Probably established by the Angles in the 7th century as a farming community, it is mentioned in the "Domesday Book" under the names "Lilleia". In the reign of Edward the Confessor it was owned by Godwin, and in the reign of William the Conqueror it was being cultivated by Ulchel for Ilbert de Lacy, the Sheriff of Hertfordshire and descendant of the French noble family from Lassy. At that time, Lindley consisted of two farmsteads totalling "5 quarantens by 2 quarantens".