Woman killed by hearth at historic sixteenth century constructing as heartbroken household pay tribute to ‘superb’ mom who was ‘liked by so many’

The family of a woman in her 80s who was killed by a fire at a 16th century building in Shrewsbury have paid heartbreaking tribute to her.

Rose Roberts was killed in the blaze at her home in Windsor Place after the historic house caught alight in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Her daughter, Jessica Richards, said her mother was an ‘amazing person’ and said she was ‘loved by so many’.

Ms Richards, who runs Shrewsbury Arts and Crafts Centre, told how her mother had saved the historic timber-framed town-centre building years earlier.

She said: ‘My mother Rose Roberts saved these buildings. She was lost in the fire. It is just so shocking. She was an amazing person, loved by so many.

‘She was my everything.’

Police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the property, which is called Perches House, just off Castle Street after reports of the fire at 3.30am on Tuesday.

Mrs Roberts was rescued from the property by firefighters, but was badly injured and could not be saved despite the efforts of medics.

A man was also hurt in the fire but his injuries were not serious or life-threatening, and he declined hospital treatment, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Other residents, living nearby, also fled their homes.

An investigation has now been launched into what caused the blaze, although it is not currently being treated as suspicious.

Perches House was used in the 1984 film A Christmas Carol and was where Ebenezer Scrooge’s office was filmed.

Ms Roberts had been involved in saving the Grade II* listed building from demolition more than five decades ago, before helping to rebuild it and turning it into her home. 

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: ‘One person has died and a number of people evacuated after a fire in Shrewsbury in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 27 January).

‘Emergency services were called at around 3.30am to a fire inside a ground floor flat in Castle Street in the town centre.

‘Sadly, a woman in her 80s was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘Her family have been informed.

‘One other person was reported to have suffered injuries which were not deemed to be serious or life-threatening.

‘A cordon remains in place with surrounding roads closed, and the public are advised to avoid the area.

‘A critical incident has been declared as emergency services work together to tackle the fire and support evacuated residents.

‘An emergency number has been set up by Shropshire Council for those who have not been able to make contact with relatives and friends who have evacuated as a result of the fire.

‘If you are trying to reach a resident who may have been evacuated, please call 0345 6789029.

‘The fire is not currently being treated as suspicious but fire investigators at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will be carrying out their own investigation into the exact cause of the fire.’

Speaking on behalf of the multi-agency response, Superintendent Helen Kinrade for Shropshire said: ‘Sadly one person has died in the fire which started in the early hours of this morning and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this tragic time.

‘A multi-agency response has been established, led by our colleagues at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, to tackle the fire with Shropshire Council supporting local residents who have been evacuated.

‘Surrounding roads have been closed and we would ask the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to deal with the incident safely.’

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman added: ‘Ambulance staff arrived to find an active flat fire.

‘A woman had been extricated from the property by fire colleagues.

‘Sadly, nothing could be done to save the woman, and she was confirmed deceased by paramedics on scene.

‘A man at the scene was assessed by ambulance staff, but declined hospital treatment and was discharged on scene.’