THE NEIGHBOTTRHOOD OF BROWN WILLY. 



343 



a minor,) asking permission to have this done, have failed to 

 secure a reply. But the curious need not go very far, in order 

 to see another interesting object of the same nature ; for in the 

 adjacent parish of Laneast, in a meadow below the church, is a 

 Holy Well, whose building is in excellent preservation ; a faithful 

 representation of it appears in Blight's Crosses of East Cornwall, 

 p. 85. 



In Lewanick church there is an example of a very rare class 

 of antiquities, known by the name of Cresset Stones, (fig. 1). 

 The one in question is a circular block, containing on its flat 

 upper surface, which is 22 inches across, seven cup-like hollows, 

 4^ inches deep. These hollows have been conjectured to be 

 intended for the oil and wicks of seven lamps, or else to be the 



receptacles for the cruets, etc., at 

 the celebration of the mass. Mr. 

 Harry Hems, of Exeter, who 

 first drew my attention to this 

 object, has collected a number of 

 papers bearing upon cressets, and 

 has corresponded with various 

 antiquarians on the subject, but 

 a perusal of his papers, which he 

 kindly lent me, did not tend to 

 throw much light on their actual 

 use. Quite recently a theory was 

 started in a newspaper that the 

 stone was a standing place for evil-doers; the offender shewing 

 his penitence by standing barefooted on a layer of thorns spread 

 on the surface, presumably during the church service. This 

 theory seems ridiculous on the face of it ; such cup-hoUows 

 would be badly suited for the reception of thorns, and it would 

 be a physical impossibility for any one, penitent or not, to remain 

 standing any length of time on such a prescribed area. The 

 Lewanick stone rests loosely upon an octagonal shaft, apparently 

 not connected with it, but "the oldest inhabitant" cannot 

 remember the stone having had any other resting place. 



In North Hill church may be seen a slate slab, let in to 

 the E. waU of the S. aisle, having engraved upon it a figure of a 



1. — CRESSET STONE. 



