St. Michael's Church - Church Lane.
There has been a Church on the present site since Saxon times, the present building dating from C14, with alterations carried out in 1842 and 1861. It consists of two aisles and a chancel.
In the churchyard can be found the stump and the base of an old stone cross and a yew tree with a circumference of 17 feet, both are thought to date from the eleventh century.
An old tree appears to have grown 'out of the wall' and is hollow with a large hole through it yet it still lives! The church has a fine old organ which has recently been restored.
The Old Rectory - Church Lane.
The Old Rectory is situated next door to St. Michael's Church. It is largely constructed in sandstone like the church, its earliest origins being C14. It has been altered many times over the centuries, and is now a private residence. There is also a separate stable block dating from the C19. It is constructed in red brick much in keeping with many of the village buildings of the period.
The Old School House - Church Lane.
The old School House pictured above is situated on the north side of the churchyard, and dates from 1845 - MDCCCXLIV, These Roman numerals being clearly visible above the original entrance. The building was constructed in Gothic style and had a school room and teacher's house. It is now divided into two private residences which are very pretty.
Three Cottages - Church Lane.
To the south of the Old Rectory are a row of three terraced cottages which may have been partly altered from a barn as there is evidence of some filled in'breathers'. They are also raised some steps higher than the present road.
The Saracen's Head Public House.
The Saracen's Head Public House is opposite the above mentioned cottages, and also the turn for Derby Lane. It was built in 1791 and has been subject to a few internal alterations during its lifetime, there does, however, appear to be one room which looks as though it has remained pretty well as it was when built, including a bread oven in one corner of the room, and a stone sink. The present building stands on the site of previous inns. The name originates from the commemorative coat of arms of the Shirley family marking service in The Crusades as mentioned earlier in our Historical Outline. The Pub is now a Free House and serves bar meals throughout the week apart from Sunday evening.
The Toffee Shop - Butcher's Shop/Slaughter House/Smithy - Thatched Cottage.
This group of buildings apart from the above uses, may have had other uses of a commercial nature in their past. They are now private residences and lie to the north of the Saracen's Head, some down a driveway and one, the Old Toffee Shop, almost facing the Pub. At the far end of the driveway is the thatched cottage which is C17 and as its name suggests is mostly thatched with some more modern additions.
Village Shop & Post Office.
On the corner of Derby Lane and Church Lane, opposite the three terraced cottages, is the building that up to recent years was the Village Shop and Post Office. It is now a residential dwelling and has the public telephone box and post box next to it.
Going downhill from the Shop and Post Office is another building, once the Village Bakery. The bottom door was to gain access to the fuel store, and the window above used to be the entrance for the delivery of flour etc., pulled up by pulley from carts below.
Village Bakery
Following the road round the corner and down hill from the Bakery we find ourselves on Mill Lane.
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel - 1855
It was rather a small building, perhaps indicating that congregations were small in number if not in heart! The fact the building was some way out of the village, about four hundred yards down Mill Lane on the right, suggests that Methodists were not very popular in those days, at least with the local landowner, or it may purely have been a lack of land available within the village. After many years of disuse as a chapel, it became a utility meeting place for Parish Council meetings etc. The building was sold and demolished in 1995/1996. The future of the site remains uncertain.
Yew Tree Cottage - 17th. Century.
Yew Tree Cottage is a thatched cottage which is approx. another 170 yards further
down Mill Lane on the left hand side. Although dating from the C17 it was enlarged in the 1950's. The thatch indicates the possible use of local materials, commonly used in buildings in those days, due to the lack of easily available transport to get suitable materials from elsewhere.
Shirley Mill Farm.
Shirley Mill Farm lies a further three hundred yards approx. further down Mill Lane on the right hand side. It is the lowest point of the lane at this juncture. The road and the farm obviously take the name from the mill that stood there. With it being the lowest point, there is a brook running along near to the farmhouse. Where the small bridge is, was once a ford. Behind the building stand the remains of the mill which are attached to the main farmhouse. I believe the accidental death of a local boy resulted in much of the old working part of the mill being demolished. There remains, however, several of the old millstones on display.
From Mill Lane, we now move to the opposite end of the village to Hall Lane, the most northerly of the lanes leading to the main A52 Ashbourne to Derby road. Like Mill Lane it is a continuation of Church Lane to the north, and turns round a sharp corner at its junction with Park Lane. The lane, supposedly, was named after the Hall, now Shirley Hall Farm.
Shirley Hall Farm.
The driveway to the Farm can be found some three hundred yards down the lane to the right. Originally, it was Shirley Hall and Shirley Manor, named after the Shirley family who settled in the hamlet during the reign of Henry 11 (1154-1189). It did not become the principal seat of the Shirley's until circa 1220-1254 and then only until the marriage of Ralph Shirley to Margaret of Staunton Harold in 1423. Staunton Harold subsequently became the chief seat of the Shirley family in 1468. It was almost surrounded by a moat, the usual line of defence in those days. The Goodall family, well known local farmers in the area, occupied the Hall for approx. 450 years. I am related to the family by marriage. It is now occupied by another farming family, Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Foster. There are actually two entrances to the farm, one from Hall Lane and the other from Derby Lane. Naturally the building has undergone many changes over the centuries, but there is one room which contains the original wainscot (panelling), and has the arms of the Earl's Ferrers carved in oak over the fireplace.
The Old Vicarage.
A further three hundred yards up the lane from Shirley Hall Farm entrance is The Old Vicarage, which is on the same side as the Farm. It was built as a vicarage in 1824 by the Vicar of Shirley, Rev. W.A. Shirley. The famous religious novelist, John Cowper Powys, was born at the vicarage in 1872, when his father was vicar of Shirley. It is a rendered building, painted white, typical of large properties of that era.
The 'Outlook'
This is literally the last building on Hall Lane, being on the corner with the main A52 Ashbourne Road. It is also on the opposite side of the lane, (west side) to the other buildings already mentioned above. It was built in the early 19th. century, and is of particular interest for one main feature; that is its triple shafted chimney stack, which is the first view you get of the building. It also has pointed windows with diamond glazing, another interesting and attractive feature.
Coming back into the village, there is another lane at the junction of Church Lane and Hall Lane. This is Park Lane, possibly named after the park land it leads to; Osmaston Manor Estate where the Home of Sir Ian Walker-Okeover, Osmaston Manor, once stood. This was known as Shirley Park in the maps dated 1900. It would be no exaggeration to say that it is beautiful, and indeed very popular with walkers as there are footpaths through it to both Osmaston and Wyaston. It is still owned, I believe by the Okeover Estate. Much of the land has been taken over for forestry, quick growing I would think, as it is mainly conifer. On the footpath to Osmaston there is a steep descent at the bottom of which are lakes, and a saw mill fed by a fast running brook, these form a very picturesque scene. They are approx. a mile from the junction of Park Lane with Hall Lane. About a quarter of a mile down Park Lane on the right hand side is the village sports field where local football and cricket teams compete, permission to use the land being given by the Okeover Estate.
The Saw Mill.
The Saw Mill is a unique and lovely building, somewhat resembling Swiss Chalet.
It was built C.1845 by Henry Stevens of Derby, and is constructed in stone, with a stone slate roof, rather in the fashion of Cotswold buildings. It has a large overshot wheel, roofed over by open timber-work supported on stone piers. The windows are glazed in diamond pattern, and there are two roof dormers similarly glazed. The amount of detail is too great to go into further, but it can be found in a book about Shirley which is mentioned at the end.
The village lies on the edge of a ridge which affords it glorious views sweeping south-west to north-west, over beautiful countryside. We may get blown off the edge by the strong winds, but at least we should not get flooded!!
Like most old villages, Shirley has succumbed to modern housing which in no way harmonises with the afore mentioned original buildings, (a personal view) but if this had not happened, I for one, would possibly not be here now. There is enough of the original village left to make a visit well worth while, and there are many footpaths in and around Shirley, clearly marked with new signs. Obviously, many buildings of historical interest have not been included at this stage, but as further information comes to hand the site will be updated.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Joe Johnson, for his very kind permission to use extracts from his book 'Shirley Village' from which all historical content is taken (please see below for details on buying this book.) 2nd. Edition published in 2000.
All those involved with Joe's 1st. and 2nd. Edition 'Shirley Village'.
Further thanks to Shirley Parish Council, Shirley Sports & Social Committee and Shirley St. Michael's Church P.C.C. for giving it their support.
Anybody wishing to gain more detailed information about the village will need to read his book.
Shirley Village History Book.
68 pages
2nd Edition 2000
Copies of this book are available at £3.50 each plus packing and postage from either of three Shirley Committees of your choice, details of whom are listed below.
Please note. All proceeds from the book are to go towards the respective
objectives of each committee for the benefit of the community of Shirley Parish.
Sales contacts:
