Mrs. Jarman

The Legend of the Murderous Landlady

Mrs. Jarman features prominently in The Ostrich Inn’s most enduring ghost story as the alleged accomplice to her husband John Jarman’s supposed murder spree. According to the traditional tale, she was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in what locals claim was a systematic campaign of murder targeting wealthy travellers during the medieval or early modern period.

The legend describes Mrs. Jarman as the one who would identify potential victims, often by observing their fine clothes, heavy purses, or valuable possessions. She would allegedly signal to her husband using coded language - when he declared “there’s a fat pig available if you want one,” she would respond “put him in the sty till tomorrow,” sealing the guest’s fate. Her role extended beyond selection; she would ply chosen victims with strong ale and wine, ensuring they would sleep deeply enough for the couple’s horrific trap-door mechanism to work effectively.

Historical Questions and Literary Origins

However, like the broader Jarman murder narrative, Mrs. Jarman’s story faces significant scholarly scrutiny. The tale originates from Thomas Deloney’s 1598 novel “Thomas of Reading,” making it a work of fiction rather than historical record. Researchers including historian Mike Dash and paranormal investigator MJ Wayland have found no contemporary evidence for:

• Mrs. Jarman’s existence
• Any record of her trial or execution
• Historical documentation of the alleged murders
• Archaeological evidence supporting the trap-door story

As Wayland notes in his research, the entire Jarman narrative “is no more a historic account than Jack and Jill,” originating from Deloney’s work of fiction rather than factual events.

The Apparition in Execution Attire

Despite questions about the historical Mrs. Jarman, witnesses at The Ostrich Inn consistently report encounters with a female spirit matching the traditional description. Staff members and guests describe seeing a woman in period dress, often appearing with what observers interpret as rope marks around her neck - details that align with the legendary account of Mrs. Jarman’s execution.

Current inn manager Sarah Morgan and staff member Hayley Hearn have both encountered this apparition. Hearn’s description is particularly striking: “a floating lady in a long old fashioned white nighty and shoulder-length dark hair.” Staff were reportedly shocked to discover that this description matched historical accounts of the outfit Mrs. Jarman allegedly wore to her execution.

Modern Sightings and Behaviour

The female spirit witnesses describe exhibits searching behaviour, moving through the inn’s corridors and rooms as if looking for something or someone. She appears most frequently in areas associated with the original murder story - the Blue Room vicinity, the original kitchen location, and the main corridors connecting these spaces.

Guests and staff report feeling her presence as a melancholy, restless energy rather than malevolent force. Some witnesses describe sensing her desperation or confusion, as if she remains unaware of her circumstances or continues searching for her executed husband. The consistency of these reports, spanning multiple decades and coming from independent witnesses, suggests genuine paranormal activity regardless of the historical veracity of the Jarman legend.

Temperature Anomalies and Physical Manifestations

Those who encounter the female spirit often report sudden drops in temperature and the sensation of being watched. She appears to favour the evening and early morning hours, with witnesses describing her as solidly visible for brief moments before fading away. Some guests have reported feeling the bed depress as if someone has sat down, only to find the room empty.

The apparition seems particularly drawn to Room 11 (the alleged Blue Room) and the areas above the former kitchen, where the murders supposedly took place. Staff members have reported finding lights switched on in locked rooms, electrical equipment operating without explanation, and doors opening and closing in areas where the female spirit has been sighted.

The Enduring Presence

Whether Mrs. Jarman represents a historical figure’s spirit or a manifestation born from centuries of storytelling, her presence at The Ostrich Inn remains one of its most consistently reported paranormal phenomena. The female spirit’s searching behaviour, period dress, and apparent connection to the inn’s darkest legends create an atmosphere of unresolved tragedy that continues to fascinate visitors and researchers alike.

The question of her true identity - historical victim of injustice, fictional character given supernatural life through collective belief, or something else entirely - remains one of The Ostrich Inn’s most compelling mysteries. What seems certain is that this melancholy female presence continues to walk the ancient corridors, forever bound to the inn where her story, whether fact or fiction, has become an indelible part of English folklore.