Cropredy

On Sunday (22/08/2021) we cast off and headed out of Banbury. This house had attracted our attention in the past, the couple living there feeling the need to put their picture up on the wall so that boaters know who lives there.

Minimalist graffiti on the Oxford Canal. Difficult to spray on trees and bushes.

It is a shame to see derelict and burned out lock cottages. This one advised us to enjoy every moment.

We made our way to Cropredy where we were given permission to moor up overnight on a permanent mooring as the owner was away elsewhere at the moment.

The village of Cropredy has its roots in Anglo-Saxon times and its name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "croppe" - meaning hill and "ridig" - small stream. The village and its manor were mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and before the Reformation it was part of the estate held by the Bishop of Lincoln.

The picturesque Oxford Canal and the River Cherwell run in parallel on the south east border of the village. The Canal opened in 1790 and there is evidence of a former coal wharf, corn granary and brickworks, all of which used barges to transport their goods. The Toll Office still stands by the narrow section of the canal where an oak beam was lowered until the tonnage had been established and the tolls paid.

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th Century with additions in the 14th and 15th centuries. There is evidence of an earlier Church on the same site. The South Chapel is dedicated to St. Fremund who, according to legend, was the son of Offa of Mercia.

Ralph McTell sang about Cropredy and Fairport Convention were reborn here.

By 1979 the mainstream market for folk rock had largely disappeared, the band Fairport Convention had no record deal, and Dave Swarbrick had been diagnosed with tinnitus, which made loud electric gigs increasingly difficult. Fairport decided to disband. They played a farewell tour and a final outdoor concert on 4 August in Cropredy, the Oxfordshire village where Dave and Christine Pegg lived.

We went to the Brasenose Arms which was frequented by Fairport Convention, indeed they played a gig here on 05/08/2021.

Hilary managed to book us a table in the garden and we had Sunday roast lunch here.

We ate in a nice little pod in the garden with the sun shining, so we had no need of the heater.

They were geared up for vegetarians and vegans but we opted for pork (Hilary) and lamb (Steve).

Steve finished reading his book, which gave him an insight into a period of English history that he was aware about, but didn’t know much detail.

Vera and Steve went to investigate the Red Lion and found it to be a traditional village pub.

Unusually, music was provided by a record player. Steve turned over the Frankie Lane LP when side one had finished.

We set off to explore the village of Cropredy.

This is where it all happened on 29th June 1644 during the English Civil War.

It all kicked off between the Roundheads and the Caveliers.

The man on the mobility scooter on the small cruiser moored next to us was working his way through his huge stash of cans of Thatchers Gold cider. He told us that the local shop was so expensive that the boaters had nicknamed it Fortnum and Masons.

In the marina they joked that a man went into The Bridge Stores and picked up an ice cream and a packet of crisps. “I’m sorry I only have a £20 note”, he said to the cashier. “In that case you’ll have to put something back”, she replied.

Our other neighbours had the usual liking for skulls as adornments.

And a fondness for the bar in Minder where Terry McCann and Arthur Daley drank.

Steve quite liked this compact solid tank of a boat which looked capable of tackling the sea as well as the inland waterways, having been in Bristol Harbour.

We settled in for the night watching The Handmaid’s Tale, Series 3, Episode 8. Steve had a silent disco on the stern using his MP3 player and earphones before taking Vera for a walk with her tennis ball along the canal towpath before bed.