Page 16 - The Long Crendon Connection

Redditch Heritage The Long Crendon Connection

son of Martha Hawkes of Burts Lane. Also in the party were his cousin, John Solomon Shrimpton,
with wife Mary Ann and baby Ann; Mary's brother, Solomon David Shrimpton, the Harris family,
John Eph's neighbours Ephraira and Kezia, with son Samuel and the baby.
One covered wagon, lent by John Kirby Shrimpton and drawn by two horses carried the women
and children, this was driven by William Towersey, The other, loaned by Will Carter of Smiths
End, was drawn by four horses, since it was carrying the furniture and trade appliances. This was
driven by Richard Beckett of High St, seen off by his wife Sophia and the six children.
John Ephraira had chosen his route carefully, making for Adderbury on the first day, to conserve
the horses for the tougher part of the journey on Tuesday. Leaving by the Oakley public road,
they skirted the 'shoot' where only last week the Hector of Chilton, Mr Chetwode, and his friends
had got such a marvellous bag. Rumbling through Ambrosden, they reached the Aylesbury turnpike
just short of Bicester. With the weather holding and the temperature in the mid 40s, this was an
easy stretch. Out of Bicester, up the hill to Stoke Wood, on to Aynho, then down the hill to the
canal, as so to the Plough at Adderbury. The women and children spent the night in the Inn while
the men slept in the covered wagons.

Tuesday saw the party on the road at daybreak, rattling into Banbury as the day warmed up to
47o with a gentle westerly wind. The winter sunshine showed up the stark new Yorkshire Stone
of the footpath in the handsome market town, whose prosperity depended on the plush and
webbing Industries. Going out of the town up the long hill on the Warwick road, they were glad
of the help of the 'Cockhorses' to pull the heavy wagons.

They turned left at Drayton on the Wroxton road, where progress was slow over the undulating
route. Climbing out of the village to Uplands Farm, they reached the crest of Edge Hill, Now, one
wagon at a time, with the horses at back and front, they eased cautiously down into the Vale of
the Red Horse, The sun shone from a clear sky as they went over Windmill Hill to Fillerton Priors.

But as they went the sun faded and with darkness they felt a nip in the air, threatening worse to
come. They were glad to reach Eatington, the night stop, but while the women were snug in the
inn, the men felt the frost penetrating beneath the
covers of the wagons.

The plan was for a good run to Stratford,on to Alcester, and arrival in Astwwod Bank in the late
afternoon. It was very cold when they left Eatlngton and they were glad to arrive in Stratford,
passing through nut bush thickets. They rumbled past the 'Shoulder of Mutton', and at Clopton

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