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Universal British Directory, 1791

Banbury

Lies on the river Charwel, and the edge of Northamptonshire, in the road from Buckingham to Bridgenorth, 17 miles from Oxford, and 74 miles from London. A castle was built here, anno 1125, now totally demolished. In the first of Q. Mary it was made a borough, consisting of a bailiff, 12 aldermen, and 12 burgesses. In the reign of James I. it was made a mayor town, with 12 aldermen, and 6 capital burgesses; and, in 1718, it had a new charter from king George I. with the style of mayor, aldermen, and capital burgesses. It is now governed by a mayor, high-steward, recorder, 6 capital burgesses, and 30 assistants, a town-clerk, and two serjeants-at-mace. It has a fine large handsome church, a free-school, two charity-schools, and a work-house. There is such good land hereabouts, especially rich pasture, that it was famous, even in Camden's time, for good cheese, as it is now for cakes and ale; and in the ploughed fields near it, are often found coins of the Roman emperors. The town, including six hamlets belonging to it, contains about 700 houses; and it has two meeting-houses and some alms-houses. The pyrites-aurens, or golden fire-stone, is found here in great plenty, in digging of wells.

The principal manufacture is plush, or shag cloth, mostly exported to Portugal. George Green, Esq. and Messrs. King, Snow, Howarth, and Co. are the two houses here by whom this manufacture is carried on, and a great number of men, women, and children, are employed.

The mayor, for the time being, and Samuel Clarion, sen. Esq. are the Justices of the peace, at present, resident, belonging to this borough; Dr. Lamb is also a Justice of this borough, as well as the county.

The proper fairs, (which have never been rightly stated in any publication,) are, - 1. The first Thursday after the 17th of January, for horses and cattle; 2. The first Thursday in Lent, for fish and cattle; 3. Holy Thursday, for fish and cattle, (being a great fair for young people to assemble for pleasure,) 4. The Thursday after Trinity Sunday, for cattle; 5. The 12th of August, except it be Sunday, then it is kept on Monday; 6. Thursday after October 10, for hiring servants, and cattle, being what is called the great mop fair; and last, on the 29th of October, except it be on Sunday, and then the fair is kept on Monday.

The market-day, (Thursday,) nearest to Old Lady-day, is fully attended and adequate to a fair, as is also the second Thursday before Christmas.

The Market is very large, particularly for farmers, graziers, corn, cattle, butter, eggs, cheese, butcher's meat, and other things. It is generally allowed to be the best market in the county, or country adjacent, within 30 miles of the town.

The proprietors of Banbury Old Bank, are, Messrs. T. Cobb, John Wheatley, and Timothy Cobb; they draw on Mildred, Masterman, and Walker, White-Hart-court, Lombard-street, London.

The proprietors of Banbury New Bank, are, Messrs. Bignell, Heydon, and Wyatt; they draw on Smith and Sons, Aldermanbury, London.

The following are a list of the principle inhabitants:

The London Post arrives here about 9 in the morning, and returns at 4 in the afternoon.

Coaches go every day from the Red Lion, through Buckingham, Aylesbury, &c. to the Bell-and-Crown, Holborn, London. Fare 20s.

Judd's waggons go from here three times a week, to the Bell Inn, Warwick-lane, London; and twice a week to Birmingham. Goods are carried at a medium of 3s. per cwt. to and from London, or Birmingham, to Banbury.

The new Coventry and Oxford Canal passes through this town. Coals at 14d. per cwt.

The principal seats in the vicinity of Banbury, are, Wroxton-house, belonging to the Earl of Guildford; Broughton-castle, to Lord Say and Sele; of W. Holbech, Esq. at Farnborough; of John F. Willes, Esq. at Astrop; of Francis Eyre, Esq. at Warksworth; and of Charles Fox, Esq. at Chalcomb.

Three miles and a half South-east of Banbury, lies the pleasant village of Adderbury, on the direct road to Oxford; from which another road branches out to the East, at the North end of the village, being the direct London road from Banbury, through Buckingham. It was formerly respectable for a number of noble and genteel inhabitants, as there are several seats in it; among which is the noble modern-built mansion of the Duke of Buccleugh, who is lord of the manor; and another fine old house, formerly the seat of the Cobbs, Barts. with several other good old houses, but neither of the two former are inhabited, except by servants. In the west part of the village, are the seats of John Barber and Christopher Aplin, Esqrs. The principal tradesmen are, Abraham Devonshire, Upholsterer, Haberdasher, and Yarn-maker; Roger O'Donnel, Draper and Laceman; and Benjamin Daniel, Grocer and Liquor-merchant. Here is also a reputable boarding-school, kept by Thomas Woolston, at the old manor-house, near the church. The best houses of entertainment are, the Red Lion, Tho. Townsend; and, the White Lion, Thomas Stow; both on the Oxford-road, which is a good turnpike, leading through Deddington, a small market-ton, two miles and a half South of Adderbury. There is also the Plough, at the Eastern extermity of the village, which is a constant house of call for the London coaches; from hence the turnpike road goes East, and crosses the river Charwell, (which is the boundary line between the counties of Oxford and Northampton,) by Nell bridge, 1 mile and a quarter from Adderbury, where the Oxford canal (from Birmingham and Coventry) crosses the Charwell, by a wear, about 150 yards below the bridge.