Editing Blockley (section)

===Economic and social history===
In 1715 the Vicar, the Rev. Dr. [[Erasmus Saunders (priest, died 1724)|Erasmus Saunders]], had a new school built for the parish.<ref name=VCH/> Blockley still has a [[Voluntary controlled school|Church of England]] primary school.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120722014118/http://ww5.gloucestershire.gov.uk/findaschool/searchdetails.asp?SchoolSelect=30 Gloucestershire County Council: Details for: Blockley Church of England Primary School]</ref>

Much of the parish was farmed under an [[open field system]] until 1772, when an [[Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom|Act of Parliament]] provided for the enclosure of the remaining [[common land]]s.<ref name=VCH/>
[[File:Blockley railway station 1972848 1377e09f.jpg|thumb|Blockley railway station in 1962]]
The [[Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]], built between 1845 and 1851, passes through the parish. [[Blockley railway station]] was more than {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} northeast of the village and nearer to Paxford. [[British Rail]]ways closed Blockley railway station in 1966 but the railway remains open as part of the [[Cotswold Line]]. The nearest railway station still open is {{stnlnk|Moreton-in-Marsh}}.

Blockley is home to [[Watsonian Squire]], the largest UK manufacturer of [[sidecar]]s and [[motorcycle trailer|trailers]] for [[motorcycle|motorbikes]]. It has been based in the village since 1984.<ref name=MIB>{{cite web |url=http://www.madeinbirmingham.org/watsonian.htm |work=Made in Birmingham |title=Watsonian Sidecars |access-date=20 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119045542/http://madeinbirmingham.org/watsonian.htm |archive-date=19 January 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>