The History of Blockley

Blockley is a quaint Cotswold village with its raised pavements, the splendour of its church and some superb architecture strung out along the mile long High Street.

The village first became established to the east of a Saxon church which was replaced by the present church of St.Peter & St.Paul in 1170. The church has a Norman chancel and a Gothic-survival tower. The monuments include a brass of a priest in full mass vestments.

There were twelve mills, some of which were first mentioned in the Domesday Book, turning out flour, flax, woodcutting and threshing.

During the 18th century, with the wool industry in decline, Blockley turned to the manufacture of silk. Attracted by the fast flowing streams, many of the mills were converted and enlarged to accommodate the "throwsters", the workers who twisted the silk fibres into thread for the silk ribbon makers in Coventry. The largest was the Westmacott Mill, now converted into a residential home called Blockley Court.

To accommodate the workers, many more terraces of cottages were built, each set one behind the other. Up the hillsides, cottages for workers and the Northwick Terrace almshouses mingled with elegant Georgian Terraces, such as those on the High Street, including Hainault.

The boom in silk making was short lived and most of the mills reverted back to their former functions, although two became piano making factories. Blockley has been left with a unique collection of buildings reflecting the past glory of silk making, which gives it a different character to other north Cotswold villages.

The above photograph was taken outside Hainault House in 1935 when Alberta Milton ran an infants school and music school from home. Her husband, John Milton, was one of three brothers who ran the local grocery shop and Habadashers.

(For more old pictures of Blockley, see the Photo section)

Modern Blockley

Known by many locals as the "secret village", Blockley today is a peaceful, charming village with its mill stream winding its way through the bottom of the valley. The elegant High Street winds its way past traditional Cotswold stone cottages and houses built into the hillside and ends in a wood where you can enjoy a stroll (you may see deer if you are quiet).

A quick glance at a Cotswold Explorer map (several copies of which are maintained at Hainault for guests) will show that Blockley is situated perfectly for many enjoyable walks directly from the village centre, winding off into the beautiful surrounding countryside.

The village has a very good delicatessen and coffee shop, selling good quality organic wines, cheeses and delicious cakes (www.blockleyshop.com). 

If you would like to eat out in the village, there are two excellent pubs - The Crown Inn, with its restaurant, bar and roaring open fires, where you can sit outside and enjoy a drink in the nicer weather, and The Great Western Arms which serves good family meals with excellent views from the beer garden. There is also Lower Brook House Hotel, where you can arrange to go out for that special meal.

(For more information and menu examples, see the Food & Drink section)

Stratford on Avon is 15 miles, Cheltenham 22 miles and Oxford 30 miles. Nearest train station - Moreton in Marsh (trains to London Paddington). Nearest airport - Birmingham.

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