This month sees the long-awaited reissue of Devon Folklore Tapes Vol. II – Graves which were originally released in early 2012.
David Orphan and Anworth Kirk took up the role of researchers for this Folklore Tapes release as they focused on the final Devonian resting places of two very contrasting characters – Kitty Jay, whose lonely grave is one of the best known landmarks on Dartmoor and the unsavoury Squire Richard Cabel who was thought to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles.
Mary (Kitty) Jay. Born in 1790, fell pregnant in her late ‘teens and with no means of obtaining help or sympathy in those hard days ended up hanging herself. It is said that Jay’s ghost can be seen walking by her grave at certain hours of the day. Flowers, always bloom from the ground in which her remains lie, no matter how inclement the weather may be.
Squire Richard Cabell was known to be an unsavoury character; he reputedly persecuted young maidens in the environs of his manor near Buckfastleigh. When he came to die in 1677 his end was said to be unpleasant. There are accounts involving the infamous whist hounds who were said to chase him to his death as punishment for his terrible reputation. Cabell is buried in the grounds of The Holy Trinity church in a large tomb, and such was the locals fear of ghostly reprisals in that time, a giant stone wasplaced atop the grave along with iron bars to seal him in. Legend has it that by running around the tomb thirteen times and inserting your finger into the keyhole, Cabell would gnaw at it.
Released mid March:
Twin Ten-Inch Gatefold Edition
Contains 2x 10″ Records & 12page Research Booklet & Download Code
Housed in manilla hand stamped & numbered paper sleeve
Ltd Edition: 500