140 Tki Ancimt Stone Crosses CHAPTER XIV. Ffom Moretonlumpstead to the Western Border CofUfiiofis* An Old Koad — Ciosa at Lynscott-^Headless Cross — Andent Guiding Stones — Beetor Cross — A Traditionary Battle — Bennet's Cross — Heath Stone — Ncwhouse— Story of the Grey Wethers — Meripit Hill — Maggie Cross — Jonas Coaker — Cut Lane — The Lich Path — Clapper Bridges — The Rundle Stone — Long Ash Hill. The present highway across the moor from Moretonhamp- stead to Plymouth and Tavistock is formed on the line of an ancient track. The wayside cross, old guide stones, fords and clapper bridges, enable us to trace it, besides which we have seventeenth and early eighteenth century mention of it, as will presently be shown. We shall first briefly notice such objects in and around Moreton as now concern us, and then set out on our journey over this old highway, in order that we may examine others which will prove not less interesting. The number of crosses in the Dartmoor district already known, has lately been increased by the discovery of two in the neighbourhood of Moreton, by Dr. W. J. Stephens of that town. One was found by him at Lynscott, where it served as a gate-post, and the other at Elsford, in Bovey Tracey Parish. The latter is in the hedge by the side of the road leading from Pepperdon to Hennock, and close to the £airm named, which is about a mile and a half from Lustleigh. It is thirty-three inches high, but probably the greater part of the shaft is below the surface of the ground ; it also measures the same across the arms. Dr. Stephens has been instrumental in getting the hedge pruned, and the cross is now exj^osed to view. The cross at Lynscott has been sadly mutilated, one of the arms having been knocked off, presumably to adapt it to the purpose to which it has been put, and the greater part of the head as well. There are also notches in one of its faces, of the kind made to receive the ends of the bars which formerly took the place of hinged gates. Dr. Stephens, whose interest in these memorials of other days does not stop at simply discovering them.
