A LITTLE girl murdered more than 140 years ago has been officially remembered with a gravestone in Simonsbath churchyard.

Anna Maria Burgess was just seven years old when she was killed by her widower father in 1858 because she was costing him too much to keep.

Her body was found in the bottom of the Wheal Eliza mine shaft in the Barle Valley and her father was later hanged for his crime.

Although the murder was well documented in several historical Exmoor books, up until now the whereabouts of Anna's grave were largely unknown.

In fact, only a handful of people knew the history of her final resting place, which had been marked with a simple piece of slate.

It was only when Simonsbath resident Stan Curtis told the rector the Rev. Robin Ray of the history of the grave that the Exmoor Society was able to step in and pay for a more fitting memorial.

Society secretary Pauline Bennett said: "We are most grateful to Mr Curtis and Mr Ray for enabling and indeed encouraging us to do this.

"The little girl's murder by her father is an unhappy part of the history of Exmoor, but is nevertheless a part of that history."

Pictured are parishioners, members of the Exmoor Society and Mr Ray at a service to dedicate the memorial.

Photo: James Guscott