Of Dartmoor and its Borderland. 23 »one time more generally known as Sign o' the Owl. It is related that a hostelry once stood upon the spot, called The 'Owly whence the latter name. Whether there is any truth in this I am unable to say, but I should be inclined to think not, as the correct name seems to be Sandowl. The stone does not appear to have ever been fashioned into the shape of a -cross ; it is somewhat unsuitable for the shaft of such, nor are there any traces of fracture, as would be the case had it •ever possessed a head and arms. But there is nothing in the fact of the place bearing the name which it does, to cause us to suppose that a cross must necessarily have once stood there, for as already has been observed, cross-roads are sufficient to •confer such a title. The height of the stone above the ground is about thirty-two inches, and it is about four feet in girth. Its four sides nearly face the cardinal points, and on each, near the top, is a letter, cut in relief. On the northern face ^or strictly speaking N.E. by N.) is the letter B which stands for Brent, and points out the road by which we have ap- proached the stone from that place. On another face is the letter T indicating the direction of Totnes ; on a third face the letter K standing for Kingsbridge ; and on a fourth the letter M, one of the side strokes of which is somewhat worn, meaning Modbury. The stone is very interesting as an old guide-post, and the letters are similar in character to those found upon other stones in quite a different part of the moor- land borders. There is a very good view of a portion of the south-eastern frontier of Dartmoor from Sandowl Cross. The Eastern Beacon looks, quite near, but its appearance is not so fine as when viewed from Brent. To the left of it is the Western Beacon above Ivybridge, and to the right several prominent .heights on Brent Moor, with Brent Hill rising in the form •of a bold, conical peak. The road to Modbury which passes through the village of Ugborough, branches off on the right hand, a short distance to the westward of Sandowl Cross, and it is this which we shall now pursue. Very soon the road is crossed by another, and immediately around the corner of the hedge on our right, an object will be observed which will arouse our interest. This is a small granite cross, somewhat rudely fashioned, and .a little weathered, though otherwise in a complete state. It
