This is
Banbury
 

A Brief History
 

Banbury is the major town which serves
North Oxfordshire (  England )  and has an
estimated population of 40,000 to date. It is twinned
with Ermont in France and Hehhef in Germany.

Banbury , to the majority of UK
residents , is famous for the nursery rhyme:
 

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.

It is thought , the 'fine Lady' , may have been either
Lady Godiva or Elizabeth 1 , but in reality is most
probably a local girl who rode in the May Day procession.

The original cross was pulled down towards
the end of the 16th century , the new cross being erected
in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of the Princess Royal
and Prince Fredrick of Prussia.

The name Banbury may be derived
from 'Banna', a local Saxon dignitary
who is said to have built his stockade
here in the 500's. By the time of
William the Conqueror 'Banesberie'
was mentioned in the Domesday book.
In the 13th century it had grown to
become an important wool trading
centre bringing wealth to the local population.
In 1628 the town was ravaged by fire
which destroyed many buildings,
though some have survived to the present day.
The opening of the Oxford Canal
in 1790 connecting Banbury with
the Midlands bought new industries
and growth which continued
with the arrival of the railways.

Banbury Cakes, a special fruit and pastry cake,
are still produced. At one time they were
being sent as far afield as
Australia, India and America.