126 The Ancient Stone Crosses CHAPTER XII. At the Foot of Cosdoa* Zeal Head Cross — Cross at South Zeal — Story of John Stanbury — Moon's Cross—South Tawton — Oxenham Cross — ^Tradition of the White Bird — Cross at Ringhole Copse — Cross at Addiscott — Firestone Ley— Cross at West Week — An Ancient Border Farmhouse. The parish of South Tawton includes within its area the huge hill of Cosdon, the cultivated portion of it lying at the foot of the lofty height, and stretching towards the north-east. Here we shall find no less than six of the interesting objects the examination of which is the purpose of our extended ramble through the moorland region, and shall discover some of them to be more than ordinarily striking. Leaving Sticklepath we cross the bridge over the Taw, and ascending the hill on the left, shall very soon reach a point where a road to the village of South Tawton branches off. Here a cross, known as Townsend, or Zeal Head Cross, formerly stood, but we shall look in vain for any remains of it now. It was destroyed many years since by one John Orchard, who was afterwards hanged — not for this act of vandalism, but for forgery. Proceeding down the steep hill before us towards South Zeal, which is now in view, we shall not fail to be struck, on a nearer approach , with its old-fashioned appearance. It consists mainly of one long street, running down this hill and partly up another. Many of the houses are interesting, and the curious observer will find not a. little to attract him. But what demands our special attention now is the beautiful cross that the village possesses, and which occupying, as it should do, a prominent situation, will be the very first object on which our eyes will rest as we enter the place. The street is of some width, and in its centre stands the ancient chapel of St. Mary. Extending from this, with the road on each side of it, is a small enclosed piece of ground, planted with shrubs, on which some cottages formerly stood, and at the end of this is the cross. Set up on a very lofty pedestal, the top of this
