Libby Gliksman, owner of Market Cookshop in Shrewsbury Market Hall, is holding a live fundraising performance later this month to support the rebuilding of Perches House, the historic Grade II* listed building severely damaged by fire earlier this year.
Ms Glilksman will sing from the Market Hall balcony on Friday 21 February at 2pm for 45 minutes, inviting cash donations from shoppers and visitors. Funds raised will go towards the appeal led by Jess Richards, whose mother, Rose Roberts, died in the fire and who now faces the loss of her home, business and her mother’s life’s work.
Speaking about her decision to organise the fundraiser, Ms Glilksman said she was deeply affected after learning the scale of the tragedy. She said she could not continue with everyday life knowing how much support Ms Richards needed, and described the loss of Perches House as devastating given the love and care Roberts had poured into the building over decades.
She added that the story resonated strongly with her personally, as she could not imagine life without her own mother, and felt compelled to do something practical to help.
Market Cookshop operates from Shrewsbury Market Hall and is an offshoot of Ms Glilksman’s parents’ Oswestry business, Upstairs Downstairs, which previously won Best Cookshop in Britain. She said the market felt like the natural place to stage the fundraiser, allowing her to use her voice and her business’s location at the heart of the town to support the cause.
Perches House, a four-storey medieval townhouse on Castle Street, dates back to the 14th century and is one of Shrewsbury’s most historically significant buildings. Fire crews were called to the scene at around 3.30am, with 11 fire engines attending. Despite their efforts, Roberts, 81, tragically lost her life. The fire destroyed the roof, the original oak staircase and caused extensive structural damage throughout the building.
Building Control has confirmed that the house can be saved, but only with immediate intervention. Around £100,000 is required to stabilise and secure the structure before any restoration work can begin. The building was uninsured at the time of the fire due to circumstances beyond Roberts’ control.
Ms Glilksman said her aim is to raise as much money as possible on the day, describing the event as a way to “raise the roof” of the market hall in order to help put one back on Perches House.
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