Description: Little John died soon after Robin Hood had been buried at Kirklees Priory, and according to tradition, after burying his comrade he made his way sadly to Hathersage, where he spent his last remaining days. He dug his own grave under the old yew tree in the graveyard, near the old preaching cross and directed that his cap, bow, and arrows should be hung in the church. The Spencer's of Cannon Hall near Barnsley owned the land around Hathersage, and in 1784 the grave was opened and an alleged human thighbone twenty-nine inches was found indicating a man who would be seven feet tall. It was taken back to Cannon Hall where it hung on a bedroom wall, but the presence of the bone seemed to bring misfortune to Captain Shuttle who met with several accidents, and his cousin Walter Stanhope sustained a broken leg while hunting. The Parish Clerk was told to put the bone back into the grave, but instead he took it home where he had it on display. Needless to say the thighbone has become lost and no other remains either human or animal were found at the time of the dig. Little John's grave was taken under the care of The Ancient Order Of Foresters, (whose members carried a longbow as a sign of their office) around 1930. By 1935 the iron railings, the headstone, and the small stone at the side of the grave had been erected. The inscription on the headstone reads, 'Here lies Little John the friend and lieutenant of Robin Hood. He died in a cottage (now destroyed) to the west of the churchyard.' (information from myweb.ecomplanet.com)