INSCRIBED STONES AND ANCIENT CKOSSES OF DEVON. 411 
NUN'S CROSS. 
The Crosses of Devonshire may be divided into Moorland, Road- 
side, and Church Crosses. 
The Moorland are very rudely executed, being roughly hewn 
out of the native granite. These appear to be the most ancient, 
and were most probably erected on, or sculptured out of, some older 
monument of historic interest or religious association. 
The roadside crosses are of different character, some being rudely 
executed, and others more carefully hewn. Most of these have the 
emblem of the cross engraven on the side towards the road. The 
more recent have the corners chamfered, after the manner of the 
sixteenth century crosses. All these fulfilled the double purposes 
of wayside Calvaries and directing-posts, and were generally placed 
where two or more roads met. 
The churchyard crosses were most probably erected at the spot 
where the priest officiated previously to the erection of the church. 
The cross generally stands a little beyond the limits of the church- 
yard; and in those cases where it is within, has probably been 
removed at some recent period. 
Of all the moorland crosses, the earliest to which we can fix a 
date is that now known as Nun's Cross. It was one of the boundary- 
marks of the Perambulation of Dartmoor Forest, made during the 
reign of Henry III., in the year 1240, and was then known as 
Siward's Cross. 
