142 The Ancient Stone Crosses cupHke form, and in this a platform was sometimes laid and dancing took place on it. ' The following extracts from a journal kept by the great-grandfather of a lady long resident in the town, are interesting as giving us some actual dates upon which festivities took place on the tree. JUNE ^th, 1800. His Majesty's birthday. Every mark of loyalty was shewn. In the afternoon a concert of instrumental music was held on the Cross Tree. AUGUST 28ife, 1801. The Cross Tree floored and seated round, with a platform, railed on each side, from the top of an adjoining garden wall to the t' ee, and a flight of steps in the gardt-n for the company to ascend. After passing the platform they enter under a grand arch formed of boughs. There is sufficient room for thirty persons to sit around, and six couples to dance, t)esides the orchestra. From the novelty of this rural apartment it is expected much company will resort there during the summer. AUGUST 19//1, 1807. This night the French officers* assembled on the Cross Tree, with their band of music. They performed several airs with great taste. I have been unable to ascertain the date upon which the last dance took place among the lx>ughs of this old elm, but I understand they were not infrequent, and were many of them attended by the guests of a former house of entertainment called the London Inn, and which was near by. Unfortunately the Cross Tree was greatly injured, in fact partly destroyed, by a storm that took place on the 13th October, 1891, when the force of the wind was so great that the ancient elm could not withstand it, and about a quarter past two o'clock in the afternoon most of the upper part was blown down, carrying with it a large piece of the trunk, which was found to be quite hollow. This latter the late Mr, William Phillips Harvey had replaced and securely fiaistened, and to his fostering care do we owe it that this historic tree still throws a grateful shade over the venerable cross below. The shaft of the Moreton cross is missing, and the head and arms are now fixed close to the foot of the old elm, which grows from the centre of a large octagonal base, the sides of which measure thirty-eight, and some forty-eight inches. This is about two and a half feet in height, though owing to the ground
- These were prisoners of war residing at Moretonhampstead on parole.
