Many Banbury ghost stories likely have a kernel of truth. There could have been strange happenings in the past, like people seeing strange lights or hearing odd sounds. However, as stories are passed down, they often become more and more supernatural. Maybe there were real - life tragedies that inspired these ghostly tales, but the supernatural elements are more in the realm of legend.
It's difficult to say for sure. While some stories could be completely fictional, created for entertainment or to scare people, others might be based on misinterpretations of real events. For instance, natural phenomena like drafts or reflections could have been mistaken for ghosts. So, while the idea of ghosts is not scientifically proven, the stories may have some basis in real - life experiences, albeit distorted over time.
Some might be based on real events that have been exaggerated over time. For example, an unexplained noise in an old building could have led to the creation of a ghost story. But there's no solid proof that ghosts are real.