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

On Saturday we didn't ride a cock horse but rather our trusty Ford to Banbury and to it's cross made famous by the nursery rhyme. This isn't the original cross but rather one that was installed in 1859 to replace the original cross which was destroyed in 1600!

This cross is at the intersection of four major roads -- those to Oxford, Warwick, Shipston-on-Stour and the High Street. This cross was built to commemorate the marriage of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary to Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia.

It stands 52 feet 6 inches high to the top of it's gilt cross!!!

And on the way back to town from viewing the cross we walked through a wonderful Edwardian neighborhood.

Love these old houses -- and each owner personalizes their door their way -- one green and one red!

A beautiful example of Edwardian architecture -- proudly displaying the 1904 date that it was built --

After a good walk around Banbury (where we searched in vain for a Banbury tart -- where, oh, where, were the Banbury tarts?) we headed out to the country to tour country house and gardens.

First . . .

Upton House

1930's Millionaire's Mansion

A magnificent house built in the golden age of country living by the heir to the Shell Oil fortune, Walter Samuel, an avid art collector.

There had been houses on this site since the 15th century and the basis for the current house was built in the 17th century, with additions in the early 18th century. Lord Bearstead (Walter Samuels) bought the house in 1927 and remodeled the house into his ideal of the perfect country house.

It is truly magnificent!

And then we traveled to . . . .

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Farnborough Hall

Owned by the Holbech family who still lives there, they acquired the estate in 1684 and the honey-coloured two-storey stone house was built soon after.

No pictures were allowed inside the house -- it was after all a family home -- with stacks of magazines near chairs, a TV remote on a tabletop and the rooms had a lived in air that other tour houses seem to lack.

I told Husband Jim that I could definitely live in Farnborough Hall -- he smiled and said "of course, you could!" But he knew what I meant -- that although it was large it wasn't too large and it did have a homey atmosphere about it.

After we got home, Banbury tartless, we had tea . . .

Served properly in cups and saucers at the dining room table -- with Eccles Cakes which we had picked up at the bakery.

They were very good and went wonderfully with tea!

It was a good Saturday outing in England -- a cloudless blue sky gave way to darker clouds and spitting rain and a good chill in the air! But it was still a fun way to spend a Saturday!