Jay's Grave

Dartmoor is full of legends. This one is Jay's Grave, and I wrote about it on my blog as follows

"Not far from Bowerman's Nose, on the road between Heatree Cross and Hound Tor, you can see Jay's Grave, a grassy mound that is always covered with fresh flowers.

Kitty Jay was an orphan who worked at a farm near Manaton in the late eighteenth century. She committed suicide after becoming pregnant by a farmhand and, as was usual with suicides in those days, she was buried at a crossroads so that her soul would become confused and unable to haunt her former home. A mound was later built upon the site of her burial and fresh flowers appeared every day.

The flowers have continued to appear until this day, together with money, makeshift crosses and other offerings. No-one has ever seen anyone place the flowers, although it was originally assumed that they were a guilt offering from the family of the man who wronged Kitty. Motorists passing at night have also reported seeing male and female ghosts by the graveside. The story of Kitty Jay has inspired books and songs, most notably John Galsworthy's short story The Apple Tree."