Kitty Jays Grave

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 of the mound, unmarked and roughly hewn.

The mound is regularly maintained and is typically adorned with a variety of fresh flowers placed directly on top. These flowers vary in type and are usually arranged loosely without containers or vases.

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. There are no trees or structures immediately nearby, and the wider landscape is characterised by typical Dartmoor terrain — uneven ground, bracken, and wide views of 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, often referred to as “Jay,” who became pregnant out of wedlock. At the time, such circumstances carried heavy social stigma, and her death was considered a suicide.

Due to the nature of her death, she was denied burial in consecrated ground, in accordance with the customs of the period. Instead, she was buried at a crossroads on Dartmoor, a common practice for suicides at the time, intended to prevent the restless spirit from finding its way back.

The name “Kitty” or “Mary Jay” was later associated with her through local folklore, though no official records confirm her full identity. Over time, the grave became a site of local legend, and fresh flowers have appeared there regularly for over a century, often with no known source — contributing to the mystery and cultural interest surrounding the site.

Reported Possible Activity

🕯️ Common Reports:

Apparitions and Shadowy Figures — Visitors often report seeing a young woman’s ghostly figure near the grave, sometimes described as wearing a white dress or shrouded in mist.
Unexplained Sounds — Soft crying, whispering voices, and faint footsteps are frequently heard around the burial site, especially at dusk or night.
Sudden Cold Spots — Many experience sharp drops in temperature near the grave, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Feelings of Unease or Sadness — Visitors often sense a deep sorrow or heavy emotional weight in the area, believed to be connected to Kitty Jay’s tragic story.
Mysterious Floral Offerings — Fresh wildflowers sometimes appear mysteriously on the grave, despite no clear explanation of who places them there.

Investigation Report

📍 Unmarked Gravesite by the Roadside, Dartmoor
🕰️ Time: Nightfall until late evening
🌡️ Conditions: Calm, windless, chilly; illuminated by a stunning super-bright moon 🌕

🕵️‍♀️ Location & Setup

Upon arrival, we 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 a variety of 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 itself bore fresh flowers, a teddy bear, and various small trinkets, with a pile of coins (1p to 50p) stacked carefully atop the headstone.

🔧 Equipment Used

🔵 Cat Balls (x5): Four placed around the grave, one on top
📶 K2 Meter: Placed atop the grave
🧸 Billy RemBear: Positioned along the path behind the grave
🎙️ EVP Recorder: On the grave
📹 Infrared Video (Ros – Night Vision Cam)
📱 Phone Night Vision App (Ian)

👣 Initial Observations

We began with verbal callouts and quiet focus, but received no visual or EMF responses at first.

Then, unexpectedly, we heard a loud, bird-like screech. While it resembled an owl, the directional nature of the sound was unusual—it moved rapidly from side to side, circling us at great speed.

📍 Auditory Details:

The sound came from multiple directions in rapid succession
Heard distinctly by both Ros and Ian
No flapping wings were detected
No visible bird or creature, despite good visibility in moonlight

🦉 Both investigators agreed that, if the source had been a bird, it would have needed to be flying at remarkable speed to travel between those points—and 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 cam toward the sound
🔦 Ian shone his torch in the same direction
💬 Ros: “I take it you heard it too?”
💬 Ian: “Yes, I thought it was a fox or badger.”

However, no creature was present. Ros’s infrared camera—sensitive enough to detect small animals—picked up nothing. They walked over to investigate the area:

No foxes, badgers, or birds
No bushes or mounds to hide behind
No movement or escape routes visible

📍 The noise had been loud enough to travel across the road (approx. 12 feet) and caused an instant reaction from both investigators in sync—suggesting a possible intelligent attempt to get attention.

👻 Spirit Communication Attempts

Following the auditory event, we resumed focus on Kitty. Despite sincere efforts and ongoing invitations to communicate:

🔵 No cat balls triggered
📶 K2 meter remained inactive
🧸 RemBear showed no signs of activation
🎙️ No clear EVP responses detected during review

Still, 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.

🧊 Environmental Notes

Clear, still air with no wind
Exceptional moonlight visibility 🌕
Sound carried well due to the open nature of the location
No animal activity noted in visual sweeps or camera footage

🙏 Conclusion

Though subtle in nature, this investigation yielded:
🔊 A highly unusual and directional screeching sound with unexplained movement
👀 A joint auditory experience and reaction to unseen movement
💤 No physical responses from equipment, but atmospheric anomalies suggest possible presence.

While Kitty did not engage directly through tools or voice, the coordinated sounds and timing of the events hint at a quiet spiritual awareness of our presence.

As the night grew colder and late, we gave thanks to Kitty and any nearby spirits, wishing them peace and rest before quietly departing. 🕯️💐

Until next time, Kitty. We’ll return with respect and open hearts.
🌕💫👻