Cheerless days of Christmases past

Worcester and the county experienced snowfalls not only at Yuletide exactly 200 years ago, but also a century past and 50 years ago!

However, to forecast snow this Christmas on the basis of what's happened in the past takes no account of the significant climatic changes the world has seen over the past 20 years with "global warming."

I've been looking into the bound archives of the world's oldest surviving newspaper, Berrow's Worcester Journal to see what was happening in and around the Faithful City at Christmas in the years 1800, 1900 and 1950.

Two hundreds years ago, Berrow's recorded "a heavy fall of snow" on Boxing Day, followed by an equally significant snowfall the next day, "accompanied by a high wind which drifted the snow to a considerable depth in places.

"Travelling has consequently been greatly impeded and none of the stage coaches arrived here yesterday or this day."

Berrow's Journal added a seasonal entreaty to readers in 1800: "We deem it necessary to repeat our annual recommendation to the inhabitants of this city that they will cause ashes or saw-dust to be strewed on the footway before their respective houses, which will doubtless prevent many accidents during the present frosty season."

Moving on to a century ago, Berrow's reported on "heavy frosts" and a light dusting of snow at Christmas 1900, plus gale force winds at times.

And in the wake of Christmas 1950, Berrow's stated that: "In Worcestershire, the weather was variable with a long cold spell and snow on higher ground, bringing a White Christmas in places."

This look back at Christmases past also offers some fascinating insights into attitudes and social conditions in former times.

For instance, Crowquill, in his Berrow's Journal comment column, gave a rather bitter-sweet review of Christmas in Worcester exactly a century ago.

He wrote in almost Scrooge-like fashion:

"The Christmas season has been observed in time-honoured fashion. The world is troubled, but there seems to have been little diminution in general rejoicing. Feasting and jollity have prevailed, and most people appear to have eaten and drunk more than usual, perhaps more than, strictly speaking , is good for them.

"English people appear to think this a solemn duty demanded by the season, and with the equanimity of philosophers, they are prepared to bear the discomforts which the annual departure from moderate habits sometimes entails.

"For myself, I confess I rejoice in the family reunions and the spirit of good nature and kindness of heart which prevails, but I am never more pleased than when Christmas has departed and the world has settled down to its normal condition again. People have then adopted the New Year resolutions and not commenced to break them, and they are usually on good terms with themselves.

"The outdoor Christmas celebrations have not varied much of late, and they do not strike one as being particularly creditable or appropriate. The spirit of peace on earth and goodwill in men is shown to still exist, but the Englishmen's passion for slaying things also prevails.

"The poor pigeons have a bad time in this country, and though there is not a great deal of cruelty in the sport of killing them, one can hardly say the same of some of the rabbit coursing meetings which are held.

"Turn out a rabbit, which has been boxed up and cramped for two or three weeks, into a field with a wall all around it, and the poor frightened creature has not much chance of escaping from the yelping terriers which are in close pursuit.

"These exhibitions are brutalising, whatever may be urged in their favour, and before very long we shall probably see that they are made illegal like cockfighting and bull-baiting of old days.

"Another dreary feature of Christmastide in Worcester was the performance of brass bands which seem to spring into existence for the occasion. They start early in the morning and grind out doleful strains all day, and as evening approaches, the tunes become more melancholy and the tempo more uncertain," wrote Crowquill in 1900.

At Christmas 200 years ago, the focus seemed to be on helping the poor and needy. The nation was at war with France and there were acute shortages of bread and other essentials.

Berrow's Journal reported at the end of December 1800: "The Soup Subscription for the relief of the industrious poor in this city and neighbourhood invariably evinces the sympathetic regard of the opulent and humane inhabitants on behalf of their needy fellow creatures. Although a fortnight has not yet passed, the subscription fund already stands at £573.14s.

"The Bread Institution has also distributed nearly 4,000 shilling loaves among the poor, and the seven prisoners in our city jail desire to thank the humane individuals who have contributed money and coals for their relief at this inclement season."

In 1950, Berrow's Journal looked back on "a Christmas of contrasts

"There were tensions abroad, worries at home with power cuts and a still rising cost of living, but heaps of good things in the shops and a determination to make the best of the holiday.

"The Worcester shops were besieged by crowds of eager buyers, and thoughts of pleasures to come enabled most people to bear the rigours of the cold spell with patience and cheerfulness.

"Christmas Day has come and gone, the breadwinners have returned to work, and children's thoughts have transferred from Father Christmas to pantomimes."

Alas, there was sad news in 1950 concerning one of the "stars" of the pantomime Cinderella being staged at Worcester's Theatre Royal.

Berrow's Journal informed readers that Lord, a performing chimpanzee booked to appear in the panto, had died of a chill while being transported by van from Guildford to Worcester.

7 Another reminder of hard times, this was obviously taken at a rural location near Worcester, but I'm not sure where. The Berrow's Worcester Journal caption of December 1911 reads: "Mr Arthur Jones M.F.H, and the recipients of his Christmas gifts."