Dartmoor Tales: Kitty Jay's Grave

This is the first in a series of on location films, in which I travel to locations steeped in history and mystery. This is the story of Kitty Jay, an unlikely heroine of English folklore, who's sad story is set in and around Dartmoor, Devon.
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[@GreatWestern175]

Been to the grave many times, I always feel a sense of humble remorse and respect for this poor young girl even if it might be a legend. I think the majority of us feel a sense of sympathy to her

[@lifeslessons9889]

Definitely... True of false it’s a saddened tale of someone’s despair. And that’s emotional

[@patgeorge1]

As a boy soldier in the area in 1964 I heard a tale that a snow plough, one winter demolished the grave. The next day it had been rebuilt.

[@gymrachel]

Great documentary. There's always flowers on Kitty Jay's grave. Seth Lakeman's song about her is good.

[@vermilliongecko]

Seth Lakeman's song is how I first heard about her.

[@autumnmatthews3179]

You’re absolutely right. What a talented guy

[@Dark_Nemesis4300]

Growing up in the area, I have never seen the grave without flowers and coins on it. Admittedly, now it is the done thing to leave something there, so tourists do a lot of that, but even in the depths of winter it has something on it.

[@blackmarbles1047]

There is a beautiful song based on Kitty's story called Lady Jay by Wishbone Ash .

[@kaioliverbohnke7294]

@@blackmarbles1047 I even know this song.

[@Tara_P_Rose]

I’ve heard that too, from ppl that have personally been there. I’ve heard of ppl camping out by there to see who does it but eventually give up without seeing anyone but flowers still being put there. They should put a trail cam & find out! I’d love to see the footage! Supposedly a thick fog comes over at night so it’s impossible to see even a hand in front of your face. This is all stuff I’ve heard tho. The only fact I know is my relatives account of seeing flowers there.

[@vickinoeske1711]

Whoever leaves the flowers, I hope they carry on or hand-off the responsibility. Some acknowledgement in death as she had none in life.

[@xaraxen]

Quite an atmospheric setting for the tale, complete with foggy weather, lonely roads and wild landscape.

[@waindalton8575]

Isn’t it interesting how, when the facts are unknown, the stories that develop surrounding a given life or event take on a predictable character? When there are blanks, people tend to fill them in to suit their purpose.

[@Cyaneyed77]

Only just found your channel this week - wasn't expecting local stories to show up! The South West is a goldmine for lesser known stories, Bodmin Jail and Jamaica Inn spring to mind...we even have our own sea creatures (Morgawr) and Mothman variation (Owlman of Mawnan)!

[@Kiwiigoblin]

I live on Dartmoor and I live super close to where kitty jay’s grave is. The poor girl she was very kind a loving.

[@eamonmcdermott4032]

Quite a sad tale, that. But excellently put across. You make really entertaining vids old bean. Perfect for this autumnal weather.

[@davidfarmer2049]

QUITE a sad tale?? How very empathic of you....

[@christosvoskresye]

A sad, but all too common, story.

[@peterturley1331]

Hope you have found the love and peace that you deserve dear lady X .

[@AlisonBryen]

Epic story, very atmospheric video with all the mist on the moor ! Another good paranormal story from Devon is of the Devil's Footprints, an as yet unsolved phenomenon that occurred around the villages on the Exe Estuary in the 1800s! Won't give all the story away but it has captivated me since childhood!

[@harebell6850]

I live quite close to this spot. Beautifully shot and well narrated. Thank you.

[@ApproximatelyCee]

Gorgeous photography. Fascinating story. I can’t wait for the next one.

[@derekcoe9633]

Stunning, excellent story telling

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Oh, Mr World, another great one! Nicely atmospheric, truthful narration; an interesting historical side step. Just one bit of trivia- suicide, besides being a crime(btw, if you failed at your attempt, it wasn’t unusual for people to be charged). Anyway, it was a mortal sin, meaning it could never be repented of or forgiven, whilst murder *could* be forgiven by your church. So no way could you be buried in consecrated ground, alongside your supposedly non sinner neighbours. Quite often, a charitable priest would allow a burial just outside of the consecrated limits, but there were beliefs that a suicide would always walk as a ghost, as the unquiet spirit would wander, unable to rest because of its inability to be resurrected. This was the reason for the cross roads burial. It gave the spirit room to walk as it were. I have even read that there were hopes the spirit would be made to NOT haunt in its home village but instead would wander down the wrong road. However I don’t know how widespread that last belief was, as it seems to suggest no ghost could have a sense of direction.

[@sandramarten5605]

Thank you for this video. Very interesting. Poor Kitty. Bless her heart. Rest in eternal peace darling. Xxx

[@jackie0604oxon]

I first heard about Jay's Grave (it is marked as such on OS maps) in a fascinating BBC documentary broadcast about 1981 by the late, great regression hypnotherapist Joe Keeton, who was based in Merseyside. He regressed a woman with no links to Devon and she gave the name Kitty, recounting the story of being made pregnant and abandoned by her lover and going into a barn to hang herself. Keeton researched this further and found the story of Jay's Grave. I particularly recall the voice of the woman regressed and the distinctive West Country accent. When talking about her boyfriend, Keeton asked her if he took her out in his car. "Carrr?" she said and looked puzzled. He explained that it was a carriage without a horse. She giggled and said, "yourrr bein silly!" I drove past there in the late 90s and there were flowers on the grave. I read that a local scout group once staked out the site all night, saw no one but there were flowers there at daylight.

[@waynedhouse4103]

Thank you for posting this video. I first heard this tale 40 + years ago on holiday in Exeter, I’ve never been able to corroborate what I was told. Your video has shone a light on a mysterious and fascinating memory of my childhood

[@notfound7673]

Despite the tragic story, that's a very serene location

[@Private_Investigations4hire]

Love these less known UK tales, keep em coming, never heard of a lot of them but there always interesting

[@ruivog]

'They're', not 'there'...

[@linjoy9627]

Such a sad but common story. I hate to think of how many young girls and women ended up in the same position. Men can be capable of untold cruelty without knowing that their youthful lusts can and will ruin a young life. Sadly very few ever tell young girls that men can tell you they love you, even when they don't mean it and young girls can equally get caught up in what they view as a romance.

[@hollyhocks7360]

I have been to the grave and there were fresh flowers on it despite it being winter. There is an aura of sadness at the grave although I was told her names was Jane.

[@karanferrell6869]

How sad and lonely for her...😿

[@pygiana16]

I have a book from Dartmoor from the 1960s which refers to this simply as Jay's grave.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Pygiana I read that there are lots of variants.

[@buggs9950]

It's Jay's Grave on OS maps.

[@gaylereid8264]

I could watch a dozen more like this...the wind through the grass & trees, the piano, your beautiful, soulful voice...

[@tomp5744]

You have got talant, man. You should have your own show on TV. Thanks for the hard work you put into these videos. Very enjoyable. 👍👻

[@carolyngair7051]

I love that you travelled to the location. We'll be seeing more of that on your channel I hope!

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Yes, the Chew Valley Lake and the Skull of Theophilus Broome videos were also on location. Also, one segment of the recent prison video was as well.

[@TheHorrorAppraisal]

Good job man. Great quality on the visuals!

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Thank you. It's a new idea I had for on location videos. Filming the actual locations, rather than relying on images and stock footage from the net.

[@laurametheny1008]

I love the music you chose. Excellent video. Sad story. Thankyou!💔😍

[@lizcarroll8180]

Great story telling and filming!

[@cryptiecreep]

I love your videos. You always put so much thought and care into them!

[@lesleyleith4440]

Somewhere up on Dartmoor there is a stretch of road, where, it is said that a pair of Hairy Hands will grab the steering wheel and cause the car to swerve off the road. There are many more tales, one about a stage coach driven by a headless coach man.😂😂😂💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@RichardWatt]

Richard Felix said in his video about Devon ghosts that a number of motorcyclists have also died in accidents and the surviving passengers report a pair of hairy hands grabbing the handlebars.

[@brianpengelly4653]

The grave is haunted and is a very eerie place to spend a night.

[@robtyman4281]

Dartmoor in general, is a very mystical place, one of the most mysterious places in the UK. It has more than its fair share of ghosts and paranormal activity. Even during the day, there are some parts of it that have an eerie vibe about them. Not just the area around Dartmoor prison, but Hound Tor and several other areas like Wistman's wood. Dartmoor is a very unique place, that has an unsettling power at times. But it's also a great place to go walking, and has some really good pubs.

[@hopehope2479]

It’s so sad 😔

[@99fruitbat]

Thank you very interesting ! So nicely done as well .

[@jonathanheron4208]

Right near my house! Her spirit is still here.

[@lilacgirl9332]

So well done!!! I love Dartmoor and have never heard of this story. I really like that you do this, interesting stories that aren't well know. Your research is excellent as is your script. I especially appreciate such a well done job because I've just stared doing the same since July, with places near me and stories I grew up with that I love but I haven't heard on youtube and think are worth telling. I'm nowhere near as good as you though!! I wonder if that's why your videos came up on autoplay today. I'm very glad they did :D

[@wanderinghistorian]

Rest in peace Kitty Jay. You deserved better.

[@Tungstencube66]

I've been there on a foggy day rocks and sheep in the road, very atmospheric, The grave was exhumed after a hundred years do bones last that long? I suppose they would if the soil is dry.

[@morticiaaddams3613]

The folk singer Seth Lakeman wrote a beautiful song about this, check it out :)

[@vermilliongecko]

Seth Lakeman's song is how I first heard about her.

[@Panda-fr2zf]

Such a sad and haunting story. RIP

[@curiouscuriouser2670]

Congratulations on the improvement of the sound in your newer vids. This is ok, but the new ones are spot on. Of course they are all really interesting and well presented. Thank you very much for your efforts. 👏🏆🤗

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Thanks for noticing. I still get a lot of negative comments about audio on old videos without people realising they are just that. Old.

[@marynichols438]

Very well done video. Unfortunately, what happened to Kitty, happens to many young ladies. Kitty didn’t have a very happy life.

[@KatTheScribe]

Nice video! I’m really enjoying watching all of your uploads. Seems your are eclectic as I am and interested in a good variety of subjects. Glad I found you.

[@DP-hw9uq]

I have been there and also got lost into Dartmoor area, on a Summer day of 1993. I remember most of the places shown in your video. Had no idea about this story back then... very interesting! Thank you.

[@raysingh8796]

Great video as always, any chance you could look into the blue bell hill girl in maidstone, Kent. Its a very intriguing case for locals

[@CCTippers]

The amount of ghost stories you hear of these poor young girls, tricked into giving away there virtue, promises of marriage, so sad but true these awful things happened.

[@refreshrage4944]

I few times I have been there I have sensed pure sadness but also felt like I was unwelcome their It may be just because of the legend and the story’s but who knows

[@paulmadigan5603]

great stuff mate rhank you

[@karenhekla2302]

Kitty won’t Rest In Peace unfortunately because she was buried at a crossroad which means her spirit will forever wander and be lost...🙁

[@staffiemama]

Thanks, I enjoyed listerning to your story.

[@bran756]

Thank you,I have just watched this on a very wet and windy Sunday morning,just down the road in Exeter.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Funny, I was in Exeter yesterday.

[@mrfugazi6713]

A terribly sad story but I’m glad to hear about the grave always looking like it’s being looked after, my sister who was killed whilst hitchhiking in Italy on Christmas Eve well she’s buried in Italy cause she has children in Italy so I decided that that is where she spent the last 9 years and she has her children in Italy so it’s best for her family she stays in Italy, but I will find her grave one day, my son has found it online or should I say he found the cemetery, it’s a very long story but I will visit her grave I know I will anyway listening to this video made me think about my sister grave I believe she’s buried in the wall at least it’s gonna be clean for her buddy anyway take care of yourself have you had any luck with the young girl who died in the cell, just wondering that’s all mate, best wishes from Stevie boy but this story is a very interesting one that you put on KZbin and it’s amazing that people from that area still remember her, she has become part of Dartmoor folklore over the years, brilliant.

[@pennypalmer3369]

Omgoodness...so sad. Poor little sweetheart.

[@selkieseal545]

'Misunderstood his intentions', lied to and used, then punished for committing suicide. Society and women.

[@paulbutler332]

I live 14 minutes away from Manaton...must pay a visit :)

[@brandonhollon3010]

Please do as many Dartmoor tales as you can.

[@StrawberryZombie]

This is a beautiful video.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Rosie Posie Thank you.

[@davidfarmer2049]

@@CuriousWorldProductions Yes I suppose it is i it keeps a memory alive of this poor young kid who got into trouble and couldn't see a way out in the living world.. RIP Kitty.

[@pinkmarshmallow352]

Fascinating and enjoyable. I really enjoy your videos. Tyfs.

[@asheland_numismatics]

Cool video. I like this channel.

[@davepowell7168]

I live nearby, my dad lost his right leg in the Newton Abbot workhouse. Different times...

[@ladyashton3342]

You are the best 😍I love your channel! New subscriber here!

[@brianpengelly4653]

Without doubt the most haunted place I've ever been

[@WhiteHartDane]

I've just been there once , in 2002. There were fresh flowers back then.

[@atraxrobustus3618]

Very sad and tragic tale

[@allystevens7036]

Wishbone Ash on their album There’s The Rub has a song called Lady Jay, based on this legend.

[@audreypalomo716]

Found out about your youtube channel from a post on a paranormal group I'm a part of. So i decided to come and binge your videos for a bit. So far so good!

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

May I ask which group? Thanks for dropping by.

[@audreypalomo716]

@@CuriousWorldProductions Two Girls one Ghost

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Oh OK, could you post a link please?

[@audreypalomo716]

@@CuriousWorldProductions there wasn't a link, someone from the group had mentioned that they watch your channel. so I looked it up and started watching videos.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

@@audreypalomo716 OK, thanks.

[@brianartillery]

It's very similar to the 'Boy's (or Gypsy's) Grave' near Newmarket. That always seems to have fresh flowers placed on it, by persons unseen.

[@resnonverba137]

Some nice filming. Thanks.

[@borgred]

Great channel

[@davidfarmer2049]

Yes this tragedy was to unfold routinely unfortnately. As I under stand it it was almost expected o the head of the manor to take take liberties with the young servant girls. Then then had a little no defense if when the inevitable happened. To feel you have no have no option but to take your like is really pretty horrible.

[@johnwallis1309]

Find that kitty's humble origins ,and tragic life and death ,down the time lines of time,kitty is remembered when all her peers are long forgotten, she continues to grow in infamy and is remember all over the world now as a victim of lowly birth and unjust respectability,

[@liamberry5671]

I live near Dartmoor and it’s a strange but nice place

[@andrewmatthews6861]

bless this girl ❤️r I p

[@iregretmakingthischannel1818]

I Have Been To Her Grave With My Class Dartmoor Arounes That Area Is So Eary

[@tracyhorrocks9003]

I have never heard of her🌼🌼🌼

[@changeintheair9648]

Back then having chaperon when courting would have prevented her being fooled by a man. Selling point "I love you, want to marry you, so why cannot we have sex?" would have been negated. Some women fell for it, still fall for it. But to get pregnant (odds are had to have sex multiple times) meant hard road. Good men wouldn't want an unwed mother. Thus, likely had tough future for her. She didn't want that so killed herself and baby. Majority women in same position chose not that path.

[@julieblackstock8650]

Until now I heard of her only through the song by Seth Lakeman

[@vermilliongecko]

Seth Lakeman's song is how I first heard about her.

[@elvisjohnson1208]

Such a horrible live for her. I pray She's at peace with the Ángels

[@derekstocker6661]

Very sad, but I am sure this type of event happened far over the years, more than we know, some of the girls were killed by the lover or associates of, this happened to a young maid in the Brockley area of London around the turn of the last century I have heard, just another sad happening and yet another life and occasionally lives lost....RIP Kitty.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Yes, history is littered with tales like this.

[@zombiasnow15]

May her soul Rest in Peace, forevermore😢

[@damianjones7554]

Very good, you got my subscription

[@sensiblename295]

In other words, they dug up what was left of a barrow which frequently can be found at crossroads - a very handy border mark that can stretch back to early Saxon or even antiquity especially on parish borders - and then given a piece of folklore, a typical Victorian morality tale warning young women of what happens if they let farmer's sons have their wicked way. These stories of suicides of jilted lovers are not uncommon.

[@Dulcimertunes]

Punishing a dead person. Brilliant 😞

[@cristynlane6507]

Poor child, people were so judgemental back then,

[@_zzpza]

Good work! Have you thought about Whistman's Wood (the devil), or Warren House Inn (dead body in the travel chest)?

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

Actually, I didn't know about those, but now you've told me, I'll definitely research them.

[@_zzpza]

Sweet, any chance of a shout out if you do either of them? ;o) Also, if you have a reddit account, feel free to stop by /r/dartmoor. I've posted this video there when I saw your tweet (I'm a mod there).

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

+zzpza I will do a video on one of those subjects, and I will credit you. I've never really looked at Reddit. Maybe it's something I need to do.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

+zzpza And thank you for the share.

[@_zzpza]

You're welcome.

[@annie482000]

Poor girl. 😭

[@garthfrances9273]

Good job .I subscribe

[@robertmckinley8000]

The BBC did a play about this many years ago

[@marcellepesek3038]

May all poor dear souls who died as she did or in circumstances which were tragic, on battlefields, in lost ships or otherwise not letting them rest, all go into the light and be released from the earth plane. I wish them to be received in God's embrace and that they find happiness now.

[@melaniecrispin1489]

Do you know the fate of the child? Did they find it's remains as well?

[@Loopcats]

Interesting story and very good cinematography. I'd recommend working on the audio. A better microphone and noise cancelling material around where you record to remove the echo effect, or the more economical use of hanging blankets around you to muffle the echo.

[@CuriousWorldProductions]

+KaiserSkippy I've started using a foam cover on my mic since this video. Watch my newer videos and see if you can tell the difference. Thanks.

[@Loopcats]

Thank you for the reply. I apologize, I should have checked the newer videos to see if that had changed.

[@Pottawattamie]

How cruel we were to people who took their own lives. To punish their soul in the afterlife is utterly despicable. I only hope they managed to find God or that he found them. May all rest in peace.

[@treaclebuns]

I think this is the story that inspired the song "Lady Jay" by Wishbone Ash. Any takers?

[@WarDragon72345]

*tips fedora* M'hampstead

[@KingFluffs]

There's lots on Dartmoor.

[@masterof4elements826]

I would like to think...if the ghost story is true....that it's her lover leaving the flowers out of regret

[@sugarpillkiller]

Anybody know the background song?