Kitty Jay's Grave - Dartmoor
Description of Area
Kitty Jay's Grave is located on a grassy roadside verge on Dartmoor, bordered by open moorland. The grave is a small, rectangular mound of earth outlined with a low border of granite stones. A single, upright granite headstone stands at one end—unmarked and roughly hewn. The mound is regularly maintained and typically adorned with fresh flowers placed directly on top, varying in type and loosely arranged without containers. The surrounding area is open and rural with no fencing, signage, or formal paths. The grave sits beside a narrow moorland road, with grass and low vegetation growing around it. No trees or structures stand immediately nearby—the wider landscape is characterised by typical Dartmoor terrain: uneven ground, bracken, and wide views across the moor.
History
Kitty Jay's Grave is believed to be the burial site of a young woman who died by suicide in the late 18th or early 19th century. According to local accounts, she was a farm servant or workhouse girl who became pregnant out of wedlock—circumstances carrying heavy social stigma at the time. Due to the nature of her death, she was denied burial in consecrated ground. Instead, she was interred at a crossroads on Dartmoor—a common practice for suicides, intended to prevent the restless spirit from finding its way back. The name "Kitty" or "Mary Jay" became associated with her through folklore, though no official records confirm her full identity. Over time, the grave became a site of legend, with fresh flowers appearing regularly for over a century—often with no known source.
Reported Possible Activity
🕯️ Common Reports:
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Apparitions and Shadowy Figures – Visitors report seeing a young woman's ghostly figure near the grave, sometimes described as wearing a white dress or shrouded in mist.
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Unexplained Sounds – Soft crying, whispering voices, and faint footsteps are frequently heard around the burial site, particularly at dusk or after dark.
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Sudden Cold Spots – Sharp drops in temperature are commonly experienced near the grave.
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Feelings of Unease or Sadness – Many visitors sense deep sorrow or emotional heaviness in the area, believed to be connected to Kitty Jay's tragic story.
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Mysterious Floral Offerings – Fresh wildflowers appear on the grave with no clear explanation of who places them there.
Investigation Report
Arrival & First Impressions
We arrived at nightfall and surveyed the area surrounding Kitty's Grave, which sits beside a single-lane road. The grave is located between two wooden gates, each leading to open fields. A row of tall fir trees lines one side of the approach, accompanied by thick shrubs and bushes.
By the time we reached the site, the sky was fully dark, but the exceptionally bright moon offered natural illumination. The stillness of the area, combined with the soft lunar glow, created a peaceful yet expectant atmosphere.
We approached the grave respectfully and introduced ourselves to Kitty, inviting her—and any spirits in the area—to communicate. The grave bore fresh flowers, a teddy bear, and various small trinkets, with a pile of coins (1p to 50p) stacked carefully atop the headstone.
Equipment was positioned around the site: four cat balls placed around the grave with one on top, K2 meter atop the grave, Billy RemBear along the path behind the grave, and EVP recorder on the grave itself. Ros operated the infrared night vision camera whilst Ian used a phone night vision app.
Investigation
Initial Observations
We began with verbal callouts and quiet focus but received no visual or EMF responses initially. Then, unexpectedly, we heard a loud, bird-like screech. While it resembled an owl, the directional nature of the sound was highly unusual—it moved rapidly from side to side, circling us at great speed. The sound came from multiple directions in rapid succession and was heard distinctly by both Ros and Ian. No flapping wings were detected and no bird or creature was visible despite good moonlight visibility. Both investigators agreed that if the source had been a bird, it would have needed to fly at remarkable speed to travel between those points—yet no movement was seen. The screeching stopped as suddenly as it began and did not return.
Visual Anomaly
Shortly after the screeching ceased, both Ros and Ian simultaneously reacted to a distinct movement sound behind them and to the right—on the opposite side of the road. Ros swung her night vision camera toward the sound as Ian shone his torch in the same direction. Ros asked "I take it you heard it too?" Ian confirmed, initially assuming it was a fox or badger. However, no creature was present. Ros's infrared camera—sensitive enough to detect small animals—captured nothing. Both investigators walked over to investigate the area but found no foxes, badgers, or birds; no bushes or mounds to hide behind; and no visible movement or escape routes. The noise had been loud enough to travel across the road (approximately 12 feet) and caused an instant, synchronised reaction from both investigators—suggesting a possible intelligent attempt to attract attention.
Spirit Communication Attempts
Following the auditory events, we resumed focus on Kitty. Despite sincere efforts and ongoing invitations to communicate, no cat balls triggered, the K2 meter remained inactive, RemBear showed no signs of activation, and no clear EVP responses were detected during review. The atmosphere remained calm and respectful throughout. There was no sense of threat, but rather a watchful stillness—as though we were being silently observed.
Auditory Phenomena
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Loud, bird-like screeching moving rapidly from multiple directions in succession
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No flapping wings detected despite proximity of sound
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Sound ceased abruptly and did not return
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Distinct movement sound from opposite side of road—heard simultaneously by both investigators
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No source identified despite immediate investigation
Environmental & Physical Effects
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Clear, still air with no wind throughout
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Exceptional moonlight visibility
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Sound carried well due to the open nature of the location
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No animal activity noted in visual sweeps or camera footage
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Watchful, observant atmosphere noted by both investigators
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No equipment activation (cat balls, K2, RemBear)
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No clear EVP captures upon review
Conclusion
A subtle yet intriguing investigation at Kitty Jay's Grave yielding unexplained auditory phenomena despite minimal equipment response.
Key Observations:
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The Circling Screech – A highly unusual, directional screeching sound that moved rapidly around the investigators from multiple points. No bird or creature was visible despite excellent moonlight conditions, and no wing sounds accompanied the calls. The speed required to move between the sound's apparent locations would have been remarkable for any physical creature.
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The Unseen Movement – Both investigators reacted simultaneously to a loud movement sound from across the road. Despite immediate investigation with torchlight and infrared camera, no animal or source was found. The area offered no concealment—whatever made the sound had vanished without trace.
Evidence Summary:
While Kitty did not engage directly through equipment or voice, the coordinated sounds and timing of events suggest a quiet awareness of our presence. The location's atmosphere—watchful and still rather than threatening—aligned with reports of Kitty as a sorrowful rather than malevolent spirit.
No cat balls, K2, or RemBear activations were recorded. No clear EVP responses were captured. However, the synchronised auditory experiences shared by both investigators remain unexplained.
We gave thanks to Kitty and any nearby spirits, wishing them peace before departing.