34 ^^ Ancient Stone Crosses Fardle was the ancestral home of the Raldghs, though Sir Walter himself was not bom there; his father, either before, or soon after his first marriage, having left it for Hayes, in the parish of East Budleigh. Of the ancient house much still remains, including a portion of the chapel. It is now the property of Mr. J. D. Pode, of Slade, a charming seat about a mile or so distant. Leaving Fardle, and passing over Houndle, or Houndale, Hill, we reach Moor Cross, where a road leads up on the right to Hanger Down, a common on the high ground between the valleys of the Erme and the Yealm. A visit to its breezy sum- mit, where is a clump of trees, known as the Round Plantation, will well repay the rambler, the view it commands being extensive and of varied interest. At Moor Cross is an entrance to Blachford, which domain is for some distance skirted by the road we are now pursuing. Further on this is carried over the Yealm, which here leaves the noble deer- park, and pausing for a space upon the bridge, we may obtain a view of its timbered slopes. A short walk up a gentle ascent, with the park still stretching away on our right, and we shall reach the village of Cornwood, or, as it is locally called. Cross. Whether a cross ever stood in this village, I have been unable to learn. Its local name may, or may not, indicate that such was the case, but apart from this there are con- siderations that render it not unlikely* As already stated^ the road to Tavistock is here intersected by that running to Plympton from Buckfast, and which crossing the Erme at Harford Bridge, and leaving Blachford to the south, passes through the village at which we have arrived. It is there- fore, more than probable that at the point where two such important roads crossed each other, a stone cross was once to be seen. But although at present such does not exist, it is satis- factory to note that ere long this little village will have another claim to its homely appellation. It has been determined to erect a Latin cross in memory of Lord and Lady Blachford, from a design of Mr. James Hine. It is, to be of granite raised in the parish, and will prob- ably be executed by a Cornwood man, under Mr. Hine's supervision.
