'I'd lived in my house for 20 years when somebody knocked on the door and said it was the scene of a murder' – Woman's surprise as new book identifies her Bridgnorth home as site of notorious killing
A Bridgnorth woman has spoken of discovering that her family home of 20 years was the site of a notorious murder.
Fran Spicer and her family have lived at Severn House in Underhill Street for more than two decades and had no idea their home had such a grisly history.
It wasn't until a local author released a new novel based on actual events at the property that occurred in 1848, that Fran learned of their home's history.
“About six weeks ago I was at home alone, as my husband and son were at a quiz," she said. “There was a knock on the door. Dave Tonks, a fellow member of Bridgnorth Twinning Association was there. He said he was listening to an author at a Civic Society meeting.
"He said she had written a book about a murder at a property in Bridgnorth and said to me 'It's your house, Fran!' And then he went back to listen to the second half. So I thought well, now there's something.”
She discovered that Emma Woodhouse, a local author from Bridgnorth, had written "Mercy", a novel based on the true story of Mercy Newton, a woman arrested for murder in the town in 1848.
