Ride a Cock-Horse to Coventry Cross

"Ride a Cock-Horse to Coventry Cross" is a lesser-known variant of the famous "Ride a Cock-Horse to Banbury Cross" nursery rhyme, dating from the 18th century.

Origins

While "Banbury Cross" is the more famous version, several English towns had their own variants of this riding rhyme. The Coventry Cross version appears in some 18th-century collections and reflects the importance of market crosses in English towns.

Market Crosses

Town crosses (like Coventry Cross and Banbury Cross) were:

• Central landmarks in English market towns
• Places where markets were held and goods traded
• Meeting points for the community
• Sites of public announcements

Meaning

The rhyme describes:

• A hobby-horse journey to the town cross
• Buying treats at the market (cakes and pies)
• The joy of simple market-day pleasures

As a Knee-Bouncing Rhyme

Like its Banbury cousin, this rhyme was used for bouncing children on the knee:

• The adult's knees become the "cock-horse"
• The bouncing mimics riding
• The child enjoys the physical play while hearing the rhyme

Historical Context

Penny cakes and twopenny tarts mentioned in the rhyme reflect actual market prices from the 18th century. These treats would have been affordable, humble pleasures for ordinary families.