AS part of our weekly Crime Files series, we are taking a look back at the archives to bring you stories from Herefordshire's history.

The following story dates from 1843.

THE body of a travelling tinker was found in the ruins of a fire-ravaged barn near Eaton Bishop after a spate of fires in the area in 1843.

The alarm was raised after a waggoner was awoken by a strong glare of bright light in Wormhill in the early hours of the morning one day in November that year.

Thinking the house was on fire, he roused his fellow servant, and the pair ran out of the house with their possessions.

But, on leaving the house, they realised the fire was in the property's farm buildings instead, and they rushed to remove the horses and equipment from them, while a messenger was sent to Hereford to call for a fire engine.

By the time the engine arrived from Hereford, some six miles away, the farm's barn, cider house, mill, and stables were destroyed, while four hay-ricks and two corn ricks were ablaze.

The engine was immediately put to work, it was reported, with neighbours assisting.

When the flames were finally put out at 10am that morning, a terrible discovery was made.

The remains of Peregrine Morgan, a elderly travelling tinker also known as 'Tinker Perry' who had been given permission to sleep in one of the outbuildings, were found among the wreckage.

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"It was some time before it could be ascertained whether the remains were those of a human being or not, the head having dropped off, and only the lower portion of the body, which was completely charred, being left," newspapers of the time reported.

The body was found near the remains of 10 pigs, which had also perished in the blaze.

An inquest held before Hereford coroner Nicholas Llanwarne, heard that Morgan had last been seen at 9pm the evening before the fire, and that he appeared to have attempting to make his escape when he succumbed to the flames at 2am the next morning.

There was no doubt, it was reported, that the fire was the work of an arsonist, but the jury were unable to fix the blame on any one person, and a verdict of wilful murder by a person or persons unknown was recorded.