A devastated daughter has described the horrifying moment she watched helplessly as a fierce blaze engulfed the historic home where her beloved mother perished. The tragic fire at the 14th-century Perches House in Shrewsbury claimed the life of 81-year-old Rose Roberts, who had dedicated over four decades to restoring the timber-framed landmark.
Witnessing the Unthinkable
Jessica Richards, along with her eight-year-old daughter, watched in horror from their flat across the street as the inferno took hold in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Emergency services rushed to the scene around 3.20am, but despite their efforts, nothing could be done to save Rose, who was found in her ground-floor room.
"It was horrifying not being able to do anything," Jessica revealed, describing the helplessness she felt. "We saw it first-hand, including our eight-year-old daughter. The fire started on the ground floor, in mum's room, and travelled up through the wattle and daub walls and original oak staircase."
A Life's Work in Flames
Rose Roberts had moved into Perches House at age 37 and spent the next 44 years painstakingly restoring the property, which holds Grade II-listed status. Her dedication earned her a Civic Award, and she successfully campaigned to save the building from decline, using her own hard labour and extensive knowledge.
The property gained cinematic fame as Ebenezer Scrooge's office in the 1984 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, making it a recognisable landmark for visitors to Shrewsbury. Jessica operated her business, Shrewsbury Arts & Crafts, from the premises, which her mother had opened to the public.
Catastrophic Damage and Restoration Hopes
The damage to the historic structure has been described as catastrophic. The roof completely burned through, the original oak staircase was destroyed, upper floors are saturated with water, and the ceiling remains at risk of collapse. Parts of the structure have become unstable, requiring urgent propping and weatherproofing.
Despite the devastation, Building Control has confirmed the house can be saved with immediate and substantial intervention. "Already, around £100,000 is needed just to stabilise and secure the structure," Jessica explained, "and this is before any restoration work can even begin."
A Financial and Emotional Blow
Compounding the tragedy, the property and its contents were without insurance cover at the time of the fire due to complex circumstances. This leaves no financial safety net for the building's restoration or for the loss of Rose's lifetime of work, which was also Jessica's sole source of income.
"I have lost my beloved mum, my home, my livelihood and a building that holds centuries of Shrewsbury's history," Jessica said. "But I refuse to let this be the end of her story."
Community Support and Tribute
An online fundraiser launched on Thursday has already raised over £10,000 toward the stabilisation efforts. Jessica expressed gratitude for every contribution, noting that "every pound helps keep the building standing while we await full reports and permissions."
She also paid tribute to the fire crews who "entered conditions beyond what their equipment could safely withstand" in their attempts to save her mother. West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics pronounced Rose deceased at the scene, while a man present was assessed but declined hospital treatment.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before the blaze took hold, though the exact cause remains unknown as investigations continue. Jessica's determination to rebuild in her mother's memory represents a beacon of hope amid the tragedy, aiming to preserve both her legacy and an irreplaceable piece of Shrewsbury's heritage.
