Southcott, West Devon Explained

Country:England
Pushpin Map:Devon
Coordinates:50.7359°N -4.0589°W
Static Image Name:Okehampton Hamlets, Southcott - geograph.org.uk - 203218.jpg
Static Image Caption:Southcott Farm
Type:Hamlet
Official Name:Southcott
Civil Parish:Okehampton Hamlets
Unitary England:West Devon
Lieutenancy England:Devon
Region:South West England
Post Town:OKEHAMPTON
Postcode District:EX20
Postcode Area:EX
Dial Code:01837
Os Grid Reference:SX 54999 94840
Constituency Westminster:Torridge and West Devon

Southcott is a hamlet in the civil parish of Okehampton Hamlets, in West Devon, England. The hamlet name is Anglo Saxon in origin and means 'southern cottage'.

The hamlet, little more than one road of cottages, is located to the west of the town of Okehampton and north of Dartmoor National Park.[1] [2]

Southcott Cross

Southcott Cross is a unique Dartmoor cross. The cross is 6'3" tall and is octagonal in shape. The Stone cross is unique as it depicts two humans, one on each side. At the front is a Crucifix and the reverse is believed to be the Virgin Mary praying, as the figure's hand are depicted together.[3]

It is believed that the cross was put there in the c13th Century as a waymaker cross to the Cistercian monks of the nearby Brightley Priory, on the bank of the West Okement River.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Ordnance Survey: OL28 Dartmoor. Ordnance Survey.
  2. Web site: Southcott . Latitude and Longitude Finder .
  3. Web site: Wayside cross in the garden hedge of Southcott Cottage, at a crossroads called Southcott Cross . Historic England .
  4. Web site: Southcott Cross. Dartmoor Crosses .