-day, Monday. Pop. (1851) 3338.