Ride a Cock Horse

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady on a white horse
With rings on her fingers and bell on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes.



She also appears to have a small frog.
The reason for this is very philosophical and beyond me.

Forty years ago Banbury had the reputation as a no-go area for mooring canal boats. Since then the town has embraced the canal with retail development and mooring bollards through the town. Shoppers often park one side of the canal and cross by footbridge to the town centre. There are a number of small shops and the main chains but the proportion of empty stores and charity shops seems to be increasing.

Banbury Cake

One cannot ignore the Banbury Cake in my experience. Like the Eccles and Chorley cakes, the recipe and presentation of them depends considerably on where they are made and by whom. Having eaten each of these in their respective  locations I offer my verdict.

Eccles Cake

Eccles Cake
This is my favourite. Made with a butter-ritch flaky pastry and crammed with currants

Chorley Cake

Chorley Cake
This is my least favourite of the trio. Made with short crust pastry and a stingy filling. This resembles an individual version of the Sad cake found on the Lancs/York border.

Sad Cake

Like the Sad cake, it can be a bit dry.