Rian and the team visited Pilgrim's Rest's famous robber's grave
One of the most famous sites in Pilgrim's Rest is the Robber's Grave. An unknown robber who was buried in the wrong direction.
Pilgrim's Rest is a living musuem - the entire town has been declared a national Monument - taking the visitors to the day of old Transvaal Gold Rush.
Pilgrim's Rest was declared a gold field in 1873, soon after digger Alec "Wheelbarrow" Patterson had found gold deposits in Pilgrim's Creek. The Valley proved to be rich in gold and by the end of the year, there were about 1500 diggers working in the area.
As a result, Pilgrim's Rest became a social center of the diggings.
Mining was active until 1971 when Beta Mine was closed down. Tranvaal Gold Mining Estates opened again in 1999 and there is active gold mining in the hills around Pilgrim's Rest.
One of the famous tours in Pilgrim's Rest is of the graveyard where every single grave was laid facing in the same direction, except for the traditional Robber’s Grave which is laid perpendicular to the rest, not facing the rising sun, and emblazoned simply with a cross and the large type words of "Robbers Grave".
One legend attributes it to a robber who was shot when he was caught stealing a tent from another miner, while other legends would have it that he instead stole a wheelbarrow, or that the thief died after being lynched.
Check out the robbers grave below.