Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/437

66 TJie Ancient Stone Crosses is now thoughtfully protected from the action of the weather by a sheet of glass. At the head of some steps leading from the churchyard to- the " Play-field " there is a stile, and one of the posts forming this has been thought to be a portion of a cross. Nothing, however, seems to be known of it. The old church-house, which immediately adjoins the churchyard, has been converted into a commodious parish- room. This was most carefully done, and with a due regard to the retention, as far as was possible, of the older parts of the building. Close to the church-house, and sheltered by a fine row of trees, is the old bull-ring where the sports of the villagers were held. Its bank is perpendicular and faced with stones, and from the top the villagers could enjoy the " sport," knowing that whatever else the infuriated animal might do, he could not come at them. In the churchyard is the tomb of Rajah Brooke, of polished red Aberdeen granite. Sheepstor was until 1877 achapelry attached to Bickleigh, and in the deed of Amicia is mentioned as such. Its ancient name was Schitestor, or Scitestor. The tor that overlooks this tiny moorland settlement is of grand! proportions, and forms a conspicuous object from any elevated point for many miles round. On the side nearest the church-town is the celebrated Pixies* Cave, which it is said one of the £1 fords of Longstone made his place of retreat, when hiding from the followers of Cromwell. Longstone, which afterwards became a farmhouse, is not very far distant. But its surroundings are not as of yore ; since the formation of the Burrator Reservoir the valley upon which it looked for so many generations has been turned into a wide lake. The branch of the Abbots* Way, or Jobbers' Path, that led to Buckland, passed very near to Sheepstor. It is interesting to note that this ancient track has left its name here, a place upon it, someway to the [eastward of Sheepstor Church, being called Jobber. We have already shown how the name lingered in that of the trackway in the vicinity of Princetown. It will be necessary now that we return to Marchants Cross, and once more take for our guide the road so often traversed by the Augustinians of Ply mpton . This will bring us near to the site of another of the crosses named in the deed of Amicia, as well as into the Countess' manor of Walkhampton*