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.
On sunday we set off to Banbury, albeit taking a rather more conventional method of transport than a horse for a family gathering. Banbury was the chosen location because it was more or less central for for everyone to meet. The excuse was the return of a jacket to the owner who had left it in our house over Christmas (as if we ever really need an excuse to meet up 
). The Shropshire travellers stopped off to see Banbury Cross and the fine lady on her white horse, although she was looking bronze rather than white…
The family gathering was in the Saye & Sele Arms in Broughton just outside Banbury. The owners and staff were warm and welcoming and we had a wonderful afternoon chatting and catching up with each other which was enhanced by lovely food and service.
Whilst we were there Mr C and I noticed a sign to Broughton Castle and we just had to do a detour before we left for home. Unfortunately we could not see the castle from the roadside so out of curiosity I looked it up on the internet. It piqued my interest and we hope to return later in the year when it is open for visitors.
When we return to visit Broughton Castle we might call in to sample some pancakes in the delightful Little Amsterdam Cafe where we stopped for a refreshing drink in Banbury before making our way to the Saye & Sele for lunch.
Lovely post and photos – I don’t think I have ever been to Banbury. Broughton Castle sounds interesting too
My visit to Banbury was a first and it was a rather rushed visit…
How nice to see tangible evidence of a local nursury rhyme. I used to ‘meet under the Ele” (the Elephant – a small statue of one that sat atop a pole in Broadgate in Coventry) when I was a young chap. The real attraction there however was a much larger statue , in fact life sized and a bit, of Lady Godiva on her horse. It used to sit in a parklike square around which traffic flowed at a modest distance. Now, I understand it is more like under seige.
In Oz we have some ‘notable’ almost mythological landmarks, like the Red Dog, which is a tiny statue depicting a legendary dog – a mongrel, of course – in WA (it might actually be a myth): and of course the ‘Black Stump’ which is supposed to stand somewhere out in the outback. I do not know of anyone who has actually seen it.
I remember the Lady Godiva statue from one of my visits to Coventry. I also remember from another occasion sitting in a pub with friends, I think it was around lunch time… As I looked through the window I saw Lady Godiva on a horse, trotting past the window. On a closer look she wasn’t actually naked she had a nude bodysuit on. Even so the experience was quite surreal
Your timing was perfect.
I can remember when the main road from the south went through Banbury; long before the M40. The pancakes sound interesting.
I am definately going back to sample those. I think I know someone else who might enjoy the Little Amsterdam Cafe
Now the rhyme has some context! I heard it many times as a child but had no clue as to where Banbury was.
It was my first visit there
Great pictures and that little Amsterdam looks great too.
We hope to visit that cafe when we next go to Banbury
I would go just to see the lady on her horse, Cherry. How wonderful.
It is a fabulous statue, more about her later