REAL HAUNTINGS IN DARTMOOR

Paranormal and psychic happeningsHome » Reference and Education » Paranormal Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Custom Search Search Angela Tempest Diamond Quality Author Diamond Author | 167 Articles Joined: February 11, 2014 United Kingdom Hauntings of Dartmoor, Devon By Angela Tempest | Submitted On April 15, 2014 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Expert Author Angela Tempest There are many exposed granite hilltops which are called tors and are home to a variety of wildlife and the entire area has a rich history as well as archaeology. The area is named for the River Dart, which leaves the moor at Buckfastleigh and enters the sea at Dartmouth. Cranmere Pool Cranmere Pool is a shallow pool on the eastern side of Hangingstone Hill near the source of the West Okement River and the East Dart River. It now lies within Okehampton Artillery range, operated by the Ministry of Defence. It is famous for being the location of the very first letterbox which was placed there by James Perrott in 1854. He was a guide across the moors and placed a bottle there for visitors to leave cards. The pool features in the legend of Benjamin Gear, who was mayor of the town of Okehampton on five different occasions. He was accused of stealing sheep and as punishment ordered to drain Cranmere Pool with a sieve. Being a bit of a crafty sort, he stole another sheep and lined the sieve with its skin to accomplish his task. But it didn't do him any good as he was hung on nearby Hangingstone Hill for this misdemeanour. His spirit was condemned to spin the sand in the empty pool into ropes and since has been unable to do this, is still trying... There is also said to be a figure who haunts the pool and can change his form into that of a black horse, though his identity is unknown. There were rumours of an exorcism performed on the pool, but that it failed. Dartmoor Prison I remember visiting Dartmoor Prison as a kid when our family lived in Devon, and I don't think I have seen a more desolate and forbidding spot since. The prison was built from 1806-09 using local labourers for prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars as well as from the War of 1812 with the Americans. In fact, though the war ended in 1814, by March 1815 there were still 6500 American sailors imprisoned in Dartmoor, but their discipline created the model prison. They created their own governance and courts who dealt out punishment to any who misbehaved. They also had a market, theatre and a gambling room. The prison was opened as a civilian prison in 1851 but closed in 1917 and became a Work Centre for conscientious objectors granted release from prison; cells were unlocked, and prisoners wore normal clothes as well as being able to visit the village. But by 1920, the prison became home to some of the worst offenders in the country. It is now a category C men's prison which is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and operated by HM Prison Service. One of the most commonly reported hauntings on the prison grounds comes from the graves of the French prisoners at the rear of the prison. Here a short man with long dark hair is often seen gliding along without touching the ground in the middle of the night. Even a now retired governor admitted seeing him one night while doing his rounds. He may or may not be one of the French PoW's who are said to haunt the prison itself. Another ghost is a former prisoner called David Davis. He was imprisoned in 1869 and stayed there for 50 years, during which time he was given the duty of looking after the sheep. When his sentence was finished, he begged to be kept on as he didn't want to leave his sheep. The governor refused but joked he would keep the job open. Sure enough, Davis was back in prison two weeks later and died there in 1929. However, his spirit continues to tend his flock of sheep and has been seen many times following them around. Jay's Grave Jay's Grave is the supposed grave of a suicide victim from the 18th century around 1 mile north-west of Hound Tor and at the entrance to a lane which heads to Natsworthy. The story was given in the North Devon Journal on 23rd January 1851 that one James Bryant had been removing some soil near his home of Hedge Barton when he discovered a grave. A skeleton was found to be inside, and it was said to be that of a woman named Ann Jay who had hanged herself around 70 years previously and was buried at the crossroads, as was the custom at the time. The folklore of the grave is that is always has fresh flowers on it, and sometimes other items including coins, candles, shells and even toys. Some locals, including author Beatrice Chase, is one person who admitted often leaving an item on the grave. But this does not explain the sightings by motorists of a dark, hooded figure kneeling at the grave in the night, glimpsed in their headlights as they approach. Perhaps this is the spirit of the man who caused Ann Jay to kill herself still suffering guilt for his part? Other hauntings A place as bleak and beautiful as Dartmoor is bound to acquire stories and folklore, and there are plenty. Some of the less detailed ones include: Wonson Manor - the manor is in the village of Wonson and parts date from the 13th century. It was owned by the Nothmore family and is haunted by four Cavaliers who are seen sitting around a table, playing cards. One of them is identified as William Nothmore. Wistman's Wood - the woods are home to Wish Hounds, who appear in the winter during bad storms and hunt lone wayfarers into mires and bogs under orders from the Devil. There are also reports of a group of figures dressed in white walking a path through the woods which was used for funerals. Newhouse Inn - the inn stood on Widecombe Hill and was constructed by the Woodley family on the site of an earlier inn and was known as Culver House. It was destroyed by a mysterious fire 150 years ago and since then, a horseman in military garb has been seen galloping nearby as well as a coach and horses which slows at the ruins then takes off again at speed. Bennett's Cross - the cross stands by the road from Moretonhampstead to Two Bridges, north-west of the Warren House Inn. The cross is thought to be a boundary marker between parishes, but it is judged to be of considerable age. Even the name is uncertain, either due to it being erected by the Benedictine Order or for William Bennet, a miner from the local area in the 16th century. Large phantom dogs are said to hunt the area and on one occasion, even killed the son of a farmer. If you would like to read more on the hauntings of Dartmoor, please check out my blog post http://angelatempestwriter.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/haunted-devon-postbridge-and-the-hairy-hands-2/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Angela_Tempest/1824822 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 37 times Word count: 1,130 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Reference and Education: Paranormal Angela Tempest Email Address Subscribe We will never sell or rent your email address. Paranormal Article Feed Paranormal Article Feed Find More Articles Search Similar Articles Hunt in Graveyards? The Mind of a Paranormal Investigator Occultism in Dartmoor Alcatraz Haunting - Exposing the Ghosts of a Haunted Prison Is the Human Gene Pool Being Invaded? The Scariest Places on Earth - Most Haunted Prisons Beware the Barghest! 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