Berrow, Worcestershire
Encyclopedia
Berrow is a village and civil parish
in the Malvern Hills district
of Worcestershire
, England
, about seven miles east of Ledbury
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 236.
Reports at the inquest suggested that the murderers were disturbed by a visitor, a man called Player , at 4am. Player, having knocked, called out but received no answer. Concerned he raised his wife and having returned together found the front door now open. Having discovered corpses they raised the alarm.
Villagers began a search and detained six "tramps" and two of these were later charged with the destruction of enclosure fences at Malvern Link
but were not charged with the murders.
In 1809, James Taynton, an octogenarian road labourer from Malvern Link was admitted to Worcester Royal Infirmary with a fractured leg. In his delirium he said a number of things which prompted further investigation and it was later ascertained that he was employed on the Malvern Link enclosures. The Berrow's Worcester Journal
reported that he admitted to having been involved with the destruction of the Malvern Link enclosure. He was pressed by patients as to whether he knew anything of the Berrow Murder and reportedly said that the murderers were all alive and as old as himself . After further inquiry from a nurse it was suggested that he had been more directly involved. He later said that the murders had been committed using bills
. He died shortly afterwards and no official investigation was made into his involvement.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Malvern Hills district
Malvern Hills (district)
Malvern Hills is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. Its council is based in the town of Malvern, and its area covers most of the western half of the county that borders Herefordshire. It was originally formed in 1974 and was subject to a significant boundary reform in 1998...
of Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about seven miles east of Ledbury
Ledbury
Ledbury is a town in Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and south of the Malvern Hills.Today, Ledbury is a thriving market town in rural England. The town has a large number of timber framed buildings, in particular along Church Lane and High Street. One of Ledbury's most outstanding...
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 236.
Parish Church
The parish church is dedicated to Saint Faith and is notable for a plaque regarding a gruesome murder that occurred in the parish in the 18th century.The Berrow Murder
On the night of Saturday 6th or early morning of Sunday 7 May 1780 Edward Gummery, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Anne, aged 9, and a visiting brother-in-law of Elizabeth's, Thomas Sheen , were murdered in their home in Berrow. The perpetrators were never found.Reports at the inquest suggested that the murderers were disturbed by a visitor, a man called Player , at 4am. Player, having knocked, called out but received no answer. Concerned he raised his wife and having returned together found the front door now open. Having discovered corpses they raised the alarm.
Villagers began a search and detained six "tramps" and two of these were later charged with the destruction of enclosure fences at Malvern Link
Malvern Link
Malvern Link is an area of Malvern, Worcestershire, England to the north and east of Great Malvern. The centres of Malvern Link and Great Malvern are separated by Malvern Link Common, an area of open land that is statutorily protected by the Malvern Hills Conservators...
but were not charged with the murders.
In 1809, James Taynton, an octogenarian road labourer from Malvern Link was admitted to Worcester Royal Infirmary with a fractured leg. In his delirium he said a number of things which prompted further investigation and it was later ascertained that he was employed on the Malvern Link enclosures. The Berrow's Worcester Journal
Berrow's Worcester Journal
Berrow's Worcester Journal claims to be "the oldest surviving newspaper in the World", It is owned by Newsquest, the second largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom.The common belief that Berrow's Worcester Journal, or its...
reported that he admitted to having been involved with the destruction of the Malvern Link enclosure. He was pressed by patients as to whether he knew anything of the Berrow Murder and reportedly said that the murderers were all alive and as old as himself . After further inquiry from a nurse it was suggested that he had been more directly involved. He later said that the murders had been committed using bills
Bill (weapon)
The bill is a polearm weapon used by infantry in medieval Europe.The bill is similar in size, function and appearance to the halberd, differing mainly in the hooked blade form...
. He died shortly afterwards and no official investigation was made into his involvement.