Browse crosses

O/S Grid Ref:  SX/545/608       Longitude/Latitude (Degrees+/-):  -4.05054/50.42879 (approx.)

Map location:  Click here to view map.

Purpose: Socket stone for a wayside cross.

Size:  The stone measures 3 feet 11 inches (1.19 metres) by 3 feet 9 inches (1.14 metres) and at least 10 inches (0.25 metres) deep. The size of the socket is 15½ inches (0.39 metres) by 13 inches (0.33 metres) and 9 inches (0.23 metres) deep.

Information:  The socket stone is roughly octagonal in shape and is lying flat on the ground in the centre of the green. There are four other stones arranged around one side of the socket stone. According to William Crossing, these are thought to be all that is left of eight original stones which formed an octagonal plinth for the socket stone. These are probably more or less in their original positions.  Crossing also states that the original cross would have served as a marker for a traveller over the moor wanting to go on to Shaugh Prior and Tavistock, or turn-off to Bickleigh.

However, more recently a plaque has been fixed to one of the stones which reads: 'BROWNIE CROSS - These stones are the relics of a medieval cross, which was one of ten which marked the route of an ancient trackway from Pympton Priory to Sampford Spiney'.  We therefore have two different explanations for the stones laying beside the cross and two separate suggested routes marked by the original cross.  Looking at the map it is feasible that both routes passed by this spot and the cross could therefore have been a very important waymarker for the trans-moor traveller in the days before our current road network, when the tracks may not have been at all clear.  

There is a fifth stone nearby, but this would not have been part of the original set as it has been worked to form square corners and smooth sides. The working of this stone is obviously too recent to be connected with the original cross. For at least the first half of the 20^th Century the site was overgrown and in quite a mess. However, it was tidied up by the County Roads Department in 1958 and has been regularly maintained ever since. Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the actual cross has never come to light.

It was a fine October day when I visited this cross and, as I kept mainly to the roads, I was only wearing trainers at the time. There was quite a thickness of grass growing up from the socket, in the centre of the stone and, in order to enhance the socket for the photo, I thought I would press it down a bit with my foot. What I didn’t realise was that the socket was also full of water, with the result that I got a nice wet foot for my troubles. Not to worry, I still got a good photo though!

Our thanks go to Mark Fenlon for supplying the photo of the plaque.