Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross

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

Banbury CrossThis nursery rhyme, has made Banbury one of the best known towns in England. It has been suggested that the 'Fine Lady' of the nursery rhyme may have been Lady Godiva or Elizabeth I.

More likely it was a local girl who rode in a May Day procession. The original cross was pulled down at the end of the 16th century. The present cross was erected in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of the then Princess Royal.

The name Banbury may be derived from 'Banna', a local Saxon dignitary who is said to have built his stockade there in the 500's. By the time of William the Conqueror 'Banesberie' was mentioned in the Domesday book.

Rhymes Thirty Days Wise Old Owl Tom Piper House Jack Built Seesaw Margery Daw Bo Peep Little Piggy Boy Blue Jack Sprat Jack Horner Miss Muffet Tommy Tucker Ladybug Mary Mary quite contrary Old King Cole Cry Baby Bunting Hush A Bye Baby Doctor Foster Georgie Porgie Goosey Gander The Grand Old Duke Of York An Apple A Day St Ives Baa Baa Black Sheep Old Mother Hubbard Robin Red Brest Oranges And Lemon Banbury Cross Jack Be Nibble Twinkle Star Dicky Birds Willie Winker Sugar and Spice Cock Robin Old Women Diddle Diddle Hickory Dickory Hot Cross Buns Humpty Dumpty Ding Dong Bells Itsy Bitsy Spider Jack and Jill Christmas is coming Fish Alive