Banbury

Banbury, town, Oxfordshire, south-central England, on the River Cherwell. The town has an important cattle market and manufactures agricultural machinery and metal products. Since the 17th century it has been noted for the baking of Banbury cakes, a traditional currant pastry, and food processing remains an important industry. Banbury was a stronghold of Puritanism during the 17th century. The old Banbury Cross of nursery rhyme fame was destroyed by the Puritans in 1602; it was replaced in 1859. Population 38,200 (1994 estimate).