100 YEARS AGO:

TWO 12 year-old boys, Albert Doughty of 35 Bransford Road and Charles Davis of 37 Bransford Road were summonsed at Worcester Police Court for playing football in St John’s.

A fine of one shilling was imposed on each boy but their mothers said they were unable to pay. The Mayor, E Thomas, the chairman of the bench, said he would pay the fines.

150 YEARS AGO:

BOY bitten by a dog. About seven o’clock on Friday morning, as a little boy named Leonard Bishop, living in Charles Street, was passing along St Swithin Street on his way to his work at Mr Beaman’s, plumber in Broad Street, a large dog that was lying near the door of Mr Thomason’s ironmongery warehouse, sprang at him and seized him by the cheek.

The poor lad struggled with his canine antagonist for some time, but there was no one near to render assistance, and the dog succeeded in inflicting some severe wounds on his cheek and neck. He was taken to the infirmary where he still remains. The dog belonged to a tradesman living in Clap Gate.

200 YEARS AGO:

ON Sunday afternoon, a girl about nine years of age fell into the quay in Worcester and must inevitably have been drowned had it not been for the activity of two bargemen, who rescued her from her perilous situation.

They have since received the reward given on such occasions by that admirable institution, the Severn Humane Society.

􀁥 Important caution to all.

On Monday, two servants of Sir John Dashwood King were found dead in their beds at Bourton-on-the-Hill.

It appeared that in order to air their room they had placed a pan of coals in the middle of the room, which having no chimney nor vent of any kind, and being closely shut up, they must have suffocated from the effect of the sulphuric gas.

250 YEARS AGO:

YESTERDAY morning about eight o’clock, a fire broke out in the workshop of Mr Redding, joiner and cabinet maker in Foregate Street, Worcester, which, on account of the large quantity of timber in that and the adjoining buildings, threw the neighbourhood into great consternation.

However, immediate assistance being given, the flames were prevented from spreading beyond the building in which the fire began. What was the cause is not known. It broke out while the workmen were at breakfast.