June 17, 1899

100 years ago

June 17, 1899

WALTER Horsfield of no fixed abode was hauled before magistrates at a special court on Saturday charged with being drunk in Windsor Street, Bromsgrove, Unable to pay the 2s 6d (12.5p) fine, he was jailed for seven days.

ARCHITECT John Smith, of Westacre House, Droitwich Spa, died aged 76. He had designed, free-of-charge, St Nicholas Church in the town. It had been built on land donated by his father. St Peter's vicarage and the Wesleyan Chapel were other examples of his work.

A TOM tit found a redundant pump in The Strand, Bromsgrove, an ideal nesting site.

THE new lunatic asylum planned for Barnsley Hall, Bromsgrove, would be, as far as was practicable, self-contained, it emerged. The county council, which this week gave the scheme its unanimous approval, said it had received a petition signed by some Lickey residents objecting to the proposal.

THE guardians at Droitwich workhouse accepted the following tenders for provisions for the next 12 months. Bread, Mr Bourne (Droitwich) three pence halfpenny per four pound loaf, shin of beef, Mr Somer (Droitwich) two pence halfpenny per pound with the bone, five pence without, and flour, Mr Smith (Salwarpe) 4s (20p) a bushel.

50 years ago

June 18, 1949

GARDENS in the district had recovered from the drought which had exasperated many people between Easter and Whitsun. Some folk were digging early potatoes and there was the likelihood of a fruit glut later. Supplies of strawberries would be plentiful for next week's Bromsgrove Fair Day.

THE sandstone fabric of Bromsgrove's ancient parish church was crumbling. Repairs would cost a staggering £5,000. A fund to collect 50,000 half crowns was set up. Around £4,000 would be spent on overhauling the organ, including converting it to electricity.

TWO visitors to Bromsgrove, a man from Dorking and a woman from Handsworth, collapsed due to the extreme heat last week. Both were treated at Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital.

DODFORD residents were anxiously awaiting the arrival of piped water supplies to the village. The matter was top of the urban district council's agenda but it claimed the delay was the fault of the water company. Villagers, many of whom had condemned wells in their kitchens, said they had to scoop out several inches of water before any fit to drink was obtained.

COUNCIL tenants living next door to pigeon fanciers in Bromsgrove were upset at the damage done by the birds to vegetable crops in their gardens. The council said if the nuisance persisted owners, who were not members of the National Homing Union, would be told to get rid of their birds.

THE bitter rivalry between gangs of youths from Bromsgrove and Redditch, which had erupted openly recently, had taken on a sinister new twist. The editor of the Messenger received a letter signed 'The Bromsgrove Defence Group' claiming it had in its possession a number of small arms and was prepared to take the law into its own hands.

25 years ago

June 14, 1974

A LARGE crowd turned out to greet ATV presenter Kevin Morrison when he opened Wychbold Church fete which raised more than £500 on Saturday.

PAST and present members gathered for the opening of Bromsgrove's new cricket hockey and tennis club at St Godwald's Park, Finstall. The ceremony was performed by Lord Cobham.

BROMSGROVE'S planners gave the go ahead for Birmingham to build 378 houses and 294 garages at Frankley.

THERE was good news this week for chess enthusiasts in Bromsgrove. They were to get a club of their own. Previously, in tournaments, they played for clubs from neighbouring towns.