Blockley is a beautiful village located in the northern Cotswolds, nestled in a valley between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden. For hundreds of years (from the Middle Ages until the Industrial period) Blockley was involved in the lucrative wool trade, a trade which made the area wealthy and famous throughout Europe for the fine quality of its produce. This brought money to the region, which led to the building of some large and quite beautiful churches.

There are several distinctive features about Blockley which you may notice upon your arrival to the village. Firstly, the majority of the buildings are built from golden sandstone, a quality which gives the village a warm and friendly appearance. The Cotswolds region is known for its Oolitic limestone, so it is notable that Blockley is instead constructed mainly in a different stone. The village has a fast flowing brook, a valuable resource which powered mills and factories during the Industrial period, and which saw the village become one of the first to produce its own electricity. Blockley changed from wool production to silk production in the nineteenth century, and by 1884 had six mills running, and several ribbon-making factories in operation. During this period Blockley was also known for its corn mills. Since the wind-down from the Industrial period, Blockley has become a quiet and peaceful location favoured by retirees.

The church in Blockley is St Peter and St Paul, located on the village green. The church’s foundations have been traced back to the Norman period.

Although there are some nice shops within Blockley, it is also perfectly placed to take a trip to Stratford-on-Avon (the birthplace of Shakespeare) for the day.