A CENTURY ago, the City Fathers at Worcester were faced with a local unemployment crisis which had plunged many local families into poverty and hardship.

Berrow's Journal for this week of 1902 explained: "The wives and children of the unskilled labourers of Worcester have begun to feel the pinch of poverty, and in many homes there is great distress.

"The cause is not far to seek. There is paucity of work. With the exception of the rebuilding of the Central Coffee Tavern in High Street, there is an absence of big building operations in the city or suburbs.

"Moreover, the severe frost has put a stop to work on small buildings, so that many builders' labourers are, and have been for several weeks, without work. Others have been thrown out of employment by the closing of a factory in the city which employed hundreds of hands.

"The unemployed have approached the Corporation through the Mayor in a plea for help.

Early in the week, representatives of the men sought and obtained an interview with His Worship, Councillor Christopher Whitehead, and stated their case. He promised to take prompt steps to bring the matter before city councillors who met this morning and, probably in order to strengthen their application, groups of the unemployed assembled outside the Guildhall.

"The councillors recognised there was considerable distress and, with a view to its alleviation, they decided to find some work for the men. The first task will be the removal of soil from the Jews' Patch on Pitchcroft to the adjoining field occupied by the Worcester City Football Club.

"Unfortunately, various causes prevent the work being commenced at once but, when it gets under way, it should provide employment for many of the men for several days. Afterwards, arrangements will be made for opening the stone-breaking yards.

"Meanwhile, alas, the men have difficulty in providing bare essentials for their families. One stated that during the last seven weeks, only 30/- had gone into his house.

He added: 'What is a man to do when his children cry out for more food? It is enough to turn an honest man into a felon!' "