Original - The MAN & Other Families

24 The Ancient Stone Crossesis leaning toward the hedge, but only slightly ; its southernface fronts the road.It is known by the name of HookmoorCross, and served the same purpose as the stone we have justbeen examining, for on it are four letters cut in relief in apreciselysimilar manner. These letters are M B T and Pstanding respectively for Modbury, Brent, Totnes, and Plymouth.The first isplaced between the arms on the southernface ;the second occupies a like position on the northern face,now hidden, as it fronts the hedge the third is cut on the;end of the eastern arm, and the last on the end of the westernone. The cross is two and a half feet in height, and measuresfifteen inches across the arms, which are about seven or eightinches deep, and project about four inches from the shaft.This is the height also that the head, which is tapering, risesabove them. Below the arms the shaft is only worked for afew inches, the bottom part of the stone from which the crossis formed beingleft in its original condition. Had the lettersbeen incised we might have imagined that they were placedon the cross at a period subsequent to its first erection, butcut as they are in relief,it is evident that this was done atthe time it was made, and it therefore becomes certain thatthe primary object of those who set it up was to point theway to the traveller, the emblem of his faith at the same timereminding him of the path he must pursue if he would safelyaccomplish that longer journey which ends only at the grave.Pursuing the southern road for a short distance we shallcome in sight of the village of Ugborough, and as we descendthe hill leading to it we shall be struck with the very imposingappearance of its church, the noble sixteenth centurytower rising to a height of nearly one hundred feet. Thesacred edifice occupies a commanding position, upon risingground on the southern side of a large open space, roundwhich the houses of the village cluster, and is approachedby a broad, semi-circular flight of granite steps.We have seen that the tower at Brent is much older thanthe church ;the reverse is the case at Ugborough, for herethe church is of some two hundred years earlier date than thetower. Few country parishes in Devon can boast of one sowill find much in it oflarge, and the ecclesiastical antiquaryinterest. There are a great number of finely carved bosses inthe roof of the north aisle, three of them towards the western