132 Tk4 Ancieni Stem Crosses CHAPTER XIII. Thfowldgh to Moffetodbampstead* Fragments of Crosses at Throwleigh — An Ancient Base —Restoration of the Cross — Gidleigh — Murchington^-Gidleigh Park and Leigh Bridge— Cross at Holy Street— Base of Cross at Chagford — Oro« at Way Barton — Surroundings of Chagford — Cross near Cran- brook — Stone Cross— •Week Down — Shorter Cross. The district extending from the village of Throwleigh to Moretonhampstead will now claim our attention, and we shall therefore direct our steps from West Week to the first- named place in order to commence our investigations Our way will lead us by some grand old trees, and down a narrow lane, at the bottom of which we pass through a gate by a small farmhouse, and enter upon the Chagford road. Turning southward, with the moor on our right, we shall proceed towards Payne's Bridge, noticing on our way the numerous enclosures which have of late years been made on the skirts of the waste. Crossing the bridge, which spans the Blackaton Brook, a tributary of the Teign, we follow the road over the common, and shortly enter upon the enclosed lands once more. Thence through a pleasant lane we make our way to the small border village. Here we shall be gratified at observing a recently erected cross, the base, or socket-stone, of which is ancient. It stands on an excellent site at the junction of the South Tawton, Chagford, and Gidleigh roads, and forms a truly interesting feature in the village. The socket-stone, which is nearly square, being thirty-four inches by thirty-two, and thirteen inches high, is placed upon a pedestal of three steps. On this stone, the top corners of which are roughly roun({e^ pff, is set the cross, which is about three feet high. The height of the three steps is altogether about two feet ; it will thus be seen that the total height of this memorial is six feet. The stages of the pedestal are not quite square, the shape being propor- tioned to that of the ancient base. The bottom stage measures
