The "Shell Guides" were developed by Betjeman and Jack Beddington, a friend who was publicity manager with Shell-Mex Ltd, to guide Britain's growing number of motorists around the counties of Britain and their historical sites. They were published by the Architectural Press and financed by Shell. By the start of World War II 13 had been published, of which "Cornwall" (1934) and "Devon" (1936) were written by Betjeman. A third, "Shropshire", was written with and designed by his good friend John Piper in 1951.