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’s 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 span 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 led to his death; and much more. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Herefordshire gone by. 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.

Hereford-born author David Phelps retired to his native county after a career in the Civil Service and thereupon set out to discover its rich folklore which has inspired many of his stories. He is the author of books including Secret Hereford, Herefordshire Folk Tales, Haunted Hereford, The Bloody History of Hereford, Worcestershire Folk Tales, Illustrated Tales of Herefordshire and 50 Gems of Herefordshire.