Browse crosses

Location

O/S Grid Ref: SX/54013/69952       Longitude/Latitude (Degrees+/-):  -4.06031/50.51110  

Map location: Click here to view map.

Purpose:  Not known.

Size:  The cross has not yet been measured.

Information:  I first came across this stone in the year 2000, when I took a photo of it and quickly moved on not realising at the time that there was a cross incised into the top of the pillar.  The shape of a cross has been incised into the top of the stone, from corner to corner, to quite a depth.  This is not easily visible from the road and requires the viewer to stand on the grass verge beside the stone, to be able to look down onto the top of it.

I've not been able to discover any information as to why the stone has been placed in this position or, indeed, why a cross has been incised across the top.  It doesn't appear to have been a waymarker cross, like the nearby cross at the other end of the hamlet (Welltown Cross No. 1), and there doesn't appear to be any evidence that the stone ever had two arms, as one would expect of a conventional cross.  

I have been contacted by Robert Noakes who informs me that he he spoke with the owner of Welltown Cottage, along from the cross, many years ago when he first came across this stone.  He was informed by the house-owner that the stone was erected by the same person and at the same time as the two gateposts at the entrance to the nearby Walkhampton Churchyard.  As can be seen in the thumbnail photo, to the left, these also have a substantial cross incised into the tops of the stones.  This now makes me think that putting a cross into the top of each stone is this particular stonemason's mark of identifying his work. 

Our thanks to Bob Fitzpatrick for bringing this cross to our attention and for providing the initial photos and to Robert Noakes for the additional information and photo of the Walkhampton Churchyard gateposts.