the story of the tanners owl owes its origin to one of the old regulars Ted Terry (better known as "stagnant stan" - now long deceased )   who invented the story of a wich metamorphing into an owl during the rebuilding program   of the original conversion of the cottages into the present youth hostel, This transfigurement was reputed to be witnessed by a number of the working party he admitted this to me in the Royal oak in Bookham over a copious libation