The Cross Penny Post came into being in 1827 as a result of the establishment of a mail coach from Bristol to Bridgwater. Cross itself was only a tiny place but it was at a point where the new coach road was crossed by a minor road from Axbridge to Weston-super-Mare. It was made a Post Town and issued with an undated circular name stamp. By extending the Wells-Axbridge ride to Cross and then northwards through Sidcot to Banwell it could join the existing ride to Weston as shown below.
Cross took over the existing Bristol Receiving Houses at Hutton, Uphill, Weston and Worle and also those of Wells at Axbridge and Cheddar. In addition two Foot Messengers were appointed, one going through Stone Allerton, Stoughton Cross, Wedmore and Blackford to Mark and the other through Weare, Badgworth, Biddesham, Rooks Bridge and East Brent to South Brent, Receiving houses being established at Wedmore and South Brent.
Axbridge had the "No.1" Receiving House mark (see earlier post). Here's an example of the "Crofs / Penny Post" cancel with the "No.2" Receiving House mark of Weston-super-Mare.
The 1841 entire below is addressed from Lympsham and cancelled with a boxed "No.9" Receiving House mark.
