Blockley, Worcestershire

Description
Blockley, a village and a parish in Worcestershire. The village stands in a south-eastern projection of the county, on the Fosse Way and the river Evenlode, 3 1/2 miles NW of Moreton-in-the-Marsh, and has a station on the G.W.R., and a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.) It is an ancient place, and had once a monastery, founded before 855, and a palace of the Bishops of Worcester. The parish includes also the liamlet and ecclesiastical parish of Aston-Magna, the hamlets of Dome, Ditchford, Draycott, Northwick, and Paxford. Acreage, 7896; population of the civil parish, 2127; of the ecclesiastical, 1931. There is an electric lighting and manufacturing company. Traces of the Fosse Way exist, and many Roman coins and other Roman relics have been found. Northwick Park is an ancient seat, formerly of the Childes, and afterwards of the Rushout family. Addison was a frequent visitor here. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Worcester; gross value, £602 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Worcester. The church is partly Norman, has a modern tower, and contains ancient monuments and brasses to the Rushout family and others. There are Baptist and Primitive Methodist chapels. The vicarage of Aston-Magna is a separate benefice.