The Ostrich Inn

Bumps, sighs and other noises heard here have been attributed to the activities of a c.14th Century landlord named Jarman who would provide wealthy visitors with sufficient alcohol to send them into a drunken stupour. Once they had retired for the night, he would send their unconscious bodies to their doom in a vat of boiling fat and then steal their belongings. His murderous spree ended when a potential victim was not as comatose as Jarman had hoped and he and his wife were executed. There are also stories of a lady who looks as if she is from the Victorian era (perhaps Mrs Jarman?) being seen in the upstairs corridor, candles in the function room re-igniting and taps turning on and off in the upstairs ladies toilets too.

Ghost researcher MJ Wayland notes on his website that the accounts of the murders come from a novel and not established history - indeed, the rest of the book is a work of fiction. Wayland also notes that according to the book the killings ended when a donkey belonging to the last victim, Thomas Cole, was found afterwards without its owner and this alerted the locals, the contraption that plummeted unwary souls into the vat of boiling water (or fat) soon being discovered. The book also says that the King ordered that the building be burned to the ground - which doesn't match 'The Ostrich' at all! The above information is retained on this site for information only - and does not detract from the other sightings in the inn.

Update 11/7/22: Sarah Morgan, the General Manager replied to my request for any recent occurrences: "From customer over the years there have been many different reports particularly room guests that stay overnight - 1 guest at breakfast a couple of months ago was asking who was singing the previous night around 1 am I responded that there was no music act unless this was a drunk guest they were hearing or the restaurant sound system but she was adamant this was a lady singing scarborough fair which we didn't have on our system and the music was all turned off at 11pm with the CCTV not showing anyone in the bar/restaurant after midnight. Other comments over the years were things such as guests feeling the weight at the end of their bed as if someone was sat there or the sound of coach and horses or a person deep breathing next to them in the bed when they were staying alone. One longer staying guest barely slept for her weeks stay and had to put towels over the artwork in her bedroom as she believed they were following her with their eyes ... we haven’t had that happen since!"

Link: Berkshire Live

Link: Great British Ghosts

Link: MJ Wayland's Website

Link: Berskhire Live