Brown’s Original Banbury Cakes Limited was run by Philip Brown for nearly 30 years, since 1998, but he inherited a much longer tradition of making a selling the iconic cakes.

Banbury Cakes are small puff pastries with a rum-flavoured dried fruit filling, similar to Eccles Cakes, and Brown’s Original Banbury Cakes was famous for making them.

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The family-owned company had been doing so for nearly 400 years, working from the famous bakery at 12 Parsons Street from the early 1600s.

The once-beloved shop was demolished by a property developer in 1968, and rebuilt into the shops which now house a Japanese restaurant in its place.

However, the Banbury Cake business continued.

Traditional Banbury Cakes, cut in half to show the rum currant filling (Image: Wikimedia Commons / Redrose)

From the early 1900s, the shop had been run by two sisters named Lizzie and Lottie Brown, and Mr Philip Brown, who until recently had been the company’s baker, is the great-nephew of those sisters.

Mr Brown ran Brown’s Original Banbury Cakes as an order-only company, selling the heritage cakes through online orders and at shops like the Banbury Museum shop and Wykham Park Farm Shop.

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But the storied business was dissolved on April 7, 2026, according to documents on Companies House, and was voluntarily struck from the register and dissolved.

Mr Brown could not be reached for comment.

Wykham Park Farm Shop confirmed that the company had stopped supplying Banbury Cakes earlier this year when the baker retired and the company closed.

The incident occurred in Oatlands Park in Botley, west Oxford, on Wednesday, April 8 at about 3.30pm.

Police say a man, who was topless, wearing only shorts and flip flops, approached a teenage girl in the park and ‘attempted to grab her’.

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Fortunately, she was not injured and ran away.

Police say they are investigating the assault (Image: Police)

Thames Valley Police are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault to come forward as part of a ‘thorough’ investigation into the incident.

The man is described as a black, in his late 20s or early 30s, of average build with short afro style hair boxed in shape, and dark brown eyes.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Officers have been conducting a thorough investigation following this incident and ask anyone with information contact the force on 101 or by making a report via our website, quoting reference number 43260170326.”

The planters, donated by sustainable housebuilder Greencore Homes, were gifted to St Blaise CE Primary School and Sutton Courtenay C of E Primary School near to its Milton Heights development, The Canopies.

Becky Costello, headteacher at St Blaise CE Primary School, said: “Outdoor learning plays such an important role in children’s overall wellbeing.

“Opportunities to spend time outside, working together and connecting with nature can build confidence and encourage curiosity.

“The planters will be a wonderful resource for helping our children to thrive beyond the classroom and we thank Greencore Homes for its generous donation.”

Greencore Homes, known for its emphasis on sustainability, donated the planters as part of its commitment to supporting nearby communities.

Both schools plan to use the planters for gardening activities and environmental education.

Raluca Chende, headteacher at Sutton Courtenay C of E Primary School, said: “Supporting children to grow plants and vegetables is a brilliant way to introduce sustainability from an early age.

“It helps them understand where food comes from and inspires a sense of responsibility for the environment.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to grow our own plants and vegetables and provide hands-on learning.

“We can’t thank Greencore Homes enough for their contribution.”