upInn signs in Stony Stratford (2005) A cock and bull story is a fanciful, unlikely story. It is said that the Cock Inn and the Bull Inn, both in Stony Stratford, a town on Watling Street (now a constituent town of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire), were staging posts for rival coach lines . Local people, regarding the passengers staying at the inns as a source of news, were told fanciful stories; there was even rivalry between the two inns as to who could tell the most outlandish story.  ]  According to another source, the rival inns were in Fenny Stratford, a nearby town on Watling Street .Rouse, E. Clive. The Old Towns of England. Batsford Books, 1936. Page 66.  
upInn signs in Stony Stratford (2005) A cock and bull story is a fanciful, unlikely story. The Cock Inn and the Bull Inn, both in Stony Stratford, a town on Watling Street (now a constituent town of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire), were staging posts for rival coach lines on the LondonBirmingham turnpike. It is said that local people, regarding the passengers staying at the inns as a source of news, were told fanciful stories; there was even rivalry between the two inns as to who could tell the most outlandish story. These inns are still in existence: the Cock Hotel is documented to have existed in one form or another] on the current site since at least 1470; the present building dates from 1742. The provenance of The Bull is less well documented but is certainly older than 1600; the present building is "late eighteenth century". According to another source, the rival inns were in Fenny Stratford, a nearby town on Watling Street , but no such hostelries exist there today. See also History of Milton Keynes#Turnpike roads Notes
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It is said that the
The
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. Local
on the LondonBirmingham turnpike. It is said that local
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These inns are still in existence: the Cock Hotel is documented to have existed
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in one form or another
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on the current site since at least 1470; the present building dates from 1742. The provenance of The Bull is less well documented but is certainly older than 1600; the present building is "late eighteenth century".
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.Rouse, E. Clive. The Old Towns of England. Batsford Books, 1936. Page 66.
, but no such hostelries exist there today.
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See also History of Milton Keynes#Turnpike roads
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Notes