Headline

About 300 Years Ago: Stolen or strayed out of the grounds of the north side of Worcester, belonging to Joseph Blower, butcher, on Saturday last, a strong black gelding. Whoever gives notice of him to the said Joseph Blower in Worcester so that he may be had again, shall have 10 shillings reward and reasonable charges.

To be let, an estate called by the name of Himbleton Farm, in the parish of Himbleton, containing 80 acres of arable land and 83 acres of enclosures, meadow and pasture ground, with a good dwelling-house and outhouses in good repair, lying very convenient to the markets of Worcester, Pershore, Evesham, Droitwich, and Bromsgrove. Enquire of Henry Blount, clothier, in Worcester.

To be sold, a new milch ass with a she-foal a month old. Enquire of Mr Eccles, apothecary, or of Mr Morgan at the Fleece Inn in the Broad Street, Worcester, or at Squire Clutton’s at Pensacks in Worcestershire, where they may be seen.

250 Years Ago: Early on Thursday morning last, the elegant Corinthian Capital which was affixed under the weathercock on top of the Spire of St Andrew’s Church in this City of Worcester was blown down by the violence of the wind, but fortunately without doing any damage to the building in its fall.

Last week was married Mr Wainwright of Witley to Miss Cresswell of Hallow near this city, an agreeable young lady with a genteel fortune.

To be let, the late dwelling-house of Mr Slater at the Knowles-End in Sidbury, consisting of a parlour and kitchen, four very good chambers with two closets, two garrets, a pump-yard, a back kitchen and a room over it, with a pleasant garden adjoining. Enquire of Mr Alderman Martin, Mr Farmer in Sidbury or Mr Wilkins at Himbleton.

200 Years Ago: At Worcester Assizes this week, the following seven prisoners received Sentence of Death – James Hornsby for stealing a horse belonging to B. Acock, George Avery for stealing from a field at Holt 22 sheep, the property of four owners, George Tribe and Joseph Windred for stealing two horses from Harrow-on-the-Hill, Edward Gardener for stealing a horse at Hagley, William Jeynes for stealing a horse, the property of J. Jakeman of Bromsgrove, and Robert Wigley for breaking open the dwelling-house of Messrs Archer and Williams of Worcester and stealing thereout £15 in copper. Except for Tribe and Windred, all the condemned prisoners were reprieved before the Judge left town and were ordered instead to 14 years’ transportation. If no respite or reprieve arrives previously, Tribe and Windred will be executed here on Friday next. Also at the Assizes, George Robert Woodrow for bigamy, and John Cannon for stealing a watch and other articles from a house in this city wherein he lodged, were sentenced to seven years’ transportation. George Spragg for attempting to commit a rape on an infant, and William Holloway for stealing oak boards from a yard in St Clement’s were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. Benjamin Nuit for breaking open Doddenham Chapel and stealing sundry articles thereout, and William Russell for stealing wheat from the barn of J. Chandler of Eckington were sent to prison for six months.

150 Years Ago: “St John’s Mop” (a historic marketplace for the hiring of servants, held on land near the junction of Bransford Road and Malvern Road) - The mop, which still has a periodical existence in the suburbs on the other side of the water at Worcester, was held yesterday. There was a comparatively small show of servants, but the followers and spectators were rather numerous. Among those who stood for hire, in spite of registration and other facilities, there was not a great many females. If crinoline is synonymous with character, some of these girls stood high in this respect. There was but little hiring. The concomitants of a mop were present in gingerbread and fruit stalls, pudding and cake pans, and ballad singers. A professor or two of the gambling art were lurking about, but the emissaries of Mr Power spitefully put a stop to all their attempts to take in a Johnny. At night there was some drinking and dancing in the public houses.

A correspondent complains of the inadequacy of carriage accommodation provided for passengers on the Worcester and Hereford line at Foregate Street Station and states that on Saturday last, although waiting 15 minutes for the train to Malvern, he was unable to obtain a seat on it owing to the carriages being filled at Shrub Hill, and the train was dispatched without him. (Interestingly – and 150 years on, making for me a rare rail journey, my son and I, having started out from Foregate Street, had to stand all the way on a crowded and inadequate train from Hereford to Cardiff, despite my advanced years!)

100 Years Ago: “Motor Accident” – On Friday afternoon, a motor car driven by Mr A.V. Rowe, 30, Foregate Street, was proceeding down Broad Street when, about opposite the Beauchamp Hotel, an old woman named Mrs Fanny Bozward of Rectory Cottage, Dolday attempted to cross the road from Dolday to All Hallows. The right wheel of the car struck her and knocked her down. She sustained a bruised thigh and a cut on the back of her head. P.C. Collett who witnessed the accident, rendered assistance, and a friend accompanied the injured woman to the Infirmary where her injuries were attended to.

A children’s concert in aid of the Young Helpers’ League in connection with Dr Barnardo’s Home, was given in the Co-operative Hall, Worcester on Monday evening by the pupils of St Mary’s College. It was very successful. The items, many of which were encored, were effectively rendered by the scholars who presented a charming appearance in various fancy costumes. The hall was prettily decorated.