 From the start of the 15th century the sparse population of Longley rented their land from the Earl of Shrewsbury who was Lord of the Manor.During this time the inhabitants were mostly employed in arable and livestock farming although there was also some small scale cutlery manufacturing.In 1617 Longley came under the ownership of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, a member of the family who later became the Dukes of Norfolk.