Hunt, Edmunds & Co: Banbury Cross Plaques
Hunt, Edmunds & Co: 'Banbury Cross' Plaques
Information: Richard Queralt and Ray Farleigh
Hunt, Edmunds & Co. Ltd ceased brewing in 1967, following the acquisition by Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Ltd in 1965. Many of their pubs display circular plaques. There are two versions which are identical apart from the colours. The detail is the same on both. The obelisk is Banbury Cross, a market cross on the main road through the town. The lady on the horse is the ‘Fine Lady’ of 'Ride a Cock Horse' nursery rhyme fame. She was probably a member of the Fiennes (Fiennes lady) family and related to Lord Saye and Sele of nearby Broughton Castle.
Ray Farleigh writes: "Bass Charrington revived the Hunt, Edmunds name for their large hotels division (although possibly only in their South-West division), and the slate grey plaques with the pearl grey motif are theirs. There used to be one on the Half Moon at Sherborne, and I photographed one many moons ago on an unidentified hotel in Exeter. I wonder if the other plaques, the Delft like blue and white ones, are from the brewery's independent days?"
Hunt, Edmunds Plaques in Oxfordshire
Hunt, Edmunds Plaques in Northamptonshire
Hunt, Edmunds Plaques in Worcester