apart from the abortive wassell grove colliery opened during 1866-7, there was little heavy industry in the area. there is early evidence of glass-making in the village but this was probably only a cottage industry. the inhabitants were predominantly engaged in agriculture; thirteen farms are recorded in the 18th century, eighteen in the early 20th, although by the end of it only two remained. the soil is sandy and poor, so there was a greater emphasis on livestock than on arable farming. hagley had a cattle market by 1600, located just south of the road junction between the hagley road [to stourbridge] (a491) and the birmingham road (a456). this was extended in both the 18th and 19th centuries and was served by the railway until the market closed in the 1960s.