Middleton on the Hill and Leysters is a small, rural group Parish in north-east
Herefordshire, three miles to the east of the market town of Leominster. It consists
of two Parishes – Middleton on the Hill, which forms the northern part of the area,
and Leysters to the south.
The area is deeply rural, tranquil and retains much of its traditional historic
character, having largely escaped the pressures of modern development. The
countryside is elevated and gently rolling, rising steeply out of the Teme Valley to the
east and the Herefordshire Lowlands to the west. This provides a number of
spectacular far-reaching views to the Shropshire Hills, Black Mountains of Wales and
much of central Herefordshire.
The dense network of fields are enclosed by well-established hedgerows which
together with areas of ancient and native broadleaf woodland give an
extensive tree cover. The area has a low density of development characterised by two small villages each with an imposing medieval church.
The largest of these villages is Leysters, containing 45 homes, the Parish Hall and Public house. It has a distinct linear form and retains much of its pre-20th century character.
Middleton on the Hill is an isolated historic hamlet with a distinctive and very
attractive cluster of important listed buildings at its core.
Outside the two villages the settlement pattern is one of scattered farmsteads, small
groups of houses and isolated dwellings, typically built of locally sourced materials
and of a traditional, domestic scale. It is within this wider countryside that the
majority of the population live.
The A4112 runs through Leysters village, linking it to Leominster in the west and
Tenbury Wells to the east. There is also an extensive network of quiet lanes,
bridleways and footpaths, often enclosed by hedgerows.