At one time Banbury had many crosses (The High Cross, The Bread Cross and The White Cross), but these were destroyed by
Puritans on 26 July 1600. 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
Queen Victoria's eldest daughter to Prince Frederick of Prussia. The current Banbury Cross is a stone, spire-shaped monument decorated in Gothic form. Statues of Queen Victoria,
Edward VII and
George V were added in 1911. The cross is fifty-two feet six inches high, and topped by a gilt cross.
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