Sourton Cross

Map Sourton Cross. This consists of a short length of cylindrical shaft, set into a rectangular socket stone. The shaft was found during the renovation of a nearby building, in about 1980 or 1981. At first the significance of this discovery was not realised and unfortunately it was broken into two lengths. In fact, the groove where a drill bit was used to weaken the stone can still be seen at the top of the shaft. Happily, once it was recognised as a cross shaft, the lower portion was saved and has now been reunited with the socket stone. The remaining portion of the shaft measures 12 inches (0.30 metres) tall and 2 feet 11 inches (0.88 metres) in circumference. The lower end of the shaft terminates in a 9 inch square tenon, which is a very good match for the socket cut into the base stone. Nothing appears to be known of the whereabouts of the head and arms of this cross.Ref SX535903