from the time of the domesday book until the 1933 boundary changes, the parish of hagley extended southwards from the village to include the present parish of blakedown. the main focus of the village on the lower slopes of the clent hills was on the outskirts of where hagley hall and the parish church of st john the baptist can be found. the parish register of hagley is the oldest in england. it dates from 1 december 1538, being the year in which registers were ordered to be kept in all parishes.