250 YEARS AGO:

ON Thursday evening as two servant lads were riding furiously along the Butts, Worcester, after watering their horses, one of them rode over a little boy who was at play there, and dashed his brains out. An inquest was taken on the body, at which the jury brought in a verdict of accidental death. The horse however was forfeited as a deodand to the lord of the manor and pity it is that no punishment can be inflicted on the rider in order to deter youths from endangering people’s lives in future and injuring their master’s property by the like practices.

􀁥 On Monday last, the several prisoners sentenced to transportation from our county gaol at Worcester were sent from hence to Bristol in order to be conveyed to the plantations in America. The same day 36 transports from Gloucester Prison and others from Stafford were likewise removed to Bristol to be put on board the same ship.

200 YEARS AGO:

ON Saturday died at his seat at Bevere, near Worcester, at the advanced age of 86, the Rev Treadwell Russell Nash, rector of Leigh, author of the History of Worcestershire and the oldest magistrate in the county, having been a JP for 50 years. He is to be buried in the family vault at St Peter’s Church, Droitwich.

150 YEARS AGO:

The Mayor of Worcester Joseph Wood gave his inauguratory breakfast to the members of the corporation and other civic dignitaries, together with a numerous gathering of his person friends, at the Guildhall on Tuesday. More than 400 persons attended, and the spacious upstairs Assembly Room consequently proved insufficient for the accommodation of all the guests, so tables were laid in the council chamber and in the corresponding apartment in the northern wing of the building. The tables were all neatly decorated, and to tea and coffee were superadded port and sherry.

The bill of fare was as follows: two peacocks, three boars’ heads, seven raised pies, 12 hams, 18 tongues, 12 pigeon pies, six pieces of roast beef, six pieces of braised beef, six gelatines of veal, six roast turkeys, 30 couples of fowl, 30 pheasants, two couple of ducks, six potted meats in shapes, 12 potted lamperns, six dishes of lobsters, six dishes of prawns, 12 lobster salads, dishes of partridge, four hares, dishes of hot kidneys, hot broiled ham, hot Wiltshire sausages and six eels in jelly. For dessert: 20 jellies, eight blancmanges, 14 dishes of mixed pastry, eight open tortes meringue, four cheesecakes, eight enamelled sponge cakes, six madeline gateaux, eight meringue gateaux, 20 dishes of grapes, 12 dishes of oranges, 12 dishes of apples and pears, two pineapples, 20 dishes of mince pies, cream jellies, and charlottes a la Russe.

100 YEARS AGO:

BREACH of promise suit.

The plaintiff at the High Court was Miss Evelyn Desa, an actress of Fulham and well-known as Cinderella in Worcester Theatre Royal pantomimes.

The defendant was Hubert Smith Gwynne, a gentleman well-known in Worcester hunting circles and an accomplished amateur rider in steeplechases.

RF Colam, for plaintiff, described the case as a most serious one and asked for heavy damages. The defendant first met the plaintiff four years ago and they became engaged.

However, in November last, like “a bolt from the blue,” the defendant broke off the engagement. For years the defendant had protested that the plaintiff was all the world to him, The jury assessed damages for breach of promise at £100 and judgement was entered for that amount with costs.