Introduction  

The Shirleys had been in Cropredy for three generations and Colin was known for his exceptional talents as a joiner and carpenter.  His father William Albert Shirley was a mason and between them Cropredy and the surrounding area have benefited from their skills.  Everyone spoke very highly of Colin as a fellow craftsman, cricketer, librarian, and neighbour.  This book I hope will give others a little insight into the Cropredy, which he loved. 

Not long after we arrived in Cropredy the Shirley’s left for Fort Augustus.  During their last year we often came home from Banbury on the same bus and laden with shopping walked down Newscut Lane and round to Creampot Lane together.  If only we had talked about Cropredy in the past then.  I have also regretted the fact that the Cropredy Historical Society was not started until after the Shirley’s had left.  Colin would have been such an asset to the meetings.  There was so much more he would have mentioned.  I will always be grateful for the time and trouble he went to in replying to my letters.  Every one of these letters was written in his friendly and gentlemanly style.  Take no notice of his apologies for his writing for they were so easy to read and full of interest in spite of his problems. I have got into the habit of writing fast.  I try to slow down a bit but then I get back to the old way and it is as bad as ever. 

Colin Shirley’s letters begin in 1975.  He was particularly helpful with information that can only come from someone born in Cropredy.  In return I hoped that the manorial information I uncovered from the Brasenose College Oxford’s archives and the parish chest records which at that time were kept in the Bodleian Library, gave him something fresh to think about.  A small part of the history sent to the Shirleys about Old Yard follows this introduction. 

From the letters printed in Chapter 10 you will find Colin busy in 1982 looking after Helen and the house.  He was unable to write and say when she died in June and there was only his name on the Christmas card.  Fortunately as a meticulous craftsman he was well enough to “do everything myself.” And again later he was able to  “do my own housework, cooking, washing, ironing etc.  I still do a bit of woodwork.”  

In 1985 he wrote I must admit I was disappointed to hear you are leaving Cropredy.  I feel I shall be losing a link with Cropredy.  I don’t get any news except what I see in the Guardian.  Hearing we didn’t know any Welsh he commented upon his Mother.  Mother was a Gaelic speaker.  I have heard her say she was in her teens before she could speak English.  My Aunt, her sister, lived in Bloxham and when she used to come to us Mother and she spoke Gaelic.  My sister and I used to be annoyed because we didn’t know what they were saying.  I expect that was why they were speaking in Gaelic so that we wouldn’t.

Colin wrote twentysix replies until ill health prevented him from writing.  At first it was thought possible just to print them as they stood.  This would have been ideal if my questions had been in a logical order, but they were not.  So the various subjects have been gathered together into short chapters 1-9 and illustrated by Colin’s diagrams and photographs kindly lent for copying (for the purpose of this book only), by Colin’s nephew John A.Taylor and his sister Betty Clementson. 

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John contacted us at the beginning of 2002.  It was fortunate that he did as the photographs made it possible to start this book. The rest of the material in Colin’s letters has been gathered together in Chapter 10.  They reveal something of their life in Fort Augustus, but Colin still needed to keep in touch and read the weekly Banbury Guardian, so his letters mention many properties by house name.  A map has been placed at the very end of this book for anyone not familiar with these names. 

In 1985 we met Colin’s sister Mrs Christina Taylor and her son John when they were kind enough to call at Monkeytree House while visiting Cropredy.  On the 30^th of May 1986 Mrs Taylor wrote to me saying Colin had had a stroke on May the 4^th.  He had been in and out of hospital.  There they had discovered he also had cancer of the bones.  He sent a message to please keep writing. A very sad letter written on the 23^rd of July 1986 by Colin’s sister Christina Taylor informed us that her brother had just died.  The cancer had spread very rapidly.  He was 80 years old. We had lost a real friend.  His letters are as fresh as if they were written yesterday and this book of letters is dedicated to the memory of Colin and Helen Shirley. 

John A.Taylor has kindly writen about Cropredy as he knew it in Chapter 11 and added plans and a map.  A period not yet covered by any of the other Cropredy Books. The Taylors lived in Chapel House, Cropredy during the 1940’s and 50’s.  Chapel House was, up to 1881, the first Wesleyan Chapel.  It is now the Rolph’s Post Office.  John has also copied out some of the tributes sent to Colin in letters and a leaving book presented to him on retirement: and it seemed fitting to place them here. 

Copy of letter from Lord Wardington:                                       Sept. 15^th 1968 

Dear Mr Shirley.

                             Your skill in the making of the library bookshelves is beyond all words, and the result is going to give me most intense pleasure for all the years I hope to live at Wardington.  I feel you ought to cut your name in the paneling somewhere so that future people would know that this was done by Mr Shirley. 

  If the idea appeals to you, I should love you to do it.  In the mean time I must think of some way in which I can give you some pleasure to repay what you have done for me.  Would you like some roses?

            Yours sincerely

              Wardington.

John adds:  It’s not known if Mr Shirley cut his name or not, or if he received any roses.

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Letters on the fly leaf of a book called England presented to Mr Shirley upon his retirement. 

1)   This book is presented to Mr Colin Shirley in appreciation of his services to our company  or over 40 years as a carpenter and joiner.  There is evidence of his superior craftsmanship in a number of parish churches and country houses within 15 miles of Cropredy.  Also for his skill in restoring period furniture.  Such a workman will be sadly missed in this area and we feel he will continue his good work in a smaller way on his retirement to Scotland.

                   Signed on behalf of Cherry & Son Ltd                             S.R.Cherry

                                                       Cropredy                                       R.T.Cherry

                                                          Banbury.                                    D.R.Cherry 

                      A loving heart and patient mind shall work

                      With joy to bless mankind                                March 1973. 

1)            In 1620 Francis Bacon wrote:-

                  “Never miss seeing anything Beautiful, for Beauty is God’s handwriting.” 

                   I get such pleasure in looking at the many beautiful things you have done for me and my father at Wardington Manor.  I wish I could repay this pleasure in some way, but thank you so much for everything.

                         24 February 1973                      Wardington.