Standing side by side in Stony Stratford on Watling Street are two ancient coaching inns. In the 18th century travellers tales became embellished as they passed between the two establishments, and the emanating tales began to be called after them, a pracitce continued to this day. What are the two inns called?
Stony Stratford in the town, with the Wolverton and Stony Stratford Tramway being built to serve the workers. With the arrival of the motor car, the town's position on the original A5 road made it again an important stopping point for travellers. Due to the juxtaposition of two hotels in the centre of town, "The Cock" and "The Bull", (both originally coaching inns) on the main London to Chester and North Wales turnpike), it is claimed locally that the common phrase " a cock and bull story" originated here. Today Stony Stratford is a busy market town. Its pubs, restaurants and specialist
Stony Stratford east/west route with coaching inns to accommodate coach travellers. Traffic on Watling Street and the consequent wear and tear to it was such as to necessitate England's first turnpike trust, from Hockliffe to Stony Stratford, in 1707. In the early 19th century, over thirty mail coaches and stagecoaches a day stopped here. That traffic came to an abrupt end in 1838 when the London to Birmingham Railway (now the West Coast Main Line) was opened at Wolverton – ironically, just three years after the bridge over the Ouse had been rebuilt. Wolverton railway works provided an important source of employment