Jay’s Grave, a poignant site nestled in the heart of Dartmoor, has long been a place of local legend and mystery. Located near the village of Manaton, the grave is situated at the crossroads on Natsworthy Gate, marked simply by a modest, moss-covered stone. The grave is believed to be the final resting place of a young woman named Mary Jay, often referred to as Kitty Jay.
The story of Kitty Jay is a tragic one. According to local lore, Jay was an orphaned farm girl who worked as a maid in a nearby parish during the late 18th or early 19th century. She fell in love and became pregnant, but was abandoned by her lover. Despondent and facing social ostracism, Jay took her own life. At that time, suicides were buried at crossroads outside consecrated grounds to prevent their souls from wandering.
Jay’s Grave has become a symbol of sadness and remembrance, continually adorned with fresh flowers, coins, and other tokens of respect. Despite its remote location, visitors regularly leave offerings, and it’s said that fresh flowers appear daily, even in harsh weather, a phenomenon that has fueled many local legends and ghost stories. Some claim to have seen the ghost of Kitty Jay weeping at her grave or riding horseback across the moor.
The exact origins of the grave and the identity of its occupant remain shrouded in mystery, with historical records providing little concrete evidence. Nonetheless, Jay’s Grave has inspired numerous works of literature and folklore, cementing its place in Dartmoor’s cultural landscape. It stands as a poignant reminder of the harsh societal judgments of the past and the enduring human compassion that seeks to honour a life marked by tragedy.