250 Years Ago:

A threatening letter directed to the Rev Brooke of Upper Areley in this county was found at his door this week, of which the following is an extract: "If Lord Lyttelton had sent the Devil among us, we could not have a worse enemy than we have of you. There will come a bullet out of some hedge between Areley and Churchill and take care that it does not lay hold of you, for it is a good thing to destroy our enemy if he does not behave better than he has. The Parishioners are bound to curse the time that you came here but hope to hear of some ill end or other betiding you soon. Take notice of it and not forget it."

A Reward of £20 is offered to discover the persons concerned in writing the letter.

* Yesterday died at the family seat at Croomb (sic) Court after a lingering illness, the Countess of Coventry, Lady of the present Earl.

200 Years Ago:AT this season of snow and ice, it is peculiarly requisite that persons should be particular in sweeping the pavement before their houses, but we could not but observe that after the late fall of snow, the regulation was much neglected.

It is therefore necessary to remind the inhabitants of this city of the relevant Act which requires all persons living in properties adjoining a pavement or footway to sweep and clean it at least twice a week - that is, to say, on Wednesday and Saturday of every week, upon pain of forfeiting the sum of 2/6p for each and every neglect thereof.

* On Monday last, a boat owner of this city was fined by the Mayor in the mitigated penalty of £2 for refusing to take a party of soldiers to Tewkesbury, his boat having been pressed for that purpose. The fine has been distributed among the poor hospitals in the form of bread.

150 Years Ago:MR John James, dentist of this city, was summonsed before Worcester Police Court by the overseers of St Nicholas Parish for neglecting to maintain his wife, whereby she had become chargeable to the Worcester Union Workhouse.

Defendant denied liability on the grounds of his wife's infidelity which she indignantly denied. However, to spare the pain and scandal arising from investigations, the magistrates suggested that the parties agree a compromise, which they eventually did. The defendant undertook to allow his wife five shillings a week on condition that she take away from his house all her clothes and agree not to occasion him any annoyance in future.

* Golden Lion Ball. Mrs Price's annual invitation ball took place at the Guildhall on Tuesday evening and fulfilled every anticipation of herself and friends of the Golden Lion in High Street. A company of 150 attended and, to the strains of Clarke's Quadrille Band, dancing was prolonged with much spirit until nearly day-break. The refreshments were provided with every attention to the comfort of the guests, no pains or expense being spared to cause the entertainment to pass off most satisfactorily.

100 Years Ago:THE dense fog experienced in Worcester on Monday evening seemed to be thicker as one approached the centre of the city and, in places, the electric lamps were obscured to people immediately beneath them. Traffic was to a considerable extent suspended. Such horsed vehicles as were about crawled cautiously through the streets, while trams and motors, continuously hooting and ringing, made slightly better progress. Pedestrians had to trust entirely to their ears for safety at street crossings and walked in momentary fear of collision with people coming in the other direction. The fog was responsible for an accident which might have been very serious. While returning from Hindlip, where he had delivered a hogshead of beer to the Pear Tree Inn and collected an empty barrel, George Jenkins, employed by Mr W Roberts of the Saracen's Head, Worcester, drove into the canal. After three-quarters of an hour, he got the mare and float out again. Fortunately nothing was broken or lost except for Jenkins'cap.