Barley is a village 3½ miles south-east of Royston, in Edwintree Hundred. It is situated on the chalk range and on the London and Cambridge road, having a fine prospect over Wardington Bottom. The area of the parish is 2,542 acres and the population in 1841 was 792. The assessment to the Property Tax, in 1842, was £4,141. The church is dedicated to St Margaret. The living is a rectory, commuted at £581; about 35 acres glebe; patron, Bishop of Ely. The present incumbent is the Rev Samuel Lee, DD, in 1838. Dr Willet, author of Synopsis Paposmi, printed in 1612, and Dr Rutherford, professor at Cambridge, are interred in the chancel of the church. Here are a new Calvinist chapel and a National School.

Smyth's End is a hamlet, north west of the village, and forming part of it.

Shafton End, Shaftnoe, Sharpenhoe, &c., are half a mile south east.

At Rockley Wood, Roman antiquities have been found. Abbotsbury is a farm.

Post Office Directory for Hertfordshire, 1850