The Victorian Lady and Child Spirits

Documented Modern Paranormal Activity

Beyond the legendary tales of the Jarman murders, The Ostrich Inn experiences extensive documented paranormal activity involving spirits that appear unconnected to the historic murder narrative. These manifestations, witnessed by numerous staff members, guests, and paranormal investigators over several decades, represent some of the most credible evidence for supernatural activity at the inn.

Current manager Sarah Morgan, with over 12 years of experience at the property, has become accustomed to the unexplained phenomena that occur regularly throughout the building. Her matter-of-fact approach to the supernatural activity speaks to its consistent and undeniable nature: “You learn to live with it, there are footsteps and noises that you just tell yourself ‘well that will be someone upstairs’.”

The Victorian Lady

One of the most frequently encountered spirits is a woman dressed in Victorian-era clothing, witnessed by multiple independent observers across different time periods. This elegantly dressed figure appears primarily in the main corridors and public areas of the inn, moving with purpose through the ancient building.

Staff members describe her as a refined lady wearing period-appropriate dress, often appearing solid and lifelike before vanishing without explanation. Unlike the Mrs. Jarman apparition, this Victorian lady shows no signs of distress or execution trauma. Instead, witnesses describe her demeanour as purposeful, as if she belongs in the building and has legitimate business there.

The Victorian lady’s appearances follow no predictable pattern, occurring during both day and evening hours. Staff members have grown accustomed to glimpsing her from the corner of their eyes, only to find empty corridors upon investigation. Her presence often coincides with other unexplained phenomena, including temperature fluctuations and electrical disturbances.

The Child Spirit

Equally compelling are the consistent reports of a child’s presence throughout the inn. This young spirit has been witnessed by numerous visitors and staff members, appearing as a small figure that seems to move playfully through the building’s historic spaces.

The child spirit exhibits behaviour consistent with a young person at play, sometimes heard running along corridors or moving between rooms. Witnesses describe catching glimpses of a small figure that disappears when directly observed, suggesting either shyness or the playful nature often attributed to child spirits.

Staff members report finding evidence of the child’s presence in areas where no living children have been present - small handprints on surfaces, toys moved from their positions, and the sound of childish laughter echoing through empty rooms. The child spirit appears completely benign, with no reports of frightening encounters or malevolent behaviour.

The Figure in White

Sarah Morgan’s most notable encounter involved a figure in white clothing near the specials board whilst she was locking up the premises. This sighting, occurring when the building should have been completely empty, represents one of many similar encounters reported by staff members across different shifts and time periods.

The figure in white appears distinct from both the Victorian lady and the alleged Mrs. Jarman apparition, suggesting yet another spirit presence within the inn. Witnesses describe this entity as luminous or partially transparent, moving with deliberate purpose through the ground floor areas.

This particular spirit seems drawn to the main bar and reception areas, often appearing during the transition periods of dawn and dusk. Staff members have learned to anticipate its presence, with many reporting a sense of being observed while conducting closing procedures.

Unexplained Physical Phenomena

The spirits at The Ostrich Inn don’t limit themselves to visual appearances. Staff members regularly experience physical interactions with the unseen presences, including the sensation of being prodded or touched by invisible hands. Sarah Morgan reports being “prodded in the back while being in the cellar,” a common experience among staff members working in the building’s lower levels.

Electrical equipment behaves erratically throughout the inn, with lights switching on in locked rooms, automatic doors opening and closing without cause, and kitchen equipment activating independently. The automatic door to the kitchen has become notorious for its unexplained operation, sometimes followed by thuds from within the kitchen when no one is present.

These physical manifestations occur consistently enough that staff members have developed routines to accommodate them, checking locked rooms after unexplained light activity and investigating kitchen disturbances as part of normal building security.

Temperature Anomalies and Cold Spots

Independent of the alleged murder sites, cold spots appear throughout the inn in areas with no historical connection to violence or tragedy. The ladies’ toilet downstairs experiences particularly intense temperature drops, which staff attribute to paranormal activity rather than building infrastructure issues.

These cold spots move through the building, creating localised areas of intense temperature change that guests and staff encounter unexpectedly. The phenomenon occurs year-round, regardless of external weather conditions or the building’s heating systems, suggesting supernatural rather than natural causes.

The Elizabethan Spirit “John”

During the 2002 ‘Most Haunted’ investigation, paranormal investigators claimed to make contact with a spirit identifying himself as “John” from the Elizabethan era. This entity, unrelated to the Jarman murder narrative, reportedly communicated through various investigative techniques and provided information about the inn’s Tudor-period history.

The “John” spirit represents yet another layer of The Ostrich Inn’s complex paranormal landscape, suggesting the building harbours multiple spirits from different historical periods. This Elizabethan presence may connect to the inn’s documented role as a coaching stop during the Tudor period, when it served travellers journeying between London and Bath.

Guest Experiences and Testimonials

Visitors to The Ostrich Inn frequently report encounters with the various spirits, often describing experiences that align with staff observations. Guests staying in different rooms throughout the building report similar phenomena: unexplained sounds, temperature fluctuations, and fleeting glimpses of figures in period dress.

One particularly notable guest spent a week at the inn, progressively covering mirrors in her room with towels because she believed the “picture’s eyes were moving and watching her.” Such encounters, whilst disturbing to those experiencing them, provide consistent evidence of ongoing paranormal activity throughout the building.

The Atmospheric Influence

The presence of multiple spirits creates a unique atmospheric quality at The Ostrich Inn that extends beyond any single ghost story. Staff members describe learning to coexist with the various presences, developing an intuitive understanding of the building’s supernatural rhythms.

The Victorian lady, child spirit, figure in white, and other documented entities contribute to an environment where the supernatural has become normalised. This acceptance by those who work daily in the building provides perhaps the strongest evidence for genuine paranormal activity - when encounters become routine rather than exceptional, they transcend mere ghost stories to become lived reality.

Ongoing Activity and Investigation

The documented modern paranormal activity at The Ostrich Inn continues to attract researchers and investigators seeking to understand the building’s supernatural properties. Unlike the historically questionable Jarman narrative, these contemporary encounters provide verifiable, consistent evidence of paranormal phenomena.

The multiple spirit presences suggest The Ostrich Inn functions as a focal point for supernatural activity, possibly due to its centuries-long role as a gathering place for travellers and its position on ancient transportation routes. Whether these spirits represent historical figures with connections to the building or manifestations drawn to its unique energy remains an ongoing mystery that continues to unfold with each new encounter.