Banbury Cross

(our travels of 21st October)

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.

There are a few interpretations of this nursery rhyme, but the local one is that the fine lady was a member of the Fiennes family.  She was a little “unstable” and so the bells were put on her feet so people knew where she was at any time.  She used to ride from the family home, Broughton Castle to Banbury, on a white horse.

Cousin Clare and her sons, (who live in Banbury)