Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/509

 130 The Aitcient Stons Crosses Continuing the ascent of the hill we shall soon pass a small wood on the left hand. This is Ringhole Copse, and at its higher end a lane leading from the one we saw branching off to North Tawton joins our road. At the junction, and close to the edge of the copse, will be seen an exceedingly fine cross. It is very nearly seven feet and a half in height, and the arms, which are about nine inches deep, measure nineteen inches across ; they spring off at about eight or nine inches from the top of the head. The shaft is over a foot wide immediately under the arms, and seven inches thick ; between the arms on each face there is incised a small Greek cross. An ash tree spreads its branches over it, the foliage partially concealing its venerable head. We now retrace our steps, but ere reaching the entrance to Oxenham shall turn down a lane on our left, which will lead us close by the house. We mount a hill, and in a few minutes arrive at the hamlet of Addiscott, where stands a cross which we shall at once perceive to be a beautiful example. It is not of great height, being only four feet eight inches, but it is well-proportioned and care is dis- played in its fashioning. The bottom of the shaft, which is set into a worked base, is square, but only preserves this form for a distance of al>out three inches, where the angles l)eing chamfered, it becomes octagonal, and the arms are also of this shape. In the shaft the faces of the octagon vary in width from four to five inches; in the arms they are each three-and-a-half inches. These latter spring off at a distance of three feet one inch from the surface of the socket-stone, and the head rises eight and a half inches above them. The shaft, which does not taper, is three feet one inch in girth, and the arms, two feet nine and a half inches. The socket- stone, or base, the upper edge of which is sloped, is about nine inches above the ground, and two and a half feet square. This striking cross is not quite in its original position. Mr. George Cann, of Dishcombe, had it placed where it now stands, as it had been decided to remove it from its former site in order that a gateway might be made there. It is pleasing to be able to record an instance of care being taken to preserve a memorial of olden days; had such been more frequent, how much brighter would be the light thrown upon the past.