36 The Ancient Stone Crosses the Bellmains, to members of which family there is a mono- ment in the church. About half a mile beyond Piall Bridge we shall cross Quick's Bridge, and commence the ascent of the hill towards Tolch Moor Gate, the road being on the verge of a common. About midway we shall notice on our right hand a white gate, opening upon a private lane that leads to Cholwich Town, an ancient farmhouse, and the former seat of the Cholwich family. A short distance within this is an old granite cross which was first noticed several years ago by the Rev. W. C. Lukis in company with Mr. J. D. Pode, and was serving, as it does at present, as a gate post. We shall find it to be a wayside cross of the rudest type, and as the greater part of each arm has been knocked off in order to adapt it to its meaner purpose, it might very well be passed without its real nature being discovered. That it was first put to its present use a long while since is evident, from the point of fracture of one of the arms being worn quite smooth. There is little doubt that it originally stood by the side of the track on the line of which the road we have been following is now formed, and it is not unlikely that it was also intended to point the way to a fording-place on the stream at present crossed by Quick*s Bridge. The height of this cross is rather over five and a half feet, and it is nearly four feet in girth immediately below the arms or what remains of them. These are not quite opposite each other, there having been apparently little care expended in the fashioning of this ancient stone. Cholwich Town farmhouse, which is about half a mile from the cross, presents a good example of the old-time moro- land mansion. Though most of the extensive outbuildings have fallen to decay, being in great measure replaced by modern ones, and the site only of the chapel can now be seen, the dwelling itself remains much as it was in bygone days. Its outside appearance is marred by its having been found necessary to plaster the walls, but the old chambers with their granite arched doorways and mullioned windows, the roomy kitchen with its wide hearth, are still as of yore. Many years have passed since any of the Cholwich family dwelt in this
- town place " under Pen Beacon, and but little is now
.J
