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Dear Craig,

I'm afraid that I can't provide a direct answer to your question as to what class York and Exeter were known by in Admiralty documents (I've only just started researching these ships) but I do know how the names came about.

The naming of new RN ships at this time was considered by the Admiralty Board on 9 December 1925. The decision is contained in Board Minute 2138 that concluded: "The Board agreed that County names should be given to 'A' class cruisers and Town names to 'B' class cruisers in the approved programme..."

Subsequently, on 18 March 1926 the Board approved the establishment of a Committee (Minute 2187) to suggest names for the new construction programme underway. This reported to the Board on 13 May 1926 (Minute 2206) concluding, amongst many other recommendations: "B Class Cruisers: For these seven Town names are required [My note: 7 because this was the expected programme at the time]. In view of the ancient practice of "hallowing" ships, on which the present [naming] ceremony was founded, and the fact that the ceremony was often performed in the past by a bishop, we have suggested the names of cathedral cities of seven of the oldest sees. We should, of course, have headed the list with the name CANTERBURY but for the fact the name is already appropriated".

The names initially suggested were YORK, ROCHESTER, DURHAM, LINCOLN, CHICHESTER, SALISBURY and EXETER. As a result of a request by the Admiralty. the Committee also later added NORWICH, GLOUCESTER, BANGOR and ABERDEEN to the list

No decision was made at on the cruiser names at the time of the 13 May 1926 meeting. However, the Board considered the names for the cruisers of the 1926 programme at a subsequent meeting on 3 February 1927, when YORK was selected for the first 'B' type cruiser (Minute 2301).

I hope, if not directly answering your question, this response is of some help.