A History of Banbury | Just Beyond the Cotswolds

Following Herbert Evans Highways and Byways in Oxford and the Cotswolds, we skipped Banbury in our early explorations. This week, we've decided to return to the Oxfordshire town to see what we missed.
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[@melissagray8138]

As an American this is everything I’ve ever dreamed of when I think of visiting Great Britain! 🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧

[@taipizzalord4463]

Banbury is just an average, car infested pitstop town between B'Ham and London. I (M,23) live here. The town centre is full of empty stores, not much going on after 7pm, and the bus network is very infrequent. Which matters as Banbury is pretty hilly. The council is just made up of mostly retirees who are home dry, (grandfathered pensions, home paid off etc) thus they have checked out and have no new ideas. All the blue collar manufacturing jobs (which are hard for young people to get into as the government isn't interested in helping the private sector take on young people) are reducing in quality as pay as not kept up with inflation.

[@cindchan]

How wonderful that the volunteers had you bring the dogs in for treats and water. Shows a very caring group of people! 🥰

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

They were very kind. Thanks for watching. Robin

[@helenbailey8419]

All creatures great and small included.

[@dianarolph1770]

Mine too!

[@sdwill66]

My home town!

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Robin and Ross. Your tour of Banbury and, especially of St. Mary’s Church, is one of my favourites… thank you❤️❤️

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

Thanks Carol. And thanks for watching. Robin

[@goldenineke]

I’m looking forward to purchasing the new edition, so I can read it cover to cover here in Australia and dream about returning to the UK again.

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

Great to hear. Thanks for watching. Robin

[@michaeledwards427]

My hometown. My parents moved us to banbury when i was 4 in 1972. When i met my wife she resolutely wouldn't move to banbury as thats where i work to thìs day since I left school. So when we married in 1996 i moved 15 miles away to shipston on stour, in Warwickshire, her home town. Ive never felt at home in shipston and never will. I love our house and i call it home but outside our garden gate definitely not. I told my wife years ago that if we ever split up id be back to banbury like a shot. Im not saying that its any better or worse than any other market town but sadly the town centre has gone down hill with alot of boarded up shops like everywhere else. Also being made to go into st marys church for school thanksgiving and also remembrance day with the Air training cadets i never really appreciated what a magnificent building it really is.

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

My hometown! I know it's not really Cotswolds because the stone changes into that wonderful warm ironstone, but it has some wonderful surrounding villages. It's changed a lot over the past few decades. My grandmother baked Banbury cakes in a bakery on Parson's Street.

[@BA-be5vm]

Some Cotswolds villages have the ironstone, Ratley etc.

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

@@BA-be5vm The escarpment villlages are kind of an exception in this regard. Officially (and geologically), most of the stretch between Chipping Norton and Banbury, including places like Bloxham, is not Cotswolds, and Banbury itself certainly isn't.

[@BA-be5vm]

@@DefinitelyAPotato Epwell to Warmington is in the cotswolds and is all ironstone

[@DC-rh3xr]

My hometown too, I used to buy my Nan those cakes, they still sell them there :)

[@sylviabartsch6205]

What a wonderful wetter today! The castle's paint I like. The church's windows too. Sincerely, is a lovely work that your team and you do.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Use the GOOGLE TRANSLATE.🙏.

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

thanks so much. I am glad you are enjoying the channel. Robin

[@louiseb4171]

Youve made Banbury look pretty there!

[@Mistydazzle]

Thank you for this lovely tour! I was immediately brought back to a visit to the Chapel of St. Mary at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, upon seeing the interior of this church, as they were both designed & constructed in the late eighteenth century. The shapes, colors, gilding, lightness of interior supports all exhibit the design fashion of the time, much like gray paint and industrial appointments will date decor to the late 2010's- early 2020's, as we humans ever move along in wanting what is in current fashion. 🙂 It is a great travesty, to me, that a fine ancient building was deliberately destroyed so that developers could line their pockets - some things never change.

[@TonyCarrollPassion4Motorsport]

Heyyy Robin Great Timing sir** a Nice way To Spend a Sunday Pm Chill With The Explorer** Thanks Tc

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

Thanks to you too TC. Glad you are enjoying the channel. Robin

[@yellowboot6629]

Thank 'YOU 💞

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

You're welcome 😊

[@chrissyman77]

My home town, like the shot of Jones old wine house.

[@helenbailey8419]

That was WONDERFUL Thank-you.

[@rogertemple7193]

This was a really great tour of Banbury i enjoyed seeing the church and the village this is a very nice place and another great video of the Cotswolds Thank You.:)

[@TheCotswoldExplorer]

Your'e welcome Roger. Many thanks for watching. Robin

[@rogertemple7193]

@@TheCotswoldExplorer You are very Welcome have a really great week and Thank You, Robin.🤠

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

It's not a village, it's a town of over 50 thousand people.

[@rogertemple7193]

@@DefinitelyAPotato village, town, whatever I live there you don't!!!!

[@2beer49]

I caught a train there for a trip to Liverpool and again in May of 88 for a tip to Edinburgh. I was stationed at R.A.F. Upper Heyford U.K. between May 86-Aug. 88. I still miss the U.K. to this day.

[@candyboyer]

When I think of Banbury, I always think of that nursery rhyme, "Ride a horse to Banbury Cross, to see a fine lady upon a white horse..." Thanks Robin & company for another delightful tour.

[@lorettafrancesconi2337]

Thank you for the video and the stories....Very Interesting.Bye bye from Italy 😊

[@tabbaranxx]

It’s a shame you didn’t explore a little bit more. So much more to see in Banbury.

[@user-kp5vd1tg3r]

That was extremely joyful. Thank you so much.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Waiting seated.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

While it cannot replace the wanton destruction of its medieval predecessor, the design and decoration of the interior of its 18C successor makes some amends. Your very interesting video shows you were right not to be deterred by its rather undistinguished-looking exterior.

[@carolineolsenarnold7039]

My hometown though I haven't lived there for many years.

[@ceparksromanceharps]

Always love your videos of towns and villages in the Cotswolds. Visited for the first time in September 2021. Trust I'll be back in a year or two to see more of the area. Carry on!

[@garyevans7118]

I love your content, and do not want to be negative, I was wondering if you could do garden tours as well. I am in Australia and planning a garden tour to England

[@willhemmings]

Sad to hear about the loss of the original church of St Mary in Banbury. Fortunately very good plans and drawings were made before demolition in 1790

[@rhondareadman]

I’ll be visiting Banbury for Xmas :)

[@sdwill66]

I believe Defoe got the name Gulliver from a gravestone in the churchyard. There should be a memorial somewhere in the grounds. I also think that Benjamin Franklin's grandfather was buried in Banbury.

[@burnbrae6948]

It was Jonathan Swift not Defoe 😉

[@sdwill66]

@burnbrae6948 Yes, don't know why I mixed those two up. You know what they say, "Banbury born and Banbury bred, strong in the arm and thick in the head".

[@CollinPollhill]

Hi hope you are well and ok we mid you I miss the haunting stories Iv always watching your Halloween haunting stories I think it’s buetfy full where you are i feel sorry for the lddy that was getting married but ran into a castle and hidden away in a chast sadly the woman was never found but wonders the ground s every night after midnight so sad that story and the damp woman

[@carycary5824]

Looking forward to your new book coming out the 1st. of October Robin!!! Thanks for all the enjoyment you give the simple masses!!😊😂❤ Just kidding I’m the only simple minded on your channel!!!

[@teemo8870]

🙋‍♀️

[@helenbailey8419]

The church had the Fred Dibnah treatment.

[@paulturner5339]

Please don't make the mistake of associating Lady Godiva with Banbury, Lady Godiva was Coventry, a totally different place. The 'fine lady was Lady Say and Seal, who's family name was (and still is) Fiennes. Also she wasn't riding a 'rocking horse' but a 'cock horse', a coaching term. Banbury has a history of demolishing buildings of historical interest, not just the original church but the castle and the original Banbury Cake bakery also saw the (metaphorical) wrecking ball. Nice video though.

[@taipizzalord4463]

Banbury is just an average, car infested pitstop town between B'Ham and London. I (M,23) live here. The town centre is full of empty stores, not much going on after 7pm, and the bus network is very infrequent. Which matters as Banbury is pretty hilly. The council is just made up of mostly retirees who are home dry, (grandfathered pensions, home paid off etc) thus they have checked out and have no new ideas. All the blue collar manufacturing jobs (which are hard for young people to get into as the government isn't interested in helping the private sector take on young people) are reducing in quality as pay as not kept up with inflation.

[@aariley2]

Spoil those lovely doggies for me!❤

[@elena_v_gor_m_104]

👍👍👍

[@kevinshort3483]

The Whateley Hall hotel is now full of dinghy divers.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Blomfield's work is the definition of lipstick on a pig

[@BA-be5vm]

Beautiful town, certainly not deprived, unsure where you got that from? It has however suffered under corrupt Conservative councillors.

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

It is indeed deprived- 7 areas of Banbury are in the top 10% most deprived nationally, especially around Neithrop, Ruscote, and Grimsbury. The rate of child poverty in Ruscote is at 24%.

[@BA-be5vm]

@DefinitelyAPotato absolute tosh.. where are you getting these statistics- The 10% is in Cherwell, somewhere with very low levels of deprivation nationally. Have you been to the North East/ North West of England?

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

@@BA-be5vm Of course I've been there; that doesn't make areas of Banbury not deprived. These statistics come from the Banbury Community profile of Health and Wellbeing evidence, November 2019, as shown by Oxfordshire County Council. insight.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/system/files/documents/BanburyJSNAprofileNov19.pdf Don't stick your head in the sand just because other places have it worse. There are areas of Banbury CLEARLY not doing particularly well.