Shutford Circular Walk of the Wrench Family
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Walk mostly, and latterly exclusively, under the management Shutford Circular walk of the Wrench family. Their handwoven livery plush was 8 exported to many of the royal courts of Europe as well as and village trail to Africa and the Far East and won a number of awards at The Shutford Circular Walk follows footpaths and international exhibitions. bridleways to the south and west of the village, including a section of ancient road past Madmarston Hill. It offers fine By the 1960’s with the demise of its traditional occupations views over the surrounding countryside and neighbouring the village was in decline with many properties derelict, villages. This 4.5 mile/7 km walk starts from the village pub no school, no permanent vicar and for a while no pub. (George and Dragon) but there is no designated parking area Attempts to draw attention to its plight by entering the best at the pub or within Shutford so walkers are asked to show kept village competition in 1969 and advertising the village consideration for residents and other road users when parking for sale in an American newspaper in 1970 gradually bore on village streets. fruit. Abandoned houses were rebuilt or renovated and new Shutford The circular walk is clearly waymarked but it helps to follow the ones erected bringing new people and with them new life information in this leaflet as you go. Before setting out on to the village. Circular walk 17 your walk, please check the council’s website for updates M Warwick LEAMINGTON 40 A361 SPA in the leaflet text or along the route - M1 15 Plus optional village trail 14 NORTHAMPTON www.cherwell.gov.uk/circularwalks A46 13 A423 16 Stratford- A5 upon-Avon 15A 12 15 A361 A3400 The Shutford Village Trail offers a short 1 mile/1.6 km walk A43 A429 M around this once world renowned village (for the weaving of 4 M 0 A422 1 Approximate walk time plush), pinpointing some of its more interesting features and A5 2. .5 hours Shutford Silverstone Milton A429 11 A422 3 Keynes A3400 14 BANBURY A4 giving an insight into its history. The route is steep in places ay ossew 13 F B4035 Brackley and so would be difficult for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Many Buckingham To M40 A4421 S A361 A4260 A43 D Evesham of the buildings described are private dwellings. Please respect L O W 10 A4421 S B4030 Chipping the privacy of residents by viewing from a polite distance. T Norton BICESTER O A4 C 4 E R I A41 A361 H 9 A41 S D R M Woodstock 40 O T Cheltenhamo A34 F X Kidlington O A40 Witney A40 About Shutford A40 OXFORD A34 8 The area around Shutford has 8 been settled since ancient times though the village itself is probably of Saxon origin. For centuries it was a mainly Getting there The Shutford Circular Walk starts at the George and agricultural community though Dragon Public House. To find it on a mapping website or associated trades of brewing, using satellite navigation, the grid reference is SP352377 malting, spinning, weaving, hat and the post code is OX15 6PG. and stocking making are known By Train: The nearest station is Banbury which links to to have existed too. In 1701 many of the buildings were Bicester and Oxford to the south and Birmingham to the destroyed by fire but by 1774 it had become one of the north. A taxi would then be required as the bus service largest villages in the area with 71 houses. through Shutford is very irregular. Circular walk: Shutford became known around the world as a centre By Car: Shutford is five miles west of Banbury. Take the for the weaving of plush, the top grade of which is a Shutford Road from Lower Tadmarton off the B4035 Distance 4.5 miles Time 2. 5 -3 hours luxurious silk fabric. Beginning as a cottage industry in the (Shipston on Stour Road) Village trail: 17th century, manufacture continued here until 1947 Distance Time 1 1 mile 1 hour JB 04406. 10/2020 Distance 4.5miles/ 7km Walk 8 Circular walk Approximate walk time 2. 5 -3 hours OctoberShutford 2020 edition* Start outside the George and Dragon pub, walk up Church Lane and through e the gate at the top. Shutford n a L y v To Banbury Bus I See step by step guide for Shutford Shelter detailed route description Village Hall Clump Crow Bank Cemetery Pub Dog Pool Manor House Apollo beaky Woodington Spinney Barton close Hill meadow bank o Sibford T A FIRSt Cairn’s Well Little STITCh Round Jester’s Barn maiD field Shutford Beacon (Lake) Hill The Shutford Beacon on Heathnell Farmington Farm Jester’s Hill was erected Spinney second to commemorate the LIME KILN maiD field dirty Jester’s Hill 50th anniversary of stiles VE DAY. tcut r MILLERS Sho GROUND back to Shutford Blenheim Farm Twenty Leyes Madmarston Footpath to Roman Road ( Salt Way) Hill Upper Lea Key Sibfords Farm Route Other paths Bridleway to Swalclife Permissive paths Points of interest A Pub *Please check www.cherwell.go.uk/circularwalks to ensure you have the latest version of this map including any temporary alterations 2 9 After crossing the road, go through the bridlegate and 10 Follow the track to the field then follow the field edge as it edge ahead. Then walk in Preperation step descends, crosses a watercourse the general direction of Wear appropriate clothing and strong, by step and then ascends. Bear right the Shutford circular walk comfortable footwear. Trousers, strong between two hedges (follow waymark, following the boots or wellingtons are recommended Shutford the bridleway rather than the tractor tyre tracks through as parts of the route are often wet and muddy. footpath), a stretch that can be the crops as best you can. Carry water and take a mobile phone if you have one Circular walk very muddy. Follow the track for Head straight across the * approx 350 metres and then field towards the large oak but bear in mind that coverage can be patchy in rural August 2018 edition Keeping the large oak trees 2 descend. Once on the level, tree. Once across the field, areas. If you are walking alone it’s sensible, as a simple on your right, follow the ignore the track to the left and find the opening in the precaution, to let someone know where you are and 1 outside the George footpath (rather than the Start carry straight on. Then ignore hedge next to the oak tree when you expect to return. and Dragon pub, walk up bridleway) and bear left the track to the right, eventually (where there is a post and Church Lane and through across Manor Field towards passing a lake on your left circular walk waymark) and the gate at the top. the stile set in the hedge (hidden from view on the other walk through it. Turn right, ahead. (Look back to see the side of the hedge). On reaching keeping the wooded area on Things to remember Manor House behind you). a gatepost with two waymarks 3 Cross the stile, bear left across your right, and continue to Much of the route is across cultivated and grazing land. If fixed to it, follow the direction walk close to the trees and the field and head towards Continue to follow the circular you bring your dog with you, keep it under close control 4 of the Shutford Circular Walk along the field edge. the plantation in the far walk waymarks and turn right and on a lead through stocked fields. However, current Permissive Footpath waymark corner. Walk between the two through the gate/gateway. advice recommends you should not walk between a cow which takes you right at this areas of trees, then bear left Follow the track along the and her calf and, if you are threatened by cattle, you should point and not straight on. 12 Go straight through the and follow the track to the bottom of the field (with the opening and, keeping to the let the dog off the lead. next gate, near Jester’s Barn. hedge on your right). At the Continue walking along the field edge with the hedge You may come across temporary fencing not mentioned next gate the track changes 11 field edge as it bears round to on your left, pass through a in the leaflet as farmers will use this in different places to 5 Keep following the track to sides so that the hedge is on the right until you reach a path gap between fields. Carry your left. manage their livestock throughout the year. Provision for Upper Lea Farm (on your right going left. Here turn left and straight on and follow the is Madmarston Hill) passing path between the hedge walkers to get through this fencing safely should always be After the farm buildings go then follow the tractor tyre made – please let us know if this is not the case. the first barn to your right. 6 tracks into the cropped area and some newer planting. through a wooden fieldgate Bear right and follow the and walk parallel to the field This stretch is wide enough Ground nesting birds can be disturbed by dogs, particularly on your left and into an old but is very overgrown which track, keeping the fence edge and hedgerow on your in the Spring, so please keep them under close control. and the rest of the farm orchard. Turn right and walk obscures the uneven terrain; right, around the bottom of the Respect plants and animals and take your litter home.