Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire is an historic town. Established in 1194, it straddles Watling Street, the Roman road that connects Dover with Hollyhead, via London.
Its is also the site of a (now destroyed) Eleanor Cross which marked where the cortege of Queen Eleanor, wife of King Edward I, rested on its journey from Nottinghamshire to London in 1291.
During the Georgian period, the town was a coaching stop where the carriage horses were fed and watered. The two hostelries - 'The Cock' and 'The Bull' - gave rise to 'Cock and Bull' stories - stories that became more and more exaggerated as they were merrily repeated in each of the public houses! 'The Cock' also features in the children's rhyme 'Ride a Cock horse to Banbury Cross'.
Stony Stratford is also the site of the 'Wesley Tree' where John Wesley, the 18th century evangelist preacher and founder of the Methodist Church, preached to the town.
