A sixteenth-century coaching inn, the Jarman murder legend and decades of reported experiences. Our visit to one of England's most notorious historic inns.
Investigation footage · Team investigation
A Location With A Dark Past
Some buildings are remembered for their architecture, others for the people who passed through their doors. And then there are places whose history has become entwined with stories so dark that their reputation has endured for centuries.
On 21 February 2025, Time Travel Encounters visited The Ostrich Inn in Colnbrook, Slough, one of England's most notorious historic coaching inns.
Behind its traditional timber-framed exterior lies a history stretching back hundreds of years. Once an important stopping point for travellers making their way along the old London-to-Bath road, the inn has witnessed generations of visitors, changing times and countless stories.
But it is one particular chapter in its history that has made The Ostrich famous.
A story of unsuspecting travellers, hidden mechanisms, murder and a landlord whose name became associated with one of England's most disturbing pieces of folklore.
Could there be more to this historic building than the stories told about it?
The History Of The Ostrich
The history of the site dates back to 1106, when a hospice was reportedly established by Milo Crispin. The building that stands today is principally a sixteenth-century timber-framed structure and is recognised as a Grade II listed building.
Its position along an important historic route made it a natural stopping place for travellers, merchants and those journeying between London and the West Country.
In the days before modern transport, coaching inns played an essential role in everyday life. They offered accommodation, food, drink and somewhere to rest before continuing a long journey.
The Ostrich would have seen countless people pass through its doors, each carrying their own stories, secrets and reasons for travelling.
However, the inn's darker reputation would eventually overshadow much of its traditional history.
The Jarman Murder Legend
Perhaps the most infamous story associated with The Ostrich concerns a landlord known as Jarman and his wife.
According to the traditional account, wealthy travellers staying at the inn were targeted for their possessions.
The story describes a specially adapted bed, allegedly constructed above a concealed trapdoor. Unsuspecting guests were supposedly dropped through the mechanism into a vessel of boiling liquid beneath, allowing their belongings to be stolen.
Some versions of the story claim that numerous travellers met this fate, with the alleged victim count varying significantly between accounts.
It is a particularly gruesome tale, and one that has become inseparable from the identity of The Ostrich.
The story is associated with Thomas Deloney's Elizabethan work, Thomas of Reading, although the extent to which the events were based on actual crimes remains uncertain.
While the murder legend cannot be treated as established historical fact, its persistence over several centuries has made it an important part of the inn's folklore.
For paranormal investigators, it presents an intriguing question: could the reputation and history of a location contribute to the experiences reported by those who visit it?
The Paranormal Reputation
The Ostrich Inn has attracted attention from paranormal investigators, television crews and people interested in the unexplained.
One particularly detailed investigation was undertaken by members of The Ghost Club on 13 September 2003.
Their published account describes a number of unusual experiences throughout the building.
The Blue Room
One of the most intriguing areas identified in previous investigations is the Blue Room.
Members of The Ghost Club described unusual visual experiences involving the apparent facial features of people sitting in a particular position within the room.
Some investigators believed they witnessed changes in facial appearance, while others described feelings of unease and discomfort.
The experiences were sufficiently unusual to become one of the most frequently discussed aspects of the investigation.
The investigators also considered alternative explanations, including lighting conditions and the influence of perception.
Nevertheless, the Blue Room remains one of the most interesting areas in the inn's paranormal history.
The Main Bar
The main bar has also featured in previous reports.
Investigators described unusual electromagnetic readings around the fireplace and surrounding walls.
Several members reportedly witnessed a small ball of light moving from the fireplace area towards a suit of armour.
The light was said to have been observed more than once.
Other reported experiences included unexplained sounds, unusual environmental readings and feelings of a possible presence.
The Staircase And Upper Corridors
The staircase and upper areas of the building have also been associated with unexplained experiences.
Previous investigators described a moving light, a mist-like appearance near the ceiling and sensations of imbalance and discomfort.
There have also been reports of a possible female presence and a young girl.
These accounts remain unverified, but they contribute to the collection of stories associated with the building.
The Attic
The attic was another area of interest during the 2003 investigation.
Members reported a sudden temperature reduction of just over six degrees, alongside unusual visual observations and physical sensations.
Some described the feeling of something cold and heavy passing through them.
Environmental conditions and the physical characteristics of the attic were also considered as possible explanations.
The Cellar
Given the murder legend, it is perhaps unsurprising that the cellar attracts particular interest.
It is easy to imagine the stories of the alleged victims being connected to this part of the building.
Interestingly, members of The Ghost Club described the wine cellar as relatively calm during their investigation, despite reports that staff had experienced uncomfortable feelings there.
It is a reminder that the most notorious parts of a haunted location are not necessarily where the most unusual experiences occur.
Television And Further Investigations
The Ostrich Inn has also attracted wider public attention through its association with the paranormal television series Most Haunted.
Its combination of historic architecture, dark folklore and reported unexplained activity has made it an appealing location for investigation.
Over the years, accounts have continued to circulate involving unexplained noises, feelings of being watched, unusual lights and possible apparitions.
Stories of the former landlord Jarman and a young female presence remain among the most frequently repeated.
As with all paranormal reports, these accounts should be considered personal experiences rather than confirmed evidence of survival after death.
Time Travel Encounters – Our Visit
On 21 February 2025, the Time Travel Encounters team visited The Ostrich Inn to explore a location with a remarkable history and an established paranormal reputation.
Our interest was drawn not only to the infamous Jarman legend but also to the numerous accounts recorded by previous investigators.
The building's age, traditional architecture and historic atmosphere make it an intriguing environment for paranormal investigation.
Few locations combine such an unusual mixture of documented history, centuries-old folklore and reported paranormal activity.
For TTE, the purpose of visiting a location like this is to approach it with an open mind, examine the environment and consider what may or may not be happening.
We believe that every reported experience deserves consideration, but equally, every potential piece of evidence deserves proper scrutiny.
An unexplained noise is not automatically a spirit. An unusual photograph is not automatically an apparition. Environmental readings must be considered in context.
It is this approach that forms an important part of our investigations.
Our Thoughts On The Ostrich
The Ostrich Inn is undoubtedly one of the more fascinating historic locations associated with paranormal folklore in England.
Its connection to the old coaching routes, its surviving sixteenth-century architecture and the infamous Jarman story give it an identity unlike an ordinary public house.
The previous investigations provide an interesting collection of reported experiences, particularly those involving the Blue Room, the main bar, the staircase and the attic.
Whether these experiences are connected to something paranormal, environmental influences or the extraordinary history of the building remains an open question.
What cannot be disputed is that The Ostrich has accumulated an extraordinary collection of stories over the centuries.
And sometimes, the most intriguing part of an investigation is not finding an answer, but discovering just how many questions remain.
Final Word
The Ostrich Inn is a location where history and folklore meet.
Behind its historic walls are stories of travellers, alleged crimes, lost lives and generations of people who have passed through its doors.
Its paranormal reputation has been strengthened by decades of reported experiences and investigations, leaving it firmly established as a location of interest for those who seek to explore the unexplained.
For Time Travel Encounters, it is another reminder that the past is never quite as distant as we might imagine.
Perhaps some stories are remembered because they are simply too unsettling to forget.
Perhaps some stories are remembered because they are simply too unsettling to forget.