Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, so the nursery rhyme goes. We were holidaying in the Cotswolds, so we ventured out for an afternoon visit to Banbury.
Located in the NE corner of the Cotswolds, Banbury is about 30 miles due north from Oxford. It is 15 miles from where we were staying as our Cotswolds base at Kirtlington.
Banbury History
Banbury is an Oxfordshire town built up around the River Cherwell. Its history is of a market town with its prominent position bordering Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. I could have been better prepared now that I know that it is famed for its Banbury cakes. We could have enjoyed a cake and maybe a Douwe Egberts coffee, given that Banbury has the world’s largest coffee processing facility. Who knew?
Recent excavations discovered an Iron Age settlement circa 200 BC. Prior knowledge of the town’s history was of the Saxon settlement in the 5th century. Much later on, Oliver Cromwell was said to have based his operations for the Civil War in Banbury Castle, which no longer exists.
During the 1770s, the Oxford Canal came to Banbury supporting the transport of coal from Warwickshire. On our visit, we stumbled upon the canal having wandered into, and around the back of a covered shopping centre.
Banbury Cross
A visit to Banbury wouldn’t be complete without seeing Banbury Cross. Built in the 1850s, it’s quite a modern addition to this very old town. However, there were former crosses that were destroyed by the Puritans in the 1600s. No wonder they were ostracised!
Banbury Cross commemorates the marriage of Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Victoria to Prince Frederick of Prussia.
So what of the nursery rhyme? Well, it is suggested that the words we know for Ride a Cock Horse are fairly modern. There are many historic variants. Princess Anne unveiled the Fine Lady Upon a White Horse statue in 2005.
Town Centre
There is a mix of old and new buildings in Banbury’s centre. The architecture of some of the buildings incorporates a striking brick lattice design. It gives these buildings a sense of grandeur, perhaps erected by prominent people in history.
The shops comprise the usual chains but, thankfully, there are many independent shops, tea rooms and restaurants. Pity we didn’t have time for a drink, because a few of the pubs look very interesting.
We were surprised to see the canal system at the back of a covered shopping mall. We are great lovers of canals and barges, so this was a real treat. Especially since it is still very much in use.
Is Banbury worth visiting? Yes, it certainly is. For us, the afternoon soon passed and we went on our way with plenty of photos to take home.
Staying in Banbury
Banbury has a rail station and good public transport. Excursions to popular Cotswolds attractions can be arranged from here. Banbury would make a great base for a Cotswolds holiday. Here is a list of holiday properties and hotels for Banbury.
If you are thinking about a Cotswolds holiday, here is a wider trawl of hotels, guest houses and holiday properties all over the Cotswolds.
