250 Years Ago:

AT Worcester Assizes, John Cotterell for stealing a cow at Grimley was capitally convicted and received sentence of death, but was afterwards reprieved and ordered to be transported for 14 years. Joseph Jackson for stealing four old hens belonging to Mr Walker of the Parish of Grimley, and Ann Farley for receiving two hens knowing them to have been stolen from Mr Arnold of Castle Morton, were found guilty and ordered to be publicly whipped.

l Early this morning, one Anderson, an old soldier quartered at the Wheat Sheaf in the Cornmarket, Worcester, fell out of a two pair of stairs window and was killed on the spot.

200 Years Ago: Ann Hopkins, Susannah Evans and Anne Bowen of Longdon in this county were on Wednesday convicted before T Dowdeswell Esq of stealing wood and were committed to our House of Correction for 21 days. We hope that this will prove a salutary caution to those who make a practice of taking the stakes and other items out of hedges.

* Thursday last died at Henwick in the 21st year of her age, Mrs Hughes, wife of Mr Hughes of the Old Bank in this city.

The amiability of her disposition rendered her in life beloved and in death sincerely missed.* J and B Thompson respectfully inform the inhabitants of Worcester and its neighbourhood that they have opened a New Coal Wharf near the Bridge and, as the coals are raised from their own mines, they are enabled to serve the public at the following reduced prices: Best or top coals 15s.6d per ton and good bottom coats 14s. per ton.150 Years Ago: James Hyde, gardener of Himbleton, was cited at Worcester Police Court by Ann Perks, a denizen of Newport Street, for violently assaulting her at the Duke of York Inn, Angel Place, between midnight and one o'clock on Saturday night. Defendant was drunk and, some girl having ripped his hat, he in mistake "tapped" the complainant on the nose which caused it to bleed profusely. At the recommendation of the magistrates, the parties retired and settled their differences out of court.* The Mayor of Worcester is to lay the first stone of the New Waterworks for this city, about to be erected at Pope Iron. Afterwards, there will be a congratulatory dinner at the Hop Market Hotel where the Corporation will meet the contractors and such other of the citizens who may wish to attend. (see picture above).100 Years Ago: There was some talk at yesterday's meeting of the Worcester Board of Guardians with respect to the task of breaking 15 cwt of stone, which has to be performed by able-bodied men in the Worcester Workhouse. It seems that the occasional cry from the heart of inmates has been discovered with writings on the wall in the workhouse, such as the following: "When I was young and in my prime, I could do my task by dinner time, but now I'm old and getting grey, it takes me all the blooming day."