Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.
Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book version from 1744:
Ride a cock-horse
To Banbury Cross,
To see what Tommy can buy;
A penny white loaf,
A penny white cake,
And a two-penny apple-pie.
Queen's Visit to Banbury
This nursery rhyme is widely believed to refer to Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) and her visit to the town of Banbury — a small market town about sixty miles northwest of London. At the time, a grand stone cross had been set up there as a religious landmark. During the Queen’s journey, a wheel of her carriage reportedly broke, and she continued the rest of the way on horseback — riding a splendid white stallion.
Puritans Against Crosses
The Banbury Cross did not stand for long. Puritans, who opposed religious monuments and pilgrimage sites, demolished it in 1602. A new cross was finally erected again in 1859, near the original location.
Banbury Cakes
Banbury is also famous for its delicious cakes. Banbury cakes, made with honey, cinnamon, and were already made at the time of Queen Elizabeth visit, and they remain a local specialty to this day.
