THERE are almost Dickensian overtones to another tale from Berrow's for this week of 1902.

"Crowquill," writing exactly a century ago, told Journal readers: "It is gratifying to hear that a beneficial use has been found for the Worcester Workhouse dripping.

"It is being employed in the making of cakes for the inmates, and very good cake it is too.

One of the Board of Guardians, Mr Adlam stood in the Boardroom yesterday with a piece about as big as a doorstep in his hand and proclaimed that the cake was good enough for anybody.

"The Workhouse dripping and a sufficiency of sugar having made the cake palatable, the lady members of the Board of Guardians now desire to introduce similar ingredients into the cake for the poor children and orphans of the nearby Cottage Homes.

"Their cake has until now been made with what is contemptuously called 'bucket lard' which contains water and lime, together with a minimum of sugar and fruit. Mrs Brown tells me the Cottage Homes cake is like very dry bread but with a few currants sparsely scattered over a great acreage of dough.

"The Cottage Homes dripping must now be put into the cake, and a little more sugar and fruit, and then the children will be happier!"