Brilley

Brilley is a small village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England, close to the border with Wales, and about 8 km (5 mi) north-east of the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye.

Brilley
St Mary's, Brilley
Brilley Location within Herefordshire
OS grid reference	SO260492
Unitary authority	Herefordshire
Shire county	Herefordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Hereford
Postcode district	HR3 and HR5
Dialling code	01497
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	North Herefordshire
List of places UK England Herefordshire 52.136°N 3.081°W / 52.136; -3.081

Toponymy

Brilley derives from Brynlegh, Brunleg or Brunlege in Old English, meaning "burnt clearing".^[1]

History

Hundred of Huntington

Brilley is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. St Mary's chapelry was established in the 12th century. The site was rebuilt in the 13th century and later underwent restorations.^[2]

Brilley Court Farmhouse

Population records for the parish of Brilley date back to the Poll Tax of 1379. Historians believe Fernhall Farm was founded around this time. Little Penlan and Cwmmau Farmhouse came about in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively.^[3] The various farms and houses of Brilley contain a mixture of medieval and early modern features.^[4]

The Old School (2008)

In 1968, a new primary school was built next door to the village hall; the school was closed in 2007 because of low pupil numbers, and later demolished in 2014 to expand the carpark for the village hall.^[5]