Banbury, Administrative division in Oxfordshire, England
Banbury is a settlement in the county of Oxfordshire in northern England and forms a central administrative district along the River Cherwell with just over 54,000 residents. The built-up area spreads across several historical cores and newer residential quarters with mixed construction in brick and natural stone.
The settlement arose in Saxon times and appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as an important trading place for wool. During the English Civil War in the 17th century the medieval castle was destroyed and never rebuilt.
The River Cherwell forms a natural boundary through several neighborhoods and once served as a transport route for wool and trade goods. Many street names today still reference the old guild traditions and the connection to farming in the region.
The railway station sits centrally and offers direct connections to London, Birmingham, Manchester and the south coast, so travelers can reach surrounding cities quickly. In the town center most streets are easy to walk for pedestrians, and several car parks are located at the edge of the pedestrian zone.
Until 1998 the town operated the largest cattle market in Western Europe, whose site was later converted into residential areas. The market attracted traders from all over England and shaped the rhythm of local life for centuries.
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