Marchant's or Merchant's Cross

This picture was taken in 1913 of Marchants (or Merchants) Cross at Meavy. It is the tallest Dartmoor cross and is said to date from the 13th century or earlier. It used to be 2.48 metres tall until a vehicle ran into it in 1937. It was restored, then placed in Meavy churchyard. This photograph shows the cross at its current (and original) site - beside the track to Yeo farm. Tradition says that the cross marked the spot of a suicide, but it is more probable that it marked the Plympton track used by Monks between Tavistock Abbey and Plympton Priory.