Herefordshire Murders & Misdemeanours

Herefordshire is still a largely rural and agricultural county, centred on the cathedral city of Hereford, but it has had infamous and bloody events in its past, including shocking murders and appalling crimes. From the only British solicitor to be hanged for murder to the still mysterious death of an architect who had a fanatical belief that his home had been the site of King Arthur’ castle, the county is the repository of some dark and fascinating stories. Victims and perpetrators range from royalty to farm labourers, from the effects of drink to domestic abuse, slavery and social unrest to greed and jealousy. Tales in this book range through the centuries from the Anglo Saxon St Ethelbert and include an unburied corpse that caused a riot; William Spiggot, the Herefordshire highwayman; Herefordshire witches; Silver John, a respected healer whose hoard of silver lead to his death; the Hay poisoner – was he really guilty?; Burghill Court, when the butler really did do it; the tragedy of Edie Nicholls, killed while feeding the hens; the Leintwardine GP killed by a grieving husband; Cyril Barnes, when friendship turned to murder: Simon Dale and the riddle of King Arthur; who killed beloved sweet shop owner Granny Hill?; the Herefordshire hoard, when metal detectorists went bad, and much more. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Herefordshire through the centuries. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of this area.