St. Mary's Hall, near St. Michael's, was begun in 1394, and belonged to three guilds. It is of very great interest, and should on no account be passed by. The great hall, crypt, tapestry, ancient glass windows, and knaves' post, are all objects worthy of attention, while the building generally is a vivid reminder of medieval life and feeling.
Bablake Hospital, founded in 1560, is close to St. John's Church, and presents some picturesque examples of half-timber construction with quaint gables.
Peeping Tom is a prominent feature of the King's Head Hotel in Smithford Street, and Ford's Hospital, down Greyfriar's Lane, possesses an extremely fine façade and a charming timbered court rich in carved oak and diamond-paned windows.
The road to Southam and Banbury leaves Coventry as the London Road, and about two miles to the south Whitley Abbey is reached, formerly the seat of Lord Hood, son of the famous Admiral. In Whitley Abbey Charles I. resided while conducting operations against Coventry in 1622. On Whitley Common are traces of earthworks thrown up by the Royalists. Baginton, lying about two miles to the right, contains the remains of an ancient castle. Shortly after Whitley the road divides, the one going to Southam being that upon the right. A turning shortly afterwards at the cross-roads leads to the well-known Stoneleigh Abbey, lying five miles to the west, the site of a former castle and of a subsequent foundation for Cistercian monks, which was dispossessed at the Reformation. Some remains of the castle exist, but the present building is an imposing range of buildings in the classic style, and forms, with the grounds, one of the most splendid country homes in the kingdom. It is the seat of Lord Leigh.
Long Itchington has some fine half-timbered houses, and is a picturesque village. The Church was rebuilt in the fourteenth century by the Priors of Maxstoke. In the eighteenth century the spire was damaged by lightning; hence its present truncated appearance. The aisle is part of the original church, and is Early English except the doorway, which dates from the Norman period. There are some very interesting details to be found in the interior, notably the chancel screen, which is an extremely rare example of early fourteenth-century woodwork. St. Wolstan, the last of the Saxon Bishops, was a native of this place. Long Itchington was honoured by two visits from Queen Elizabeth during her progresses to Kenilworth. Two miles farther on is Southam, of no particular interest, although the church may perhaps repay a casual inspection. The road lies through a pleasant district, essentially Midland in its general aspects, but near the road turning off to Fenny Compton higher ground is reached. Cropredy, where the battle was fought in 1644, is one and a half miles to the east by the turning close to Mollington.
BANBURY
Banbury is chiefly known by reason of its cross and its cakes. The former has been destroyed, but a replica exists upon the site. It is a small borough of about 4,000 inhabitants, and was formerly a notable place for the manufacture of plush, but now produces agricultural implements and portable engines. A castle was built here in 1125, but it was entirely destroyed in the Civil War. The moat, however, may still be traced. In 1469 the common men of Yorkshire, to the number of about 16,000, marched to Banbury under the leadership of 'Robin of Redesdale,' and captured the Earl of Pembroke, after inflicting a defeat upon him on the borders of Oxford. A college and hospital formerly existed in the town. The church is of comparatively modern construction, having been thoroughly rebuilt about a century ago.
Leaving Banbury, the little village of Adderbury possesses a church the chancel of which was built by William of Wykeham. Passing the Astons, North, Mid, and Steeple, we come to the junction of roads leading respectively to Woodstock and Oxford, and at this point a Roman road—the Akeman Street—crosses the route, running between Cirencester and Bicester. In the course of a few miles the outlying portions of Oxford appear in view.