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This lovely old wool town used
to be a Protestant stronghold but is best known
now for its criss-cross cakes, its market cross
and the nursery rhyme Ride a Cock Horse – the
‘fine lady on a white horse’ may be a reference to
Lady Godiva.
The original market cross was destroyed by local
citizens in 1602. The existing cross was erected
in 1859 to mark the marriage of Queen Victoria’s
eldest daughter to Frederick of Prussia. Although
some fine old buildings were consumed by fire in
the 17th century, Banbury is a charming town whose
modern prosperity owes much to the construction of
the Oxford Canal. |
The Fine Lady at Banbury Cross - Photo:
Colin Smith
CCL |
