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Summary

A curious cross, apparently unique in Devon, stands against the wall facing the road of Cowick Street School. The shaft is rectangular in section, and tapers upwards, terminating in two pairs of arms, the space between has been hollowed out instead of being cut through the stone. As it has no upright limb the cross may be described as a double 'tau cross'.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SW/92
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX99SW61

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CROSS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

Cresswell, B. F., 1915, Churchyard and Wayside Crosses in the Neighbourhood of Exeter, 189 (Article in Serial). SDV336961.

A stumpy fragment which may have been higher. The tip forms a double tau cross, the arms being cut from a single stone. Total height c.1m

Joce, T. J., 1927, The Earliest Southern Way from Exeter, 272 (Article in Serial). SDV309828.

Masson Phillips, E. N., 1938, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon: Part II, 323, Fig. 17 (Article in Serial). SDV6308.

A curious little granite cross with two pairs of arms, the space in between hollowed out rather than being cut through the stone. Described as a double 'Tau' cross. Located agains a wall, opposite St Thomas Methodist Church.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953, SX99SW61 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV22617.

Site visits 1953. The remains of a double tau cross, the arms being cut from a single stone. An unusual cross, much weathered. Total height 3ft 8ins.
Cross evidently not in its original position. Oral information that the cross originally stood at the entrance to an old shop (near the corner of Barton Road and Cowick street) and was moved to its present position in September 1913.

Watson, A., 2007-2017?, Devon Crosses, 126, (Vol 1), sketch, Photos (Un-published). SDV360833.

Cowick Street SX909917
A cross stands against the wall facing the road of Cowick Street School, Exeter. A curious little cross, apparently unique in Devon. The shaft is rectangular in section, and tapers upwards, terminating in two pairs of arms, the space between has been hollowed out instead of being cut through the stone. As it has no upright limb the cross may be described as a double 'tau cross'. It is made of granite, the building wall against which this cross stood was demolished, the cross then being re-erected in front of Cowick Street School. The full length of the cross when unearthed was nearly six feet.
Cross height 0.96 metres, span 0.38 metres. Base 0.29 by 0.22 metres. Top 0.29 by 0.20 metres. Recess in cross head width 10.2 centimetres, height 8.8 centimetres by 7.6 centimetres deep.

Butler, J., 2010, Peter Orlando Hutchinson’s Diary of a Devon Antiquary: Illustrated Journals and Sketchbooks 1871-1894, 127-8 (Monograph). SDV360113.

Cockles Bridge Cross, St Thomas, Exeter. Hutchinson illustrates and describes a granite cross or stone in his journal for 14th October 1882. The cross, a yard high, was built into a brick wall of a house that jutted out into the street. The house was situated 200-300 yards beyond the church. According to Hutchinson there was once a bridge here over a stream and the stone is said to have stood near nearby. When the house was constructed the stone was built into it, the bridge having been previously demolished.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

Cross marked.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV22617	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1953. SX99SW61. OSAD Card. Card Index + Digital.
SDV309828	Article in Serial: Joce, T. J.. 1927. The Earliest Southern Way from Exeter. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 59. Hardback Volume. 272.
SDV336961	Article in Serial: Cresswell, B. F.. 1915. Churchyard and Wayside Crosses in the Neighbourhood of Exeter. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 47. A5 Hardback. 189.
SDV360113	Monograph: Butler, J.. 2010. Peter Orlando Hutchinson’s Diary of a Devon Antiquary: Illustrated Journals and Sketchbooks 1871-1894. Diary of a Devon Antiquary. Hardback Volume. 127-8.
	Linked documents:1
SDV360833	Un-published: Watson, A.. 2007-2017?. Devon Crosses. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 126, (Vol 1), sketch, Photos.
SDV366286	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2025. Mastermap 2025. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #8470 ]
SDV6308	Article in Serial: Masson Phillips, E. N.. 1938. The Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon: Part II. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 70. A5 Hardback. 323, Fig. 17.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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