diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/test_shell.py b/test/functional/test_framework/test_shell.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4505e25be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/test_shell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# Copyright (c) 2019 The Bitcoin Core developers
+# Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+# file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
+
+
+class TestShell:
+    """Wrapper Class for BitcoinTestFramework.
+
+    The TestShell class extends the BitcoinTestFramework
+    rpc & daemon process management functionality to external
+    python environments.
+
+    It is a singleton class, which ensures that users only
+    start a single TestShell at a time."""
+
+    class __TestShell(BitcoinTestFramework):
+        def set_test_params(self):
+            pass
+
+        def run_test(self):
+            pass
+
+        def setup(self, **kwargs):
+            if self.running:
+                print("TestShell is already running!")
+                return
+
+            # Num_nodes parameter must be set
+            # by BitcoinTestFramework child class.
+            self.num_nodes = kwargs.get('num_nodes', 1)
+            kwargs.pop('num_nodes', None)
+
+            # User parameters override default values.
+            for key, value in kwargs.items():
+                if hasattr(self, key):
+                    setattr(self, key, value)
+                elif hasattr(self.options, key):
+                    setattr(self.options, key, value)
+                else:
+                    raise KeyError(key + " not a valid parameter key!")
+
+            super().setup()
+            self.running = True
+
+        def shutdown(self):
+            if not self.running:
+                print("TestShell is not running!")
+            else:
+                super().shutdown()
+                self.running = False
+
+        def reset(self):
+            if self.running:
+                print("Shutdown TestWrapper before resetting!")
+            else:
+                self.num_nodes = None
+                super().__init__()
+
+    instance = None
+
+    def __new__(cls):
+        # This implementation enforces singleton pattern, and will return the
+        # previously initialized instance if available
+        if not TestShell.instance:
+            TestShell.instance = TestShell.__TestShell()
+            TestShell.instance.running = False
+        return TestShell.instance
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        return getattr(self.instance, name)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+        return setattr(self.instance, name, value)