Shutford
Encyclopedia
Shutford is a village and civil parish about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Banbury
in Oxfordshire
. The village is about 475 feet (144.8 m) above sea level.
was built in the last quarter of the 16th century. In 1928 the architect Walter Tapper
added a western extension and northwest wing. The manor house was once owned by the Saye and Sele
family, whose seat is now 3 miles (4.8 km) from Shutford at Broughton
Castle.
From about 1750 Shutford was part of the Banbury area's plush
industry. Banbury was the centre for dyeing, marketing and distributing, but yarn was sent out to surrounding villages where it was woven. By 1850 the industry in the rest of the Banbury area was declining under competition from power loom
weavers in Coventry
. However, Shutford remained in the plush trade by concentrating on the skilled manufacture of high quality plush for liveries, upholstery and furnishings. Shutford introduced power looms in 1885 and supplied plush for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
in 1896. The factory closed in 1948, reportedly because of a shortage of craftsmen willing to live and work in a country village.
Shutford has historic buildings built from local Hornton
stone. A fire in 1701 destroyed many local buildings but by 1774 it was one of the largest villages in Banburyshire, with 71 homes.
From the collapse of the plush industry to the 1960s Shutford declined, losing its school, its public house
, and for a time having no Vicar
.
of Saint Martin
dates from the 12th century, when it was built in the transitional style between Norman
and Early English Gothic. The north aisle, two bays
of the arcade between this aisle and the nave
, and the lower stage of the bell tower
survive from this period. In the 13th century the north aisle was extended eastwards with an Early English Gothic third bay. In the 13th or 14th century the nave was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style. The south windows, porch and doorway, chancel
arch and east window all date from this period. The Perpendicular Gothic windows of the north aisle and the upper stage of the bell tower were added later. The church building was restored in 1841. Since 1955 it has been a Grade II* listed building.
Shutford had a Methodist
chapel. It is now a private house.
The village has a free house pub and restaurant, the George and Dragon
. The village had a small Post Office in Ivy Lane, but this closed in 2005.
Shutford has a Women's Institute.
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. The village is about 475 feet (144.8 m) above sea level.
History
The manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was built in the last quarter of the 16th century. In 1928 the architect Walter Tapper
Walter Tapper
Sir Walter Tapper was a British architect known for Gothic Revivalist architecture. On his death in 1935 his son Michael Tapper completed some of his works....
added a western extension and northwest wing. The manor house was once owned by the Saye and Sele
Baron Saye and Sele
Baron Saye and Sele is a title in the Peerage of England. It is thought to have been created by letters patent in 1447 for James Fiennes for his services in the Hundred Years' War. The patent creating the original barony was lost, so it was assumed that the barony was created by writ, meaning that...
family, whose seat is now 3 miles (4.8 km) from Shutford at Broughton
Broughton, Oxfordshire
Broughton is a village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire, England, about southwest of Banbury.Broughton's Church of England Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin was built in about 1300 in a style that is transitional from Early English to Decorated Gothic...
Castle.
From about 1750 Shutford was part of the Banbury area's plush
Plush
Plush is a textile having a cut nap or pile the same as fustian or velvet.Originally the pile of plush consisted of mohair or worsted yarn, but now silk by itself or with a cotton backing is used for plush, the distinction from velvet being found in the longer and less dense pile of plush...
industry. Banbury was the centre for dyeing, marketing and distributing, but yarn was sent out to surrounding villages where it was woven. By 1850 the industry in the rest of the Banbury area was declining under competition from power loom
Power loom
A power loom is a mechanized loom powered by a line shaft. The first power loom was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785. It was refined over the next 47 years until a design by Kenworthy and Bullough, made the operation completely automatic. This was known as the...
weavers in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. However, Shutford remained in the plush trade by concentrating on the skilled manufacture of high quality plush for liveries, upholstery and furnishings. Shutford introduced power looms in 1885 and supplied plush for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
in 1896. The factory closed in 1948, reportedly because of a shortage of craftsmen willing to live and work in a country village.
Shutford has historic buildings built from local Hornton
Hornton
Hornton is a village and civil parish about northwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire.-Churches:The oldest parts of the Church of England parish church of Saint John the Baptist are the nave and the arcade of the north aisle, both of which were built late in the 12th century. They are in the...
stone. A fire in 1701 destroyed many local buildings but by 1774 it was one of the largest villages in Banburyshire, with 71 homes.
From the collapse of the plush industry to the 1960s Shutford declined, losing its school, its public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, and for a time having no Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
.
Church and chapel
The Church of England Parish ChurchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Martin
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
dates from the 12th century, when it was built in the transitional style between Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
and Early English Gothic. The north aisle, two bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
of the arcade between this aisle and the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, and the lower stage of the bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
survive from this period. In the 13th century the north aisle was extended eastwards with an Early English Gothic third bay. In the 13th or 14th century the nave was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style. The south windows, porch and doorway, chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
arch and east window all date from this period. The Perpendicular Gothic windows of the north aisle and the upper stage of the bell tower were added later. The church building was restored in 1841. Since 1955 it has been a Grade II* listed building.
Shutford had a Methodist
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
chapel. It is now a private house.
Amenities
Saint George and the Dragon
The episode of Saint George and the Dragon appended to the hagiography of Saint George was Eastern in origin, brought back with the Crusaders and retold with the courtly appurtenances belonging to the genre of Romance...
. The village had a small Post Office in Ivy Lane, but this closed in 2005.
Shutford has a Women's Institute.
External links
- Information on the Shutford Circular Walk - from the Cherwell District Council Website