Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/540

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Of Dartmoor and its Borderland. 159 head of modern workmanship, the gift of the Hon. Canon Courtenay. The design is good, and thoroughly in keeping with the old shaft. It was cut by a stone-mason of the town named Treleaven. From Bovey Town Cross we shall pass up the hill to the outskirts, where the church is situated. Entering the church- yard by the south gate we shall perceive on our right a very handsome cross, upon which it is impossible to look without feelings of mingled regret and pleasure. Regret at noticing that but little of the original cross remains, and pleasure when we see what good results a careful and judicious "restoration" may effect. Though only the lower portion of the shaft and one of the arms of the old cross were 10 be found, so well has the work of supplying the parts that were deficient been executed, that we can feel confident we see in what has been produced a perfect counterpart of the old Bovey churchyard cross. The shaft being of a tapering form, and an arm existing, its proportions could, with the exercise of care, be accurately determined;. this trouble was not grudged, and the result is most happy. The late Earl of Devon, when Lord Courtenay, discovered the fragments of the old cross serving the purpose of a step at the churchyard gate. They were removed, and the cross was set up near the east end of the church. Being thrown down it was again set up, but was once more overturned. Lord Courtenay then obtained permission to remove it to Powder- ham as a trust, where it was repaired and fixed upon a pedestal. When the Hon. Canon Courtenay became vicar of Bovey, the Earl of Devon mentioned the above circum- stance to him, and the cross was then brought back and re-erected in the churchyard. This account of the discovery and " restoration " of Bovey churchyard cross was furnished to Mr. Ormerod by Canon Courtenay. The base in which the cross is set is one foot high, with chamfered angles, standing upon a pedestal of three low steps, and octagonal in form. It is a Maltese cross, and the angles are chamfered. Its height is exactly six feet. It will thus be seen that the little town of Bovejr Tracey can boast of three erect crosses. Neither of them occupies precisely its original position, but at the same time has not lacked kindly aid to its preservation.