Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/479

IQ4 The Ancient Stone Crosses From Workman's Ford on the Wennaford Brook we shall proceed in a south-easterly direction to the moor gate, and following the road shall soon reach the village of Holne. Here in the churchyard near a fine old yew, will be found a cross, standing on a modern pedestal of three steps. The shaft, which is four feet three inches high, is of a tapering form, and thirty-four inches in girth at the bottom, which lessens to thirty and a half immediately under the arms, and to twenty-seven at the top of the head. Both it and the arms are octagonal in shape; the latter measuring two feet three inches across, and twenty-nine inches in girth. At the corners of the octagon, both on the shaft and arms, there are mouldings, which give this cross an appearance that is not a little striking. The cross stands by a grave, where lies buried a son of the vicar. Mr. Robert Burnard in his Dartmoor Pictorial Records states that the shaft was found acting as a gate-post, and that Mrs. Bridget Lane, who died in 1870, at the age of 93, caused new arms to be set in it, and furnishing it with a pedestal, placed it in the churchyard. So neatly had the arms been fixed that the marks of the fracture are not readily discernible. In another part of the little churchyard will be found a curious epitaph, and one that has been noticed by sev^al writers. Portions of some of the lines are now obliterated, the slate stone upon which they are graven having become worn. The renderings difiier in some slight particulars, but by carefully examining the stone, I have found the foUowing to be a correct version — Here lies Poor Old Ned, On his last Mattrass bed, During life he was honest and free ; He knew well the Chace But has now run his Race And his Name was Collins Dye fee. Dec. 1780, Aged 77. In the parish register of burials under the date 1780, is the following entry: *' December 29, Edward Collings." At Holne in 18 19, Charles Kingsley was born. His father merely resided there temporarily, afterwards removing to Clovelly, so that only the earliest years of the distinguished