An extraordinary charge against a clergyman

Many family historians discover that it is those ancestors who fell on hard times or into crime that can be the best source of records, but you might not expect a middle-aged Victorian clergyman to fall into either of those categories. However, the fascinating life of Reverend Edward Muckleston provided author Janet Mackleston with many true-life tales that elevated him from a simple name on her family tree into an intriguing character whose brushes with the law included fare dodging, long-running disputes with neighbours, and malicious damage to trees among his exploits.

The story is full of historical detail, with Janet doing a great job of placing Edward’s story into the context of both local Shropshire and national history. She skilfully uses newspapers, local archives and photographs to build up a fascinating tale of a man who was remarkable for many of the wrong reasons. • Published by The Book Guild in paperback at £9.99, ISBN 9781913551070 RB