Essential Hotels > England > Oxfordshire > Banbury

Banbury is nestled in the northern tip of Oxfordshire, close to the Midlands and the likes of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. The historic town is approximately 20 miles from county town Oxford and is known for its market, its cakes and the nursery rhyme ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ which comes from the town. In existence for many years, Banbury has experienced a number of different national rulers and several different names, but has grown up considerably since its days as a Saxon hamlet in the 6th century.

There was a time when Banbury was made distinctive by its many crosses that were dotted throughout the town. They were destroyed in 1600 however, but the Banbury Cross was erected in 1859 to commemorate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s daughter. One of these crosses was mentioned in the nursery rhyme that helped Banbury become well known – Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross. The lyrics of the rhyme go as follows: Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, to see a fine lady upon a white horse. With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes. Banbury is home to the Kraft Foods coffee processing facility but the town has produced its famous Banbury cakes for many years previously. The cakes are still produced today and are made of fruit and pastry, taking on a similar substance to Eccles cakes. Other features of this Oxfordshire town are Banbury Museum, the Spiceball Park and the Banbury Hobby Horse Festival.

There is evidence to suggest there was a settlement on the site that is now Banbury in the Iron Age although the first mention of life in the area stems from the sixth century when there was a Saxon hamlet here. The Saxon dignitary Banna was in the area at this time and it is probably his name that contributed to the name Banbury. In the Domesday Book Banbury appears as Banesberie. The town was constructed on the River Cherwell’s west bank at the junction of two ancient roads called the Salt Way and Banbury Lane. Banbury prospered in the 13th century due to the wool trade however a curb was put on any growth in 1628 when a fire swept through the setting destroying many buildings. Help came in 1790 with the extension of the Oxford Canal, linking Banbury with the Midlands and Oxford itself. The railways in the 1850s also helped the expansion of the town meanwhile. Today Banbury is known for its low levels of unemployment.