View source for Banbury

{{Short description|Market town in Oxfordshire, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name= Banbury
| static_image_name        = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|image_style = border:1;
|perrow = 1/2/2
|image1 = Banbury Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 4408251.jpg
|image2 = Banbury Market Place - 2.jpg
|image3 = The Fine Lady at Banbury Cross. - geograph.org.uk - 116561.jpg
}}
 | static_image_caption     = Clockwise, from top: [[Banbury Town Hall]]; The Fine Lady statue and Banbury Cross; Banbury Market Place
|label_position= left
|coordinates = {{coord|52.061|-1.336|display=inline,title}}
|area_total_km2=21.04
|population_ref           = 54,335 (Parish, 2021)<ref name=cp2021>{{cite web |title=Banbury parish |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/admin/cherwell/E04012640__banbury/ |website=City Population |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><br>{{nowrap|52,045 (Built up area, 2021)<ref name=bua2021>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}
|shire_district= [[Cherwell (district)|Cherwell]]
|shire_county= [[Oxfordshire]]
|region= South East England
|type= [[Market town]]
|country= England
|constituency_westminster= [[Banbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Banbury]]
|post_town= BANBURY
|postcode_district= OX16
|postcode_area= OX
|dial_code= 01295
|os_grid_reference= SP4540
|london_distance_mi= 64
|london_direction= SE
|website= {{URL|https://www.banbury.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Banbury''' is an historic [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] on the [[River Cherwell]] in [[Oxfordshire]], South East England. The parish had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census.

Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshire and southern parts of [[Warwickshire]] and [[Northamptonshire]] which are predominantly rural. Banbury's main industries are motorsport, car components, electrical goods, plastics, food processing and printing. Banbury is home to the [[Jacobs Douwe Egberts factory]] which was previously the world's largest coffee-producing facility, built in 1964. The town is famed for [[Banbury cakes]], a spiced sweet pastry.

Banbury is located {{convert|64|mi|km|0}} north-west of [[London]], {{convert|37|mi|km|0}} south-east of [[Birmingham]], {{convert|27|mi|km|0}} south-east of [[Coventry]] and {{convert|22|mi|km|0}} north-northwest of [[Oxford]].

==Toponymy==
The name Banbury may derive from "Banna", a Saxon chieftain said to have built a stockade there in the [[6th century]] (or possibly a [[byname]] from {{langx|ang|bana}} meaning ''felon'', ''murderer''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ancestry.co.uk/name-origin?surname=banbury|title=Banbury, Name Meaning & Banbury, Family History at Ancestry.co.uk|website=www.ancestry.co.uk|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>), and {{lang|enm|burgh}} / {{lang|ang|burh}} meaning ''settlement''.<ref>[http://www.localhistories.org/banbury.html A History of Banbury] by Tim Lambert, localhistories.org</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/panoramas/banbury.shtml |title=Oxford – Places – Banbury |publisher=BBC |date=22 April 2008 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> In [[Old English|Anglo Saxon]] it was called {{lang|ang|Banesburh}} (dative {{lang|ang|Banesbyrig}}).<ref name="information-britain.co.uk"/><ref name="rotary">[http://www.banburyrotaryclub.org.uk/about_banbury/about_banbury.htm About Banbury] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023220227/http://www.banburyrotaryclub.org.uk/about_banbury/about_banbury.htm |date=23 October 2008 }}, The Rotary Club of Banbury</ref> The name appears as ''Banesberie'' in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086.<ref name="information-britain.co.uk"/><ref name="rotary"/> Another known spelling was ''Banesebury'' in medieval times.

==History==
{{Main|History of Banbury}}
[[File:Banbury Peoples' park 10.jpg|thumb|People's Park in 2001]]
[[File:The Reindeer Inn - Banbury.jpg|thumb|Banbury's oldest pub, the Reindeer Inn]]

Archaeological evidence has been found for a [[British Iron Age]] settlement with circular buildings, dating back to 200 BC, in the Hennef Way area. Later there was a [[Roman villa]] at Wykham Park.<ref name="information-britain.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.information-britain.co.uk/history/town/Banbury11/ |title=The history of Banbury, Oxfordshire |publisher=Information-britain.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="hist">{{cite web|url=http://www.banbury-cross.co.uk/banhistory.htm |title=A history of Banbury and the Banbury Cross explained |publisher=Banbury-cross.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>

The area was settled by the [[Saxons]] around the late 5th century.<ref name="information-britain.co.uk"/> It was a local centre for Anglo-Saxon settlement by the mid-6th century.<ref name="information-britain.co.uk"/> Banbury developed in the [[Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon]] period<ref name="hist"/> under [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danish]] influence, starting in the late 6th century. It was assessed at 50 hides in the Domesday survey and was then held by the [[Bishop of Lincoln]].

The Saxons built Banbury on the west bank of the River Cherwell. On the opposite bank they built [[Grimsbury]], which was formerly part of [[Northamptonshire]]. Another district, [[Neithrop]], is one of the oldest areas in Banbury, having first been recorded as a [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] in the 13th century.<ref>Crossley ''et al.'', 1972, pages 5–18</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pagetoscreen.net/parish/neithrop/neithrop.pdf |title=Oxfordshire Parish Package Neithrop |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-date=16 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216004818/http://www.pagetoscreen.net/parish/neithrop/neithrop.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Banbury stands at the junction of two ancient roads: Salt Way (used as a bridle path to the west and south of the town), its primary use being transport of salt; and Banbury Lane, which began near Northampton and is closely followed by the modern {{convert|22|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} road. It continued through what is now Banbury's High Street and towards the [[Fosse Way]] at [[Stow-on-the-Wold]]. Banbury's [[Middle Ages|medieval]] prosperity was based on [[wool]].

[[Banbury Castle]] was built from 1135 by [[Alexander of Lincoln|Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln]], and survived into the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] in the 1640s, when it was besieged.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Crossley |editor1-first=Alan |title=A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 |date=1972 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=29–42 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol10/pp29-42#h3-s2 |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

During the Civil War, due to its proximity to [[Oxford]], the King's capital, Banbury was at one stage a Royalist town, but the inhabitants were known to be strongly [[Puritan]]. The town later became pro-Parliamentarian, but the castle was manned by a [[Cavaliers|Royalist]] garrison who supported [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]]. The Reindeer Inn (now 'Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn') was reputedly used as a base by [[Oliver Cromwell]], particularly in preparing for the [[Battle of Edge Hill]] in 1642.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interior view of the Globe Room at the Reindeer Inn, showing the fireplace, tables and chairs, and the moulded ceiling |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/OP04708 |website=Historic England |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hooky-pubs.co.uk/pubs/location_maps/reindeer.html |title=Reindeer Inn website |publisher=Hooky-pubs.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011 |url-status = usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204225642/http://www.hooky-pubs.co.uk/pubs/location_maps/reindeer.html |archive-date=4 February 2012 }}</ref> In 1645, [[Roundhead|Parliamentary]] troops were billeted in nearby [[Hanwell, Oxfordshire|Hanwell]] for nine weeks and villagers petitioned the Warwickshire Committee of Accounts to pay for feeding them.<ref name=Lobel>Lobel & Crosley, 1969, pages 112–123</ref> The castle was demolished after the war.<ref>{{cite book |last=MacKenzie |first= James Dixon |year=1896 |title=The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure |publisher= General Books LLC |isbn=978-1-150-51044-1 |page=151}}.</ref>

[[File:Banbury 1.jpg|thumb|The modern [[Castle Quay Shopping Centre]] alongside the [[Oxford Canal]], with [[Banbury Museum]] in the background]]
[[File:Finelady.jpg|thumb|Banbury's 'Fine Lady' Statue]]
The opening of the [[Oxford Canal]] from [[Hawkesbury Junction]] to Banbury on 30 March 1778 gave the town a cheap and reliable supply of [[Warwickshire]] coal.<ref>Compton, 1976, page 25</ref> In 1787 the Oxford Canal was extended southwards,<ref>Compton, 1976, page 37</ref> finally opening to Oxford on 1 January 1790.<ref>Compton, 1976, page 39</ref> The canal's main boat yard was the original outlay of today's [[Tooley's Boatyard]].<ref name="tooleysboatyard.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.tooleysboatyard.co.uk/History.htm |title=Tooley's Boatyard |publisher=Tooleysboatyard.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129045956/http://www.tooleysboatyard.co.uk/History.htm |archive-date=29 November 2011 }}</ref> The railway reached Banbury in 1850; [[Banbury Merton Street railway station|Merton Street station]] on the [[Buckinghamshire Railway]] to [[Bletchley]] opened in May 1850, followed by [[Banbury railway station|Bridge Street station]], later renamed Banbury General, on the [[Great Western Railway]] in September 1850.<ref>{{cite web |title=Platforms 1 and 2 at Banbury Station viewed from the north west |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/EHC01/314/34/04 |website=Historic England |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

People's Park was set up as a private park in 1890 and opened in 1910, along with the adjacent [[bowling green]].

The land south of the New Foscote Hospital in [[Calthorpe, Oxfordshire|Calthorpe]] and [[Easington, Cherwell|Easington]] Farm were mostly open farmland until the early 1960s.<ref>As shown by the [[Ordnance Survey]] maps of 1964, 1955 and 1947.</ref> The [[Ruscote]] estate, which now has a notable South Asian community, was expanded in the 1950s because of the growth of the town due to the [[London overspill]] and further grew in the mid-1960s.

[[British Rail]]ways closed [[Banbury Merton Street railway station|Merton Street railway station]] and the Buckingham to Banbury line to passenger traffic at the end of 1960. Merton Street goods depot continued to handle livestock traffic for Banbury's cattle market until 1966, when this too was discontinued and the railway dismantled. In March 1962 Sir [[John Betjeman]] celebrated the line from Culworth Junction in his poem ''Great Central Railway, Sheffield Victoria to Banbury''. British Railways closed this line too in 1966.

The main railway station, previously called Banbury General but now called simply [[Banbury railway station|Banbury]], is now served by trains running from [[London Paddington]] via {{stnlnk|Reading}} and {{stnlnk|Oxford}} once daily, from [[London Marylebone]] via {{stnlnk|High Wycombe}} and [[Bicester North railway station|Bicester]] onwards to [[Birmingham Snow Hill railway station|Birmingham]] and {{stnlnk|Kidderminster}} and by CrossCountry Trains from {{stnlnk|Bournemouth}} and Reading to [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester]] and {{stnlnk|Newcastle}}.

Banbury used to have a large [[cattle market]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/community/retro/44-closure-of-banbury-s-livestock-market-signalled-end-of-an-era-for-town-1-4386138 |title=Closure of Banbury's livestock market signalled end of an era for town |publisher=[[Banbury Guardian]] |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115918/http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/community/retro/44-closure-of-banbury-s-livestock-market-signalled-end-of-an-era-for-town-1-4386138 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Situated on Merton Street in [[Grimsbury]], for many decades, cattle and other farm animals were [[Drovers' road|driven there on the hoof]] from as far as [[Scotland]] to be sold to feed the growing population of London and other towns. Since its closure in June 1998, a new housing development and Dashwood Primary School has been built on its site. The estate, which lies between Banbury and [[Hanwell, Oxfordshire|Hanwell]], was built on the grounds of Hanwell Farm during 2005 and 2006.

===Banburyshire===
The name 'Banburyshire' is sometimes used informally to describe the area centred on Banbury, claimed to include parts of [[Northamptonshire]] and [[Warwickshire]] as well as north [[Oxfordshire]]. Use of the term dates from the early to mid 19th century. It was common in the 19th century for [[market town]]s in England to describe their [[hinterland]] by tacking "shire" onto the town's name.<ref>{{cite book |last=Powe |first=Neil |year=2007 |title=Market Towns: Roles, challenges and prospects |publisher=Routledge |place=Abingdon |isbn=978-0-415-38962-4 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fXlQzhNaibMC&q=Banburyshire&pg=PT305 |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref> "Stones Map of Banburyshire" held by the Centre of Banbury Studies was published in the 1870s or 1880s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~engcbanb/banburyshire/banburyshire.htm|title=RootsWeb.com Home Page|website=www.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> and it asserted that the term originated in the 1830s<ref name="Where is Banburyshire">{{cite web|url=http://www.banburyshireinfo.co.uk/banburyshire.html|title=Where is Banburyshire?|website=banburyshireinfo.co.uk|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181919/http://www.banburyshireinfo.co.uk/banburyshire.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> but no source is given for that assertion. In the 1850s magazine articles used "Banburyshire" or the hyphenated term "Banbury-shire".<ref>{{cite book |title=Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine |publisher=Leonard Scott & Co. |place=New York |date=January–June 1857 |edition=American |volume=81 |pages=44, 52, 580 |isbn=9781136772382 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fXlQzhNaibMC&q=Banburyshire&pg=PT305|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref> The Banburyshire Natural History Society was formed in 1881.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bellamy|first=Frank Arthur|title=A Historical Account of the Ashmolean Natural History...|publisher=Published by the author.|year=1908|pages=[https://archive.org/details/b2897945x/page/498 498]|url=https://archive.org/details/b2897945x|quote=Banburyshire.|access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>
In the 20th century a number of books used the term "Banburyshire" in their titles, dating from the early 1960s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Cake and Cockhorse |publisher=Banbury Historical Society |place=Banbury |date=162 |volume=2–3 |pages=103, 106 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn5nAAAAMAAJ&q=Banburyshire |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="EW">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CDllAAAACAAJ&q=Banburyshire |title=The Pathways of Banburyshire |last=E.W. |year=1983 |publisher=Kemble Press |isbn=9780906835173 |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="DB">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yT2yHAAACAAJ&q=Banburyshire |title=Discovering Banburyshire |year=1986 |publisher=Banburyshire Tourism Association |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="BS">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=JZSAAAAAIAAJ&q=Banburyshire|title=Banburyshire in old photographs |last=Barnett |first=Melissa |author2=Sarah Gosling |year=1988 |publisher=Sutton |isbn=9780862994129 |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>

The county of Oxfordshire has two main commercial centres, the city of Oxford itself that serves most of the south of the county, and Banbury that serves the north (such as [[Adderbury]], [[Cropredy]], [[Deddington]], [[Wroxton]], [[Great Bourton]], and [[Bloxham]]) plus parts of the neighbouring counties of [[Northamptonshire]] and [[Warwickshire]].<ref name="Where is Banburyshire"/><ref name="banburyshire.com">[http://www.banburyshire.com/ Banburyshire] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118124355/http://www.banburyshire.com/ |date=18 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://networkbase.info/pageBanburyshire.html Banburyshire – Photos and All Basic Informations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185322/http://networkbase.info/pageBanburyshire.html |date=21 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banburyshireinfo.co.uk/banbury.html|title=About Banbury in Oxfordshire|website=banburyshireinfo.co.uk|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213035030/http://www.banburyshireinfo.co.uk/banbury.html|archive-date=13 February 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripsage.com/p/1/3989243/banburyshire#p/1/3989243|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717104027/http://www.tripsage.com/p/1/3989243/banburyshire#p/1/3989243|url-status = dead|archive-date=17 July 2011|title=Planning a trip to Banburyshire, Banbury, County of Oxfordshire, United Kingdom - TripSage|date=17 July 2011|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>

==Governance==
There are three tiers of local government covering Banbury, at [[civil parish]] (town), [[non-metropolitan district|district]], and [[non-metropolitan county|county]] level: Banbury Town Council, [[Cherwell District Council]], and [[Oxfordshire County Council]]. The town council is based at [[Banbury Town Hall]] on Bridge Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.banbury.gov.uk/Contact_Us_16391.aspx |website=Banbury Town Council |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
{{Further|History of Banbury#Local government}}
Banbury was an [[ancient parish]]. The parish historically straddled the boundary between Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, which followed the River Cherwell. The Oxfordshire part of the parish (west of the river) included the town itself and the [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]] of [[Neithrop]], [[Calthorpe, Oxfordshire|Calthorpe]], [[Easington, Cherwell|Easington]], [[Hardwick (Banbury)|Hardwick]], and [[Wykham Park Academy|Wykham]]. The Northamptonshire part of the parish (east of the river) included the hamlets of [[Grimsbury]] and [[Nethercote, Banbury|Nethercote]].<ref>{{cite book |title=History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Oxford |date=1852 |publisher=Robert Gardner |location=Peterborough |pages=429–431 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/History_Gazetteer_and_Directory_of_the_C/edVUAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA431&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref name=VCHintro>{{cite book |editor1-last=Crossley |editor1-first=Alan |title=A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 |date=1972 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=5–18 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol10/pp5-18 |access-date=14 December 2024 |chapter=Banbury: Introduction}}</ref>

In 1554, [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] issued a charter which incorporated the town as a [[ancient borough|borough]]. Prior to that, it had been a lower status [[seigneurial borough]], controlled by the Bishop of Lincoln as [[lord of the manor]].<ref name=VCHlocalgovernment>{{cite book |editor1-last=Crossley |editor1-first=Alan |title=A History of the County of Oxford |date=1972 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=71–89 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol10/pp71-89 |access-date=13 December 2024 |chapter=Banbury: Local Government}}</ref> Mary's charter defined a borough boundary matching the parish, but the borough later came to be defined as a much smaller area, just covering the urban area as it then was.<ref>{{cite book |title=First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Part 1 |date=1835 |page=9 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/First_Report_of_the_Commissioners_Appoin/7pNRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PA9&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

From the 17th century onwards, parishes were gradually given various civil functions under the [[poor laws]], in addition to their original ecclesiastical functions. In some cases, including Banbury, the civil functions were exercised by subdivisions of the parish rather than the parish as a whole.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Youngs |first1=Frederic |title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England |date=1979 |publisher=Royal Historical Society |location=London |isbn=0901050679 |page=xvi}}</ref> In Banbury's case, the parish was split into three parts for administering the poor laws: the area of the borough, the remainder of the Oxfordshire part of the parish (known as the [[Township (England)|township]] of Neithrop), and the Northamptonshire part of the parish. The latter part was jointly administered with the neighbouring parish of [[Warkworth, Northamptonshire|Warkworth]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Samuel |title=A Topographical Dictionary of England: Volume 1 |date=1835 |page=135 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Topographical_Dictionary_of_England/D4ZFiJK8QucC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP135&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref name=VCHintro/> In 1866, the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws, and so the old [[ecclesiastical parish]] of Banbury (which retained its church functions) diverged from the [[civil parish]]es of Banbury (just covering the borough), Neithrop and Warkworth.<ref>{{cite book |title=A collection of the public general statutes passed in the twenty-ninth and thirtieth years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria |date=1866 |location=London |pages=574–577 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SVYMAQAAMAAJ&dq=Poor+Law+Amendment+Act+1866&pg=PA574 |publisher=Google Books |access-date=6 November 2021 |chapter=Poor Law Amendment Act 1866 (29 & 30 Victoria, c. 113)}}</ref>

The borough was reformed to become a [[municipal borough]] in 1836 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.<ref>{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act |date=1835 |page=459 |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk35britgoog/page/458/mode/2up?q=banbury |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> The borough's powers were primarily judicial rather than providing public services for the growing town. In order to provide services and infrastructure, the whole ecclesiastical parish of Banbury was made a [[Local Board of Health|local board district]] in 1852, with the local board being responsible for sewers, public health, and other aspects of local government.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Collection of the Public General Statutes passed in the Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria |date=1860 |publisher=Eyre and Spottiswoode |location=London |page=276 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Statutes_at_Large_37_v_A_collection_of_t/yJFKAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA276&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> The borough corporation and the local board then existed alongside each other, with their differently defined areas and roles, until 1889.<ref name=VCHlocalgovernment/>

[[File:Borough House, Banbury - geograph.org.uk - 4214985.jpg|thumb|Former Municipal Technical School, Marlborough Road: Borough council's headquarters 1930–1974]]
In 1889, following the [[Local Government Act 1888]], the Northamptonshire parts of the local board district (Grimsbury and Nethercote) were transferred to Oxfordshire, and the local board's functions were transferred to the borough corporation, with the borough being enlarged to cover the whole of the old local board district.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1889 |page=xliv |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Local_Government_Bo/7BUwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PR44&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 15) Act 1889 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/52-53/116/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1890 |page=342 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Local_Government_Bo/lRUwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA342&printsec=frontcover |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> The borough council met at Banbury Town Hall until 1930, when it moved its offices and meetings to the former Municipal Technical School (built 1893) on Marlborough Road.<ref name=VCHorigins/><ref>{{NHLE|desc=Former Mechanics Institute and Municipal Technical School|num=1393132|grade=II}}</ref>

The municipal borough of Banbury was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], with its area becoming part of the new Cherwell district.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=3 March 2023 |mode=cs1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=3 March 2023 |mode=cs1 }}</ref>

No [[successor parish]] was created for Banbury at the time of the 1974 reforms and so it became [[Unparished area|unparished]]; instead, the Cherwell councillors who represented wards in Banbury acted as [[charter trustees]] to preserve the town's civic traditions, including appointing one of them to take the title of mayor each year. A number of roads are named after former mayors, including Mascord Road, Mold Crescent and Fairfax Close.<ref name=mayors>{{cite web|url=http://www.banbury.gov.uk/Banbury-Town-Council/UserFiles/Files/Mayor/Past%20Town%20Mayors/Mayors1607-1973.pdf|title=Banbury Town Council|publisher=Banbury.gov.uk|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004212801/http://www.banbury.gov.uk/Banbury-Town-Council/UserFiles/Files/Mayor/Past%20Town%20Mayors/Mayors1607-1973.pdf|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> A new civil parish of Banbury was created in 2000, with its parish council taking the name Banbury Town Council. Since then, the chair of the town council has taken the title of mayor.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cherwell (Parishes) Order 1999 |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221202001754mp_/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/12558/the-cherwell-parishes-order-1999.pdf |website=Local Government Boundary Commission for England |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Banbury_map.png|thumb|upright|Map of Banbury]]
Banbury is in the Cherwell Valley with many hills in and around the town. Apart from the town centre, much of Banbury is on a slope and each entry into the town is downhill. Estates such as [[Bretch Hill]] and Hardwick are built on top of a hill and much of the town can be seen from both. Other notable hills include the suburban, [[Crouch Hill, Banbury|Crouch Hill]] and the more central Pinn Hill, and Strawberry Hill on the outskirts of Easington. Mine Hill and Rye Hill lie, along with many others, to the northeast, southeast and west of Banbury.

Banbury is located at the bank of the [[River Cherwell]] which sweeps through the town, going just east of the town centre with [[Grimsbury]] being the only estate east of the river. Banbury is at the northern extreme of the UK's [[South East England]] region, less than {{convert|2|mi|km|0|spell=in}} from the boundary with the [[East Midlands]], and {{convert|3|mi|km|0|spell=in}} from that with the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]. As such it has close cultural links with neighbouring Midlands towns such as [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Leamington Spa]], and [[Warwick]].

In 1998 and 2007, Banbury was subject to heavy flooding due to its location by the River Cherwell. Heavy [[clay]] and [[Ironstone]] deposits surround Banbury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:sppuMpvgMg8J:www.oum.ox.ac.uk/learning/pdfs/oxmin.pdf+clay+pits+in+banbury&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgn-Yi-g1qgnV32eBJ5Bi24KzjITDU7kcw_uL-KWGxPnzzgLbT8n9stdyOyB9bxEnAdJs1yyzKFGNwmj0NWApex23PAad6KTYb4lJdKEqLBNLnqifn3yk8Xc8Fp-ya8DY20dPo5&sig=AHIEtbREJLbdRHQ5aetZoqTAk3mdY2Gy0w |title=? |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>
{{Geographic location
|title = '''Destinations from Banbury'''
|Northwest = '''[[Birmingham]]'''<br/>[[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Leamington Spa]] 
|North     = '''[[Coventry]]''', [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]]<br/>[[Southam]] 
|Northeast = [[Daventry]], '''[[Northampton]]'''
|West      = '''[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]''', [[Evesham]]
|Centre    = Banbury
|East      = [[Brackley]], [[Milton Keynes]]
|Southwest = [[Cheltenham]], [[Chipping Norton]] 
|South     = '''[[Oxford]]'''
|Southeast = [[Bicester]], [[Aylesbury]]<br/>'''[[London]]'''
}}

==Industry and commerce==
{{Main|History of Banbury}}
[[File:High Street - Banbury.jpg|thumb|Banbury High Street]]
[[File:Banbury Market Place - 2.jpg|thumb|Banbury Market Place]]
The [[Domesday Book]] in 1086 listed three mills, with a total fiscal value of 45 [[shilling]]s, on the [[Bishop of Lincoln]]'s [[demesne]] lands, and a fourth which was leased to Robert son of Waukelin by the Bishop. Among Banbury's four [[Medieval]] mills was probably a forerunner of Banbury Mill, first referred to by this name in 1695.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> In 1279, Laurence of Hardwick was also paying 3 marks (equivalent to 40 shillings) in annual rent to the Bishop for a mill in the then Hardwick hamlet.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63792 |title=Banbury – Economic history &#124; A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 (pp. 49–71) |publisher=British-history.ac.uk |date=1972 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> The forerunners of Butchers Row were probably long standing butchers' stalls which were known to be in situ by 1438.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> The old Victorian [[Cornhill Corn Exchange, Banbury|Corn Exchange]] is now used as an entrance to a shopping centre.<ref>{{NHLE|desc= Façade, Cornhill Corn Exchange, Castle Centre |num=1046917|access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>

The Northern Aluminium Co. Ltd. or [[Alcan|Alcan Industries Ltd.]] pig and rolled aluminium factory was opened in 1931 on land acquired in 1929 on the east of the Southam road, in the then hamlet of Hardwick. The various Alcan facilities on the 53-acre site closed between 2006 and 2007.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> The factory was demolished between 2008 and 2009. The laboratory was also closed in 2004 and is now used as offices for numerous companies.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF97RE8oZDE "Alcan 1931 – 2008 – photo montage of the demolition of the "Ally" Alcan in Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK"]. Youtube.com. 31 July 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/37166458@N06/3977254123/ "Alcan, Banbury"]. Elizabeth Moriarty. Flickr.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/former_alcan_site_sold_1_1102777 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721173915/http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/former_alcan_site_sold_1_1102777 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2012 |title=Former Alcan site sold – Local |work=Banbury Guardian |date=8 July 2010 |access-date=28 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/banbury/4533488.End_of.../ |title=End of the line for Banbury's Alcan factory |work= Oxford Mail |publisher=Oxfordmail.co.uk |date=6 August 2009 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> Another major employer is [[Jacobs Douwe Egberts]], which produces [[instant coffee]]. The facility moved to Banbury from [[Birmingham]] in 1965.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/>

In the central area were built many large shops, a bus station, and a large car park north of Castle Street. In 1969 proposals for the redevelopment of the central area were in hand, leading to the creation of the Castle shopping centre in 1977 (the centre was later combined into the Castle Quay centre). The 1977 plans to build a [[multi-storey car park]] on what is now the open air car park behind [[Matalan]] and [[Poundland]] were scrapped in 1978 and another one was built to the rear of the Castle Shopping Centre in 1978.<ref name=VCHorigins>{{cite book |editor1-last=Crossley |editor1-first=Alan |title=A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 |date=1972 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=18–28 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol10/pp18-28 |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>

The former [[Hunt Edmunds]] brewery premises became [[Crest Hotels]] headquarters, but closed in the late 1970s and was abandoned in the late 1980s, while the Crown Hotel and the Foremost Tyres/Excel Exhausts shops found new owners after they closed in 1976 due to falling sales. [[Hella (company)|Hella]], a vehicle electronics firm, closed its factory on the Southam Road in the mid-2000s. The [[ironmonger]], Hoods, opened in the mid-1960s and closed in 2007, with the shop becoming part of the then enlarged [[Marks and Spencer]].

===Motorsport===
Owing to the surrounding area's notable links with world [[motorsport]], the town is home to many well known organisations within the industry. [[Prodrive]], one of the world's largest motorsport and automotive technology specialists, is based in the town as are a host of race teams involved in competition across many different disciplines and countries.

Within [[Formula One]], two teams have had their base of operations in Banbury. The [[Simtek]] team which competed in the 1994 and 1995 F1 World Championships was based on the Wildmere Industrial Estate. The [[Marussia F1]] team had its manufacturing and production facility sited on Thorpe Way Industrial Estate using the building formerly owned by [[Ascari Cars]], a luxury sports car manufacturer. Both Simtek and Marussia F1 had been brought to Banbury by [[Nick Wirth]] who owned the Simtek team and was the former Technical Director at Marussia. After Marussia F1 went into administration in 2014, their base was purchased by the United States–based [[Haas F1 Team]] to service their cars during the European races.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/31823683 |title=Haas F1 on schedule for 2016 debut after key acquisitions |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2015}}</ref>

Until 2017, when the team went into administration and subsequently folded, [[Manor Racing]] (the successor to Marussia) was based in the town.

[[Arden International|Arden Motorsport]], a British multi-formula motorsports team (founded by [[Red Bull Racing]] boss [[Christian Horner]]), is also based in the town.

The [[Formula E]] teams [[Mahindra Racing]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/directory/mahindra-racing/|title=Mahindra Racing|work=Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group |date=8 November 2024}}</ref> and [[Andretti Global|Andretti]] Formula E Team<ref>{{cite news |url=https://andrettiglobal.com/news/2020/02/del-conca-gives-andrettis-formula-e-banbury-home-a-new-look/|title=Del Conca Gives Andretti’s Formula E Banbury Home A New Look|work=Andretti Global |date=2 July 2020}}</ref> are based in Banbury.

===Employment===
Banbury has one of the UK's lowest unemployment rates, as of April 2016 it stood at 0.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7565#fullreport |title=Unemployment by Constituency, April 2016 |publisher=Parliament.co.uk |date=26 April 2016 |last1=Moses |first1=Anna |last2=McGuinness |first2=Feargal |last3=Delebarre |first3=Jeanne }}</ref> Once Poland joined the [[European Union]] in 2004, a number of Banbury-based [[employment agencies]] began advertising for staff in major Polish newspapers. In 2006 one estimate placed between 5,000 and 6,000 Poles in the town.  With the influx of the largely [[Roman Catholic]] Poles, one local church was offering a [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] said partially in Polish and specialist Polish food shops had opened.<ref name=Polish>{{cite news |url=http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/Town39s-a-magnet-for-Polish.1510960.jp |title=Town's a magnet for Polish workers |newspaper=[[Banbury Guardian]] |publisher=[[Johnston Press]] |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-date=10 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610150607/http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/Town39s-a-magnet-for-Polish.1510960.jp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Companies and charities===

[[File:Kraft Banbutry.jpg|thumb|The [[Jacobs Douwe Egberts]] factory in Banbury has been a major employer in the town since the mid-1960s.]]
[[Jacobs Douwe Egberts factory|Jacob Douwe Egberts]], in the [[Ruscote]] ward of Banbury, is a large food packaging factory.<ref name="kraftfoods.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.kraftfoods.co.uk/kraft/page?siteid=kraft-prd&locale=uken1&PagecRef=2297&Mid=2297 |title=Kraft Foods Europe Home |publisher=Kraftfoods.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> 
It was built in 1964 and has gone through a number of ownership changes since.  It is still sometimes known by its previous names of [[Alfred Bird|Bird's]], [[Kraft]] and [[General Foods]] or GF.

The factory was previously the world's largest coffee-processing facility until coffee production on the site came to an end in 2023. The current owners have announced plans to close the factory in 2026.<ref>{{cite web|title=Banbury's JDE coffee factory to close after six decades|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg759nd1xrro|website=BBC News|date=17 June 2025|access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref>
* [[Westminster Group]]
* [[Norbar Torque|Norbar]]
* [[Arrival (company)|Arrival]]
* [[Waste & Resources Action Programme]]
* [[Dogs for Good]]
* [[Warburtons]]

===Cattle market===
Banbury was once home to Western Europe's largest cattle market, on Merton Street in Grimsbury. The market was a key feature of [[Victorian era|Victorian]] life in the town and county. It was formally closed in June 1998, after being abandoned several years earlier and was replaced with a new housing development and Dashwood Primary School.<ref name="information-britain.co.uk"/>

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[File:Banbury station forecourt - geograph.org.uk - 1086042.jpg|thumb|Banbury railway station]]

[[Banbury railway station]] is served by three train operating companies:
* [[Chiltern Railways]] operates services on the [[Chiltern Main Line]] between {{rws|Birmingham Snow Hill}} and [[Marylebone station|London Marylebone]], via {{stnlnk|Warwick}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download our timetable |work=Chiltern Railways |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=16 October 2024 |url= https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/before-you-travel/download-our-timetable |quote=}}</ref>
* [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] runs services to {{stnlnk|Oxford}} and {{stnlnk|Didcot Parkway}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Times |work=Great Western Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=16 October 2024 |url= https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times |quote=}}</ref>
* [[CrossCountry]] operates [[inter-city rail|inter-city]] services between {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}} and {{rws|Bournemouth}}, via {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}, {{rws|Reading}} and {{rws|Southampton Central}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Timetables |work=CrossCountry |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=16 October 2024 |url= https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables |quote=}}</ref>

===Buses and coaches===
[[File:Optare SoloSR Stagecoach47833 BanburyB7.jpg|thumb|A Stagecoach in Oxfordshire bus in Bridge Street, on route B7 to [[Neithrop]]]]

The town's bus routes are operated primarily by [[Stagecoach in Oxfordshire]] both within the town and linking it with [[Brackley]], [[Chipping Norton]], [[Oxford]] and places further afield including [[Daventry]], [[Leamington Spa]] and [[Stratford-upon-Avon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Banbury bus services |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/banbury |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref>

===Roads===
Hennef Way ([[A422 road|A422]]) was upgraded to a [[dual carriageway]], easing traffic on the heavily congested road and providing north Banbury and the town centre with higher-capacity links to the [[M40 motorway]].

===Canal===
The [[Oxford Canal]] is a popular place for pleasure trips and tourism. The canal's main boatyard is now the listed site [[Tooley's Boatyard]].<ref name="tooleysboatyard.co.uk"/>

==Media==
The ''[[Banbury Guardian]]'' is published weekly on Thursdays by [[Johnston Press]], is priced for sale and is a tabloid.  The ''[[Banbury Cake (newspaper)|Banbury Cake]]'' was formerly a free newspaper:<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mayhew|first=Freddy|magazine=[[Press Gazette]]| date=2 October 2017 | url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/newquest-closes-free-banbury-cake-newspaper-after-40-years-in-print/|title=Newquest closes free Banbury Cake newspaper after 40 years in print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705083937/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/newquest-closes-free-banbury-cake-newspaper-after-40-years-in-print/|archive-date=July 5, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> its print edition ceased publication in 2017 and its website subsequently also closed.

Regional TV news is provided by [[BBC South]] and [[ITV Meridian]]. Television signals received from the [[Oxford transmitting station|Oxford]] TV transmitter,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford|title=Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate= 25 September 2023}}</ref> although some parts of the town get a better TV signal from the local relay transmitter which is served by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bretch_Hill|title=Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate= 26 September 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Oxford]], [[Heart South]], and [[Capital Mid-Counties]]. [[Banbury Music Radio]] was a local Internet [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]].

==Places of interest==

===Banbury Cross===
[[File:LadyAndCross.jpg|thumb|upright|The 'Fine Lady' statue and Banbury Cross. The cross was designed by [[John Gibbs (architect)|John Gibbs]] and erected in 1859.]]
At one time Banbury had many [[Market cross|crosses]] (the High Cross, the Bread Cross and the White Cross), but these were destroyed by [[Puritan]]s in 1600.<ref name="hist"/><ref name="bancross"/> Banbury remained without a cross for more than 250 years until the current '''Banbury Cross''' was erected in 1859 at the centre of the town to commemorate the marriage of [[Victoria, Princess Royal]] (eldest child of [[Queen Victoria]]) to [[Frederick III, German Emperor|Prince Frederick of Prussia]].<ref name=VCHorigins/> The current Banbury Cross is a stone, spire-shaped monument decorated in [[Victorian Gothic|Gothic form]] and designed by the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] architect [[John Gibbs (architect)|John Gibbs]].<ref name="Timms-2018">{{cite journal |last1=Timms |first1=Elizabeth Jane |title=Banbury's Cross and a Royal Wedding |journal=Cake & Cockhorse |date=2018 |volume=20 |issue=9 |pages=279–283 |url=https://banburyhistoricalsociety.org/uploads/pdf/20/20-09.pdf |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref> Statues of Queen Victoria, [[Edward VII]] and [[George V]] were added in 1914 to commemorate the coronation of George V. The cross is {{convert|52|ft|6|in|m|0}} high, and topped by a gilt cross.  Towns with crosses in England before the reformation were places of Christian pilgrimage.

The English [[nursery rhyme]] "[[Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross]]", in its several forms, may refer to one of the crosses destroyed by Puritans in 1600.<ref name="bancross">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/3033010.stm "History muddle makes Banbury cross"], ''[[BBC News]]'', 30 June 2003.</ref> In April 2005, [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] unveiled a large bronze statue depicting the Fine Lady upon a White Horse of the nursery rhyme.<ref>[http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/Inspired-by-our-Lady.1033439.jp Inspired by our Lady — Banbury Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406075850/http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/Inspired-by-our-Lady.1033439.jp |date=6 April 2010 }}, [http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/ Banbury Guardian], UK.</ref> It stands on the corner of West Bar and South Bar, just yards from the present Banbury Cross.

===Banbury Museum & Gallery===
{{Main|Banbury Museum}}
Banbury has a museum in the town centre near Spiceball Park, replacing the old museum near Banbury Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/banburymuseum |title=Banbury Museum |publisher=[[Cherwell District Council]], Oxfordshire, UK |access-date=16 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303065619/http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/banburymuseum |archive-date=3 March 2010 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref> It is accessible over a bridge from the [[Castle Quay Shopping Centre]] or ''via'' Spiceball Park Road. Admission to the museum is free. The town's tourist information centre is located in the museum entrance in the Castle Quay Shopping Centre.

===Tooley's Boatyard===
[[Tooley's Boatyard]] was built in 1778 and is a historic site with a nearly 250-year-old blacksmiths' shop and narrow boat dry dock.

===Spiceball Centre and Park===
[[File:Spiceball center 2010.png|thumb|Spiceball centre in 2010]]

Spiceball Park is the largest [[urban park|park]] in Banbury. It is east of the [[Oxford Canal]], mainly west of the [[River Cherwell]], north of Castle Quay and south of Hennef Way. It includes three large fields, a children's play area and a skateboard park. Across the road from the main park there is the sports centre, which includes a swimming pool, courts, café and gym facilities.  The [[sports centre]] began to be re-developed in late 2009, for a new centre and café, which was completed by mid 2010.

===Other recreational areas and parks===
Neithrop is home to the People's Park which opened in 1910, and has a bird house, tennis courts, a large field and a children's play area. The park is often used in the summer to hold small festivals. The park is also one of the town's biggest in terms of the area covered and one of the few major ones not to be built on a steep hill. Easington Recreation Ground is another principal park and recreational area.

===Notable place names===
[[File:Tom Rolt Bridge plaque road.jpg|thumb|Plaque at bridge 164 on the Oxford Canal, Banbury]]

*Since 1999 bridge 164 on the [[Oxford Canal]] in Banbury has borne [[Tom Rolt]]'s name in commemoration of his book ''[[Narrow Boat (book)|Narrow Boat]]'' (as does the Tom Rolt Centre at the [[Ellesmere Port]] section of the [[National Waterways Museum]]). A [[blue plaque]] commemorating Rolt was unveiled at [[Tooley's Boatyard]], Banbury on 7 August 2010 as part of the centenary celebrations of his birth.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://oxonblueplaques.org.uk/plaques/pym.html |title=Blue plaque to Rolt in Banbury |publisher= [[Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board]] |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>
*Concorde Avenue was named in a 1995 street naming contest in honour of the 50 years' peace (1945–1995) in Europe since the [[Second World War]].
*Claypits Close was built in about 2007 and named after the old clay pit on which it was built. There were many small, [[Victorian era|Victorian]] clay pits and kilns in the south west of Banbury, but they had closed by the 1920s.
*Gillett Road was named after either [[Joseph Ashby Gillett]], who ran Banbury's branch of 18th century Britain's ''New Bank'', or his descendant Sarah Beatrice Gillett, who was mayor in 1926.

==Education==
One of the campuses of [[Activate Learning]], Banbury and Bicester College, as well as one of the international campuses of [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] at [[Wroxton Abbey]] are situated in Banbury. The town also has four secondary schools – [[North Oxfordshire Academy]], [[Wykham Park Academy]], Space Studio Banbury and [[Blessed George Napier Roman Catholic School]] – and a number of [[Primary schools in Banbury|primary schools]]. Independent schools in Banbury include [[Tudor Hall (Banbury)|Tudor Hall]] and Al-Madina School.

==Religion==
[[File:St Mary the Virgin, Banbury.JPG|thumb|upright|[[St Mary's Church, Banbury|St Mary's parish church]], built in the 1790s to replace a Medieval predecessor]]
In 1377 a pardon was given to a Welshman, who was wanted for killing another Welshman, after the accused person had taken sanctuary in St Mary's parish church.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63787 |title=The hundred of Banbury &#124; A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 (pp. 1–4) |publisher=British-history.ac.uk |date=22 June 2003 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>  The [[Neithrop]] district of Banbury was the scene of rioting in 1589 after Neithrop's [[maypole]] was destroyed by [[Puritans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickback.btinternet.co.uk/Town.Horse/Robin.Hood.html |title=Robin Hood |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402062719/http://www.kickback.btinternet.co.uk/Town.Horse/Robin.Hood.html |archive-date=2 April 2009 }}</ref>

Reverend William Whateley (1583–1639), whose father was several times [[bailiff]] or mayor of Banbury, was a notable Banbury vicar, who was instituted in 1610 but had already been a '[[Lecturer#Ecclesiastical usage|lecturer]]' there for some years. In 1626 Whateley refused communion to his own brother, who had been presented for religious incompetence.{{Clarify|date=January 2011}} A report by the [[church warden]]s in 1619 said he was a well liked and tolerant priest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63795 |title=Banbury – Churches &#124; A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10 (pp. 95–120) |publisher=British-history.ac.uk |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>  The [[Quaker meeting house]] by the town centre lane called 'The Leys' was built between 1748 and 1750.<ref>[http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/community/retro/the-quaker-challenge-to-churches-1-595809 "The Quaker challenge to churches"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322231644/http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/community/retro/the-quaker-challenge-to-churches-1-595809 |date=22 March 2016 }}, ''Banbury Guardian'', 15 October 2008.  Retrieved 17 March 2016.</ref> In 1838, the [[Catholic]] [[St John the Evangelist Church, Banbury|St John the Evangelist Church]] was built, parts of it were designed by [[Augustus Pugin]] and it is a Grade II listed building.<ref name=stock>[[Historic England]], [https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/banbury-st-john-the-evangelist/ Banbury - St John the Evangelist], ''Taking Stock'', retrieved 9 June 2022</ref>

In 1968, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church was built on Edmunds Road which was at first a mass centre for St. John's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Joseph the Worker |url=https://www.catholicbanbury.org/st-joseph-the-worker.html |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Catholic Banbury |language=en}}</ref> 

==Demographics==
At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]] there were 54,335 residents in the parish of Banbury, up from 46,853 in the 2011 census, and 41,801 in the 2001 census.<ref name=cp2021/> The built up area (as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]]) had a population of 52,045 in 2021.<ref name=bua2021/>

In terms of ethnicity in 2021:<ref name=cp2021/>

*84.3% of Banbury residents were [[White British|White]] 
*8.8% were [[British Asian|Asian]] 
*2.3% were [[Black British|Black]] 
*3.1% were [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]. 
*1.2% were from another ethnic group.

In terms of religion, 50.6% of Banbury residents identified as [[Christianity|Christian]], 40.0% said they had [[irreligion|no religion]], 6.9% were [[Islam|Muslim]], 0.7% were [[Hinduism|Hindu]], 0.6% were [[Sikhism|Sikh]], 0.6% were [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], and 0.6% were from another religion.<ref name=cp2021/>

==Sport==
Banbury has several sporting clubs, most notably [[Banbury United F.C.|Banbury United]] [[association football|football]] club. There are also [[rugby football|rugby]] ([[Banbury RUFC]]), [[canoeing]], golf, running, [[triathlon]] and [[cricket]] clubs. These clubs represent a variety of age groups, and play at varying levels, from amateur to national.  [[Banbury United F.C.]] was first formed as Spencer Villa in 1931 and their home matches played at Middleton Road. At this time it was essentially a works club. In 1934, they changed their name to Banbury Spencer and moved to the Spencer Stadium.

Banbury and District Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1904. The club disappeared in the mid-1920s.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=733 "Banbury & District Golf Club"], Golf's Missing Links.</ref>  A [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] track was opened during the summer of 1951, {{convert|1|mi|km|1|spell=in}} north of Banbury town centre on the east side of Southam Road. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the [[National Greyhound Racing Club]]) known as a flapping track, which was the nickname given to independent tracks.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 410|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref> The racing lasted until the latter part of 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundracingtimes.co.uk/2019/03/04/banbury/|title=Banbury|date=4 March 2019|publisher=Greyhound Racing Times}}</ref>

American [[Haas F1 Team]] European forward base of operation is located in Banbury after the collapse of [[Marussia F1]]. [[Manor Racing]] formerly based in Banbury until the team went into administration in 2016. A number of other motor racing teams have been based in and around Banbury, including [[Prodrive]], [[Arden International]], [[Mahindra Racing]], [[Simtek]] and [[Virgin Racing]].

==Twinning==
Banbury is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
* [[Ermont]] in France, since 1982.<ref name="localauthoritypublishing.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/banbury/index.html |title=Banbury Town Council Official Guide |publisher=Localauthoritypublishing.co.uk |access-date=28 December 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822023756/http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/banbury/index.html |archive-date=22 August 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Hennef]] in Germany, since 1981.<ref name="localauthoritypublishing.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hennef.de/verwaltung/dienstleistungen/dienstleistung.php?id=37&menuid=4&topmenu=7 |title=Städtepartnerschaften |access-date=4 July 2008 |publisher=Ilona Gerken |place=Stadt Hennef |language=de |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040153/http://www.hennef.de/verwaltung/dienstleistungen/dienstleistung.php?id=37&menuid=4&topmenu=7 |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref>

Twinning in Banbury began on 26 October 1978, at a public meeting held at the Post-Graduate Education Centre, and called on the initiative of the late Councillor Ron Smith, the then Town Mayor of Banbury. Initial visits between Banbury and [[Ermont]] in 1979, and for a long time after there was a period of informal relationship before a formal agreement was signed in 1982. Contact was first made with [[Hennef]] about a possible agreement in October 1980 and within a year the formal agreement was signed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.banburytwinning.org.uk/history/history.htm |title=History |publisher=Banburytwinning.org.uk |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304030429/http://www.banburytwinning.org.uk/history/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>  As a consequence of this, two roads in Banbury (Hennef Way and Ermont Way) have been named after the two towns. Likewise a former Railway station square in [[Hennef]] has been named Banburyplatz.

==Notable people==
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2021}}
* [[Alfie Barbeary]], rugby union player for [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/alfie-barbeary-england-rugby-wasps-22293872|work=Coventry Telegraph|date=27 November 2021|access-date=27 November 2021|title=Alfie Barbeary makes position decision after chat with England Rugby head coach Eddie Jones|author=Bobby Bridge}}</ref> 
*[[John Brooke-Little]] was a former [[officer of arms]] who lived in Banbury at the end of his life.<ref>{{cite news |title=John Brooke-Little |url= http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/obituaries/obits/695454.John_Brooke_Little/?ref=arc |newspaper=Oxford Mail |publisher=Newsquest |date=24 February 2006 |access-date=15 August 2014}}</ref>
* Novelist [[Anthony Burgess]] taught at Banbury Grammar School (now [[Wykham Park Academy]]) for several years during the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Burgess… a brief life |url= http://www.anthonyburgess.org/about-anthony-burgess/burgess-a-brief-life |publisher=The International Anthony Burgess Foundation |access-date=15 August 2014}}</ref>
* [[Benjamin Geen]] was born in Banbury and employed as a staff nurse at the [[Horton General Hospital]]. During December 2003 and January 2004, Geen poisoned 17 patients for the thrill of trying to resuscitate them. He was found guilty of two murders and 15 charges of grievous bodily harm in April 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4918462.stm |title=Nurse guilty of killing patients |work=BBC News |date=18 April 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Gary Glitter]], born in Banbury as Paul Francis Gadd; [[glam rock]] singer and convicted child sex offender.<ref>{{cite news |title=Glitter jailed over child porn |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/517604.stm |access-date=15 August 2014 |work=BBC News |date=12 November 1999}}</ref>
* [[Larry Grayson]], comedian and television presenter, was born in Banbury, but grew up in [[Nuneaton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: Larry Grayson |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-larry-grayson-1567199.html |access-date=15 August 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |date=9 January 1995}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Butler Gunn]] was a Banbury born illustrator, writer and war correspondent.
* [[Richie Hawtin]], electronic musician and DJ, was born in Banbury.
* [[Alan Hodgkin]], British physiologist and biophysicist and [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] winner, was born in Banbury
* [[Lancelot Holland]], the admiral who was killed aboard {{HMS|Hood|51|6}} in 1941 commanding the fleet that engaged the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck}}, grew up in the Banbury area.
* Television hypnotist and hypnotherapist [[Chris Hughes (hypnotist)|Chris Hughes]] was born in Banbury, but grew up in [[Ardley, Oxfordshire|Ardley]].
* Actress [[Jo Joyner]] ([[Tanya Branning]] in ''[[EastEnders]]'') grew up in [[Bloxham]] and studied at the [[The Warriner School|Warriner School]]. 
* [[William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury]], [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]] and [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] of England 1646–1660.
* [[Jay Mac]], singer, songwriter, and performer from Banbury, known for playing major UK festivals, and receiving coverage on [[X Factor]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Banbury singer-songwriter hopes to promote urban music and inspire next generation |url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/people/banbury-singer-songwriter-hopes-to-promote-urban-music-in-town-and-inspire-next-generation-of-performers-5242211 |work=Banbury Guardian |date=13 June 2025 |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>
* Prime Minister [[Frederick North, Lord North|Lord North]] was MP for Banbury from 1754 to 1790.<ref>Whiteley, Peter. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5fHUAwAAQBAJ&q=Whiteley%2C+Peter.+Lord+North%3A+The+Prime+Minister+who+lost+America%2C+%281996%29 Lord North: The Prime Minister who lost America,']' (1996) p.19</ref>
* [[Javad Nurbakhsh]], former Master of the [[Ni'matullāhī]] [[Sufi]] [[Tariqa|order]], lived, died and was buried near Banbury.
* [[Tim Plester]], actor, playwright and film maker, was born and grew up in Banbury
* Chef and ''[[Hell's Kitchen (UK TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' star [[Gordon Ramsay]] moved to Banbury at the age of 16.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dowling |first=Tim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/05/born-famous-gordon-ramsay-review-a-taste-of-reality-for-the-chefs-son|title=Born Famous: Gordon Ramsay review – a taste of reality for the chef's son|work=The Guardian|date=5 August 2019|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>
* [[Barrie Trinder]], historian and industrial archaeologist, was born in Banbury<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVQJ-L5ZS Barrie S Trinder.] Family Search. Retrieved 17 June 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
* [[Rodney Gould]], former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and UK short circuit specialist, who was born in Banbury; he was the [[List of 250cc/Moto2 Motorcycle World Champions|250cc world champion]] in 1970.

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Banbury Escutcheon.png
|escutcheon = Azure a sun in his splendour Or on a chief Ermine a castle of two towers between two pairs of swords points upwards in saltire Gules.
|crest = On a wreath of the colours mounted upon a horse passant Argent caparisoned Or and Gules a lady in Tudor costume Proper.
|supporters = On either side an Ox Gules armed and unguled Or gorged with a Collar Argent charged with a Bar wavy Azure.
|motto = Dominus Nobis Sol Et Scutum (The Lord Is Our Sun And Shield)
|notes = Granted to the former borough council, 28 August 1951.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/south_central.html#banbury%20tc |title=Banbury Town Council (Oxfordshire) |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=25 April 2022}}</ref>}}

==See also==
* [[Banbury cheese]] – a former cheese produced in Banbury that was once one of the town's most prestigious exports, its production went into decline by the 18th century, and it was eventually forgotten. 
*[[Banbury Lido]]
*[[Banbury Rural District]]
*[[National Filling Factory, Banbury]]
*[[Crouch Hill, Banbury]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Clark |first=Ted |year=1992 |title=Banbury History and Guide |publisher=[[The History Press|Sutton Publishing]] |place=Stroud |isbn=0-7509-0214-0 }}
*{{cite book |last=Compton |first=Hugh J |year=1976 |title=The Oxford Canal |publisher=David & Charles |place=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-7238-6 |pages= 25, 37, 39}}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Crossley |editor-first=Alan |year=1972 |title=A History of the County of Oxford |volume=10: Banbury Hundred |series=[[Victoria County History]] |place=London |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19722-728-2 |pages=5–127 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol10 |via=[[British History Online]] }}
*{{cite book |last1=Potts |first1=William |last2=Clark |first2=Edward T |year=1978 |orig-year=1958 |edition=revised |title=History of Banbury: Story of the Development of a Country Town |place=Banbury |publisher=Gulliver Press |isbn=0-906428-00-9 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Sherwood |first1=Jennifer |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |author-link2=Nikolaus Pevsner |year=1974 |title=Oxfordshire |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides#Buildings of England|The Buildings of England]] |place=Harmondsworth |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=0-14-071045-0 |pages=435–444}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Banbury}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Banbury |volume=3 |short=x}}
* [https://www.banbury.gov.uk/ Banbury town council]
* {{OpenDomesday|SP4540|banbury|Banbury}}

{{Banbury Wards}}
{{Cherwell}}
{{Oxfordshire}}
{{Banbury Estates}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Banbury| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Oxfordshire]]