250 years ago:

Last Sunday a servant girl at an Inn in this city of Worcester got up early in the morning and after thoroughly cleaning the house, went into a garret and hanged herself. Disappointment in love, it is imagined, was the occasion for it because some time ago she and her sweetheart proceeded to church together in order to be married but when they came there, the young fellow declined the matter and left her.

* The Birmingham and Worcester Stage Coach will set out once again every Monday and Friday from the Red Lyon in Digbeth, Birmingham, for the Bell Inn, Broad Street, Worcester, and return every Tuesday and Saturday. Passengers travel at Six Shillings each and parcels are carried at reasonable rates.

* A few days since died at Evesham, William Baylies Gent., who had for many years been Head Distributor of Stamps for this county.

200 years ago:As Mr Pardoe, a Farmer of Yew Tree near Ombersley, was returning from Kidderminster Fair on Friday last, he was thrown from his horse through the animal taking fright and received so severe a contusion on the back of the head that he remained speechless until Sunday morning when he expired, leaving a wife and several children to lament his loss.

* Last week a bet was made and decided between two persons for a considerable wager on who could run a coach wheel soonest round Pitchcroft. The task was performed by one in 16 minutes, leaving the other behind some distance.

Messrs Chamberlain's of Worcester are appointed Porcelain Manufacturers to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales with permission to erect His Royal Highness's Arms, Crest etc. etc.

150 years ago:

A lad, about 11 years of age, the son of Mr George Bennett, tailor of New Street, Worcester, narrowly escaped death by drowning on Tuesday afternoon last while bathing in the canal in this city. The lad had got out of his depth and was entirely exhausted when a young man named Edwin Sprague of Copenhagen Street, hearing a cry for assistance from some boys on the bank of the water, at once ran and courageously plunged into the canal and succeeded in rescuing the drowning lad from his peril.

* "Holt Picnic" - The annual summer gathering at the Holt Tea Gardens last Tuesday was patronised by about 50 ladies and gentlemen from the surrounding neighbourhood. The weather was pleasant, and dancing on the green commenced as soon as the beams of the sun had become somewhat tempered by the approach of evening, and when night drew on, the party adjourned to the inn where they kept up the festivities until daylight next morning. Mrs Smith's attention to her guests was everything that could be desired and the result was a most delightful meeting.

100 years ago:

Lady Sandys held a largely attended Garden Party at Ombersley Court on Thursday afternoon in connection with the Agricultural Show which was staged in the Park. The grounds of Ombersley Court were prettily decorated and the Band of the Scots Guards, under Mr Wood, played in the garden.

* Samuel Bond, labourer of St Clement's Square, Tybridge Street, was summonsed before Worcester Police Court for damaging a riverside hedge belonging to Mr W.W. Grundy to the extent of half-a-crown. The defendant had ripped out stakes from the hedge opposite the Cathedral on Mr Grundy's New Road farm. The Bench bound the defendant over to be of good behaviour for 12 months and to pay 5s. towards the costs but he commented: "You may as well give me a lifer. I am 81 years old now!"