WORCESTER had some unwelcome guests at this time exactly 250 years ago with a regiment of Scotch Greys temporarily garrisoned in the city.

The visiting soldiers were held to blame for a murder, an affray and a robbery - all in the same week of 1753.

The Worcester Journal reported: "On Tuesday morning about one o'clock, a melancholy Fray happened at a public house in Frog Lane in this city between five or six town's people and four of the private men of the Scotch Greys, wherein one of the former, named Thomas Broom, a porter belonging to the Hopmarket Hotel, received so violent a wound to the temple with a broad sword that he languished in a most miserable condition till about 10 o'clock last night and then died.

"Two of the soldiers were taken up the same morning the Fray happened and are now in gaol awaiting trial. The other two absconded but warrants are issued out for apprehending them."

The same Journal edition as brought news that "On Monday, James Lawson of the Scotch Greys, quartered in this city, was committed to gaol for breaking open a box and stealing thereout money to the value of near Twenty Pounds at the house where he was quartered.

"He confessed to the fact and produced some of the money, but the rest he had lavishly spent at a local House of Ill Fame."

Juvenile crime was also witnessed at Worcester that same week of 1753. "William Cooke, a lad about 14 years of age, has been placed in custody for entering in the night time the house of Mrs Stephens, shopkeeper in the Mealcheapen Street, and taking a quantity of money out of the till.

"This hopeful youth got in at a cellar window but Mrs Stephens, on hearing a noise in the house, had the courage to come down stairs and seize the boy while he was rifling the shop. The boy said three other lads, younger than himself, were also involved but had absconded."

Clearly, this particular week of 1753 was extremely eventful because the Journal also brought details of a highway robbery and the drowning of three watermen in the Severn.