250 YEARS AGO:

ON Saturday last, being the day on which the excise tax on cider and perry ceased, a kind of jubilee was held in divers places in Worcestershire and Herefordshire where several oxen and sheep were roasted whole and many hogsheads of cider drawn out. A great number of persons assembled on the occasion at the different places and spent the day and evening in a most jovial and humorous manner.

One of the main toasts drunk was: “May the land of cider ever remain a land of liberty.”

● At our assizes in Worcester this week, Elizabeth Bryan, for stealing some goods in the shop of Mrs Hickman of this city, was sentenced to be burnt in the hand and to be imprisoned for six months.

● On Thursday last, one Tudman, a sawyer, had the misfortune to fall backwards into a saw-pit near Worcester, whereby he dislocated his neck and died on the spot.

200 YEARS AGO:

AN old man who has imposed upon several persons in Worcester with tales of distress, was a few days since committed to our city gaol as a vagabond and yesterday was sent off to his proper parish.

The public are much indebted to the magistrates for making an example of one of the numerous impostors who continually infest our streets. It is in many instances mistaken charity to relieve itinerant beggars, for it is an undoubted fact that most of them make begging a kind of profession.

● We are happy in stating that upwards of 550 persons are already enrolled in the City of Worcester Local Militia and, as the enrolment will positively cease on Monday next, we have no doubt that this highly respectable corps will attain its full complement by that period. We therefore recommend all persons who have an intention of enrolling to do so without delay as no one can be taken after the date mentioned above.

● The Seven Stars Inn, Newport Street, Worcester, and tenements adjoining thereto has been sold at auction by W Handy.

150 YEARS AGO:

TUESDAY morning next has been appointed for the consecration of the new Worcester Cemetery at Astwood near this city. The Lord Bishop will be attended by the mayor and corporation. After the ceremony the mayor will invite his Lordship and Mr Laslett, MP for Worcester, to lunch at the Guildhall where they will be joined by the corporation and other friends.

The workmen who have been employed in laying out the cemetery and building its chapel will be treated to dinner at the Beauchamp Arms Hotel in Broad Street at the expense of the city council which has subscribed about £25 for that purpose.

● John Hall, beerhouse keeper of Hallow, was summonsed at Worcester County Petty Sessions for keeping his house open after hours on Monday last. PC Turner visited the beerhouse at 10.30pm on the night in question and found about 20 persons there smoking, drinking and dancing. The bench inflicted a penalty of £1 with 10s.6d costs.

100 YEARS AGO:

CIVIL War in Worcester.

Henry Williams (12) schoolboy of 22 Dolday was charged at Worcester Police Court with causing an annoyance by disorderliness in All Hallows. PC Greaves explained that Williams had been one of 25 boys who were parading with a flag at the end of a pole, shouting and beating on cans. The officer caught Williams who told him they were going to fight the boys of Newport Street. He was fined one shilling.

● For 18 years the Callow End Workingmen’s Club has had its home in the school room in the village, but at times the arrangement has caused inconvenience to people holding meetings in the school.

The jollity of the young men has also interfered with the transaction of parochial business. As a result, Earl Beauchamp was approached with a view to securing his help to erect a new club room and he generously offered to provide a site free of charge and to give £50 towards the building. Other parishioners assisted and helped to raise the total cost of £180. The new club room at Callow End was formally opened by Earl Beauchamp on Friday night.