inn. Cock and Bull A pair of coaching inns along Watling Street in Stony Stratford are claimed to have given rise to the term "cock and bull stories". The claim is that stories by coach passengers would be further embellished as they passed between the two hostelries, "The Cock" and "The Bull", fuelled by ale and an interested audience. Hence any suspiciously elaborate tale would become a cock and bull story. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is where the phrase originated. The phrase, first recorded in 1621, may instead be an allusion to Aesop's fables, with their incredible talking animals. References Bibliography Coaching Era, The: Stage and Mail Coach Travel in and Around Bath, Bristol and Somerset, Roy Gallop, Fiducia (2003), 'The English Urban Inn 1560–1750', Alan Everitt, in Perspectives in English Urban History, ed. By Alan Everitt, Palgrave Macmillan (1973), I External links Coaching inns. By Anne Woodley. Stagecoaches and Coaching Inns. Cottontown. Photos of examples of what may be considered coaching inns in geograph.org.uk Transport infrastructure Drinking establishments in Europe Tourist accommodations Horse-related professions and professionals Hotel types