Jay's Grave facts for kids
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| Location | Near Manaton, Dartmoor |
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| Region | Devon, England |
| Coordinates | 50°36′18″N 3°47′34″W / 50.60509°N 3.79269°W |
Jay's Grave (also known as Kitty Jay's Grave) is a well-known landmark on Dartmoor, Devon, in South-West England. This small burial mound is famous for its local folklore and several ghost stories.
The grave is located next to a small road, about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) north-west of Hound Tor. It sits at the entrance to a green lane that leads to Natsworthy. One of the most mysterious things about Jay's Grave is that fresh flowers are regularly placed there, but no one knows who puts them.
The Mystery of Jay's Grave
There are always fresh flowers on the grave, which has led to many local stories. Some people claim that pixies place the flowers there! However, it is known that the author Beatrice Chase used to do this before she passed away in 1955.
By 2007, people started leaving all sorts of small gifts, called votive offerings, at the grave. These included coins, candles, seashells, tiny crosses, and even small toys.
Spooky Stories and Sightings
Many drivers who pass the grave at night say they have seen ghostly figures in their car headlights. Others report seeing a dark, hooded figure kneeling at the grave. These spooky tales add to the mystery of Jay's Grave.
Jay's Grave in Books
Jay's Grave has even inspired famous writers! It was the idea behind John Galsworthy's short story The Apple Tree, which he wrote in 1916.
The famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, visited a nearby house called Heatree. People say that the location of the house, along with Jay's Grave, Bowerman's Nose, Hound Tor, and Grimspound, inspired him to write his famous mystery novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
