The Stairs Cross Project - Positive response from Starcross Parish Council. More research needed.

Starcross Parish Council kindly considered this idea at their June meet. They are behind us with the idea, and have suggested a possible site. They have gone to a great deal of trouble to carefully  point out the considerations and requirements which will have to be met. Here's their thoughts:

The Parish Council considered your request at the meeting on Monday, and agreed in principle to the creation of a monument on Parish Council land, provided the following conditions can be met:

1. A suitable piece of ground can be identified
2. A detailed design plan is submitted to the Parish Council for approval
3. The History Club can demonstrate that all statutory planning approvals and environmental requirements have been met
4. The History Club can demonstrate that the project is financially viable and able to fully complete the monument, including fully restoring any surrounding area affected during construction.

5. The History Club should be able to demonstrate that future maintenance costs will be met
6. The History Club should be able to demonstrate that this interpretation of the origin of the place name Starcross is historically accurate.
7. There should also be installed an interpretation sign to inform why the monument is there.

It was noted that land on The Strand between the road and the cycle path close to the footpath across the railway line might be suitable.

Peter Dare, the retired Master Stonemason from Exeter Cathedral, and Luci Coles, the Teignmouth sculptress, have both agreed to help us with their expertise for this project, if they can.

The next stage

Point f  made by the Starcross Parish Council asks us to prove beyond doubt the historical accuracy of this interpretation of the origin of the Starcross place name.

Our basis for this interpretation of the village name is from a paper delivered by Captain George Peacock on 4th June 1869 to the Exeter Naturalists' Club. This paper is mentioned in the Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association, which have been digitized for online access https://archive.org/stream/reportandtransa05artgoog#page/n164/mode/2up
page 157 of volume XV

More research  needs to be done; perhaps the archives of Sherborne Abbey? http://sherborneabbey.com/

If you would do some research, please let us know. You can comment on this blog, or email
starcross.history@gmail.com

Thankyou