 Riseley has a long tradition of brick and tile making, dating back to at least 1558, due in part to its clay rich soil.During the nineteenth century the village was home to a brickworks and brickmaking became one of the village's main industries with 12 brickmakers recorded living in the village in the 1841 census and 15 brickmakers living there according to both the 1851 and 1861 censuses.The village also had a history of lace making with 80 of the 118 houses in the village being involved in the activity in 1851.