250 YEARS AGO:

ON Sunday last, Ann Nott, servant in a gentleman’s house in High Street, Worcester, was committed to our city gaol to await trial, being charged by the coroner’s inquest with murdering a male infant which was found in the necessary house (a lavatory block) that morning and taken out alive, but died about an hour later. She denies throwing it in but says it dropped from her as she was in the room during the night.

● On Friday night last, as a horse jockey was undressing himself for bed at an inn near Droitwich, he was seized with a violent bleeding and in a few minutes died. He had been drinking and swearing very freely that evening.

● A fire broke out in the straw house at the Hop Pole Inn, Droitwich, last Saturday night but was presently extinguished, otherwise, in all probability, the greatest part of the town would have been burnt down.

200 YEARS AGO:

AT our general quarter sessions in Worcester this week, Catherine Sanders was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for ill-treating her parish apprentice while William Pope was sentenced to six weeks with hard labour in the house of correction for stealing a quantity of coal, the property of the Right Hon Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward of Witley Court.

● Boat House, Henwick, Worcester. W Higgs, grateful for the favours of his friends and the public, begs leave to inform them that he has laid in a stock of wines and spirits of such quality as he flatters himself will give general satisfaction and also fine ales, beers, porter and cider.

He has fitted up his garden to offer the finest accommodation for dinner and tea parties which can be served at the shortest notice.

Two neat ferry boats with proper attendants will be waiting the whole of Worcester race week to convey ladies and gentlemen from Pitchcroft to W Higgs’ garden and other public places at Henwick Hill. Those fond of aquatic amusements may be accommodated on a neat pleasure boat at reasonable terms.

150 YEARS AGO:

EMILY Hill, aged 13, the daughter of a labourer living in the Pinch near the distillery in Hylton Road, was charged by her father at Worcester Police Court with having stolen his property.

It appeared that the mother of the girl had been dead nearly 11 years and that during the absence of her father at work, she had been left in entire charge of the house. To gratify her taste principally for moral readings, she had almost stripped the house of linen which she had pledged or sold to rag dealers.

A few days ago she tore up a bed quilt and sold it as old rags. Alas, the father felt he had no other recourse but to seek the assistance of the magistrates. Mr JW Lea, chairman of the bench, said it was a sad case and one which would not perhaps be remedied if a girl so young was committed to prison. He thought some communication should be made with the philanthropic ladies of the city and with this in mind, the girl was remanded for a week.

100 YEARS AGO:

AN inquest has returned a verdict of accidental death on Albert Jones, aged 48, a leather stainer of 34 Tybridge Street, Worcester. Witnesses stated that Jones went out angling on the River Teme and was last seen by friends drinking at the Fox Inn, Bransford, though he appeared quite sober. Some time later, however, Thomas Thomas, driver of the GWR Malvern to Wolverhampton train, suddenly spotted Jones walking along the railway line in front of him at Rushwick and sounded the danger whistle, but to no avail. He braked sharply but Jones, looking round, walked in front of the train and a collision could not be avoided.

Jones’s body was found lying at the bottom of the railway embankment, his head knocked in and his left leg and right arm cut out. His body was carried to the Whitehall Inn. Jones had no right to be on the railway but there was no suggestion he was trying to put an end to his life. Was he simply taking a short cut home and had been startled by the train?