Rey Cross

Rey Cross is a Grade II* listed monument located on the south side of the A66 in Bowes. It consists of a base and a fragment of a cross shaft, likely dating from the 10th century. The structure is made of sandstone and stands approximately 1.0 metre tall. The cross shaft has a rectangular plan and rests on a worn square-plan base. Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the shaft are no longer legible.

Rey Cross, also known as Rere Cross, is believed to have been erected by King Edwin of Northumbria, who died in 946, to mark the boundary between his kingdom and the Scottish Kingdom of Strathclyde. The site is historically significant as it is associated with the death of Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking King, who was killed at Rey Cross in 945, marking the end of Viking rule in Northern England. Rey Cross is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.