William Crossing


William Crossing (1847–1928) was born in Plymouth, November 14, 1847. He acquired a taste for antiquities from his mother and from early youth he was fond of Dartmoor, his early associations centring around the neighbourhood of Sheepstor, Walkhampton, Meavy, and Yannadon. After leaving school at Plymouth, he went to the Independent College at Taunton, and then returned to finish his education at the Mannamead School. He became a writer and documenter of Dartmoor and Dartmoor life.

In 1872 he married and settled down at Splatton near Brent. In the previous year he began making notes about his rambles; after his marriage he seems to have become more methodical, and to have decided to write a book descriptive of the moorland district. Today he is considered one of the best contemporary authorities on Dartmoor and its antiquities, having made it the subject of his life's work. He was one of the earliest members of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, joining it immediately on its formation. Two of his most important books catalogued the ancient monuments on Dartmoor: both The Ancient Crosses of Dartmoor[1] and The Old Stone Crosses of the Dartmoor Borders[2] included single-page maps. In the early 1900s a series of five books appeared: Guide to Dartmoor ... A Topographical Description of the Forest and the Commons. These included copious maps and plans of the moor. These were published in Plymouth by the Western Morning News.


Jackson’s Marine and River Guide to the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall published in Plymouth by George F Jackson & Co., 1901, included a set of 6 maps and two plans. The cover and the title page both attribute the text to William Crossing. Each map has the title Sketch Plan of the … followed by area covered. The maps of the Tamar etc and of the south coast have Jackson’s (Sketch) Plan … . The plans – of Mt Edgcumbe Park and of the 3 towns, i.e. Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse – also have a signature/imprint: Geo F Jackson & Co Plymouth (block capitals). All but the Edgcumbe Park map advertise Bearus, a jeweller’s in Plymouth. The adverts surrounding the Edgcumbe map are for restaurants run by Risdon and Sons. This paperback book was probably printed and published for the 1901 season as the advert for the Liskeard and Looe railway (page 170) has times of trains Season 1901. However, the book must have appeared after Queen Victoria’s death in January of that year.

Crossing – Jackson 1 a-h


a. Rivers Tamar, Tavy & Lynher adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 115 x 90 mm

b. River Yealm adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 115 x 90 mm



c. River Fal (Cornwall) adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 115 x 90 mm 

d. Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 115 x 90 mm

e. River Dart adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 115 x 90 mm


f. Plan of 3 Towns (Plymouth) adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 135 x 280 mm (below)

g. Plan of the Coast (Torquay-Fowey) adverts for Bearus top and bottom ca. 135 x 240 mm
 

h. Pathways in Mt Edgcumbe Park adverts for Risdon on four sides ca. 175 x 140 mm

1. 1901 Jackson’s Marine and River Guide to the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall
Plymouth: George F Jackson & Co. 1901.                BL, DevA, KB.


These two works lie outside of the scope of this present work but can be seen by clicking here.

[1] Published 1887 with a Map of Dartmoor (185 x 120 mm).

[2] Published 1892 with a Sketch Map of Dartmoor Showing the Border Town and Villages (190 x 120 mm).

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