Blockley - Post Office Directory 1876 (Worcestershire, now Gloucestershire (since 1931), England) POST OFFICE DIRECTORY DISTRICT OF WORCESTOR 1876 BLOCKLEY is a large village and parish, and has a station on the Great Western railway, 2 miles east from the town, 88 miles from London, 8 south-west from Shipston-on-Stour, and 3 from Moreton-in-Marsh; it is in the Eastern division of the county, Upper division of the hundred of Oswaldslow, Shipston-on-Stour union and county court district, rural deanery of Blockley, and archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester. The church of SS. Peter and Paul is a very old stone building, having a lofty square embattled tower with 6 bells, and pinnacles: the architecture is that of the Middle Ages, part of the chancel Norman, with lofty nave and aisles: the east window is stained; the subjects are : the Birth, Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Our Lord, also the patron saints; it was placed here by Sir Charles Rushout, bart., in memory of the Hon. Mrs: Grieve : the edifice contains a large number of monuments, some elegant specimens of art, which date from 1615, amongst which are many of the Northwick family : the edifice was restored and re-seated in 1871, and a north porch added by subscription. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £746, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester, and held by the Rev. Henry Bromfield, M.A., of Wadham College, Oxford. There are National schools for boys and girls. A handsome stone National school for girls and infants was erected and opened in 1867, at a cost of £1,400, which was defrayed by voluntary subscriptions. There are chapels for Baptists and Primitive Methodists. There are three silk mills in the parish: the business of silk throwsting is carried on here, but during the last few years it has very much declined. Benefactors: Richard Perkin's Charity is the rent of £400, left in 1702, to be invested in land and given to the poor in clothing. Goddard Carter's Charity is an annuity of £10, chargeable on land, to the poor in clothing. Mrs. Martha Scattergood's Charity is an annuity of £5 for the poor. Rev. W. Boughton's (late vicar) Charity is an annuity of £8 to the poor in clothing. Countess of Northampton's Charity is that 20 poor persons. have each a twopenny loaf of bread weekly. Northwick Park is the seat of Lord Northwick, who is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is light and fertile; subsoil, beds of stone. The chief crops are wheat, oats, and barley. The total area of the parish is 7,870 acres - rateable value, £12,501; the population in 1871 was 2,540, PAXFORD is a hamlet, 3 miles north from Moreton-in-Marsh. A stone building was erected here for schools in 1866, the cost being defrayed by Mrs. Elliot; it is licensed for divine service, which is performed once every Sunday: a clock has been put in the school building, the cost of which was defrayed by the late Mr. Richard Reynolds. The area of the hamlet is 841 rateable value, £1,376. --WALL LETTER Box, cleared at 3  15 p.m. DRAYCOTT is a hamlet, 1 mile north. DITCHFORD, 4 1/2 miles south-west-by-west from Shipston, DORN, a mile north from Moreton-in-Marsh, and NORTHWICK, 1 3/4 miles south from Chipping Camden, are hamlets in this parish. Parish Clerk, George Thomason Herbert. ASTON MAGNA is a hamlet and ecclesiastical parish, formed in 1847 from the civil parish of Blockley, 2 1/2 miles north from Moreton-in-Marsh, The church of St. John is a stone building erected in 1846: it has chancel, nave, and low square tower and 1 bell, and will seat about 200 persons. The register dates from the year 1846. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £200, with residence, in the gift of Lord Redesdale, and held by the Rev. Edward Francis Chamberlayne, M.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge. Here is a dame school for the poor. The chief landowner is Lord Redesdale. The area is 1,112 acres ; rateable value, £1,848; the population in 1871 was 256. --WALL LETTER Box cleared at 4.0 p.m. Parish Clerk at Aston Magna, Richard Hewens. POST & MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Savings Bank & Government Annuity & Insurance Office.-- Mrs. Mary Bearcroft, receiver & stamp distributor. Letters received through Moreton-in-Marsh & Broadway, arrive from Moreton at 6.35 a.m.; dispatched at 6.35 p.m. ; arrive from Broadway at 9.15 a.m.; dispatched at 3.55 p.m. INSURANCE AGENTS:- General, James Joyner Phoenix Fire & Pelican Life, A. Wake SCHOOLS:-- National, George Thomason Herbert, master; (girls infants), Miss Mary Oakes, mistress -Dame, Aston Magna, Miss Eliza Mason, mistress Railway Station, George Linnett, station master DIRECTORY. BLOCKLEY. Allen Rev. Henry [curate] Bromfield Rev. Henry, M.A. [vicar] Figgures Mrs Holmes Charles Holtom Miss Hutchings Thomas Middleditch Mrs. Park house Northwick Lord, Northwick park; & 7 Park St. Grosvenor sq. London w Oliver Henry, Mount Pleasant villa Roberts Mrs. Paxford Soden Rev. Alfred James [curate] COMMERCIAL. Bearcroft Mary (Mrs.), bkr. & post office Belcher Richard Boswell, coal merchant Boorman Charles, grocer Butler George, timber dealer, Draycott Chesher Edward, miller Clark Lancelot, bailiff to Lord Northwick, Wellacre farm Clements William, tea dealer Clifford George, stone mason Cox Charles, builder Ellis Edwin, blacksmith Figgures Edward, plasterer & slater Figgures Warren, beer retailer Fisher Thomas, blacksmith Foster John, shoe maker Garrett Thos. & Wm. farmers, Dorn Gibbs Edmund, farmer, Upper Ditchford farm Gibbs John, farmer. Lower Ditchford farm Gill George, stone mason Gill Seth, miller & farmer. Northwick mill Gough Frank, commercial traveller Green Edward, baker Haines Mary Ann (Mrs.), farmer. Draycott Haines Peter, farmer Hale Moses, beer retailer Harris Solomon, shopkeeper Harris Thomas, beer retailer Harris William, Bell Herbert Ellen (Mrs.), Crown Herbert Frederick, tailor Herbert George Thomason, ironmonger & agent to the Lancashire Fire Life Insurance Office Herbert John, beer retailer Herbert John, butcher Herbert Josiah, butcher Holmes Charles, surgeon Holtom Joseph, farmer, Park farm Holtom. Richard, farmer, Upton wold Holyfield John, miller, Blockley mill Hows Richard, farmer Johnson William, silk throwster Joyner James, grocer, & agent to the Royal Farmers' Hail, Fire & Life Insurance Office Keeble Hannah (Mrs.), farmer Keen Alfred, linen draper Keen James, shoe maker Keyte Charles, wheelwright, Paxford Lovett John, farmer, Dorn Meadows Martin, farmer, Upton wold Moore Charles, grocer & beer retailer Nicholls Rhoda (Mrs.), grocer & linen draper, & agent for W. & A. Gilbey, wine & spirit merchants Paterson John & Co. linen collar mas Peebles Chas. miller & farmer, Paxford Penson Mary Ann (Mrs.), farmer, Draycott Randall Walter, miller, Bran mill, Draycott Reynolds Jsph. Crescens, farmer. Paxford Righton Samuel, farmer Roberts James. carting agent to the Gt. Western railway & coal merchant Rogers Hannah (Mrs.), beer retailer, Paxford Rouse John, baker & grocer Sharp Benjamin, builder & timber dealer, Saw mills, Paxford Sharp John, baker, Paxford Slatter Jas. landowner & farmer, Paxford Smith Charles Edwin, silk throwster Smith Thomas, millwright Smith William, millwright Stanley George, silk throwster Stow Henry, carpenter, Paxford Taplett Bartholomew, shopkpr. Paxford Tennant Richard, beer retailer, Draycott Verney Richard, jun. M.R.C.V.S. veterinary surgeon Wagstaff Henry, shopkeeper Wake Albert, linen draper, & agent to the Phoenix Fire & Pelican Life Insurance Offices Webb William, farmer West Jsph. farmer, Northwick Hill farm Westmacott George, maltster Westmacott Percival, builder Wheatcroft Henry, farmer Wheatcroft Oswald, registrar of births & deaths for Moreton-in-the-Marsh district Wheeler Robert, saddler Wilks Alfred, farmer. Ditchford Hill farm. Williams Job, shopkeeper ASTON MAGNA. Cliamberlayne Rev. Edward Francis M.A. [vicar] Anchor William, farmer & landowner Camden John, farmer Camden Joseph, farmer Fisher Charles, shopkeeper Fisher John, blacksmith Harford Charles, beer retailer Powell Nicholas, farmer Purser Richard, farmer Simmons Joseph, farmer Wiggins Edwin, farmer Contact email address on index page INDEX