THE 1901 Worcester Hop, Sheep and Cheese Fair was marred by what the Journal headlined as "Disturbance at the Hop Market," though it sounds to have been more like a riot!

"The tranquil course of business in the Worcester Hop Market on Friday was rudely disturbed about 3 o'clock when a number of farmers and dealers advanced in a threatening attitude on the office of Messrs. Webb and Sons, the well-known seedsmen.

"Mr Edward Webb, a partner in the firm, with his brother Colonel Webb, MP for West Staffs, advanced to the door of his office to meet the crowd of men who, hastily hustling him aside, threw after him the samples of seeds and hops arranged in front of the office for the fair days.

"Mr Webb tried to address them but was not allowed to speak to the crowd who tore down the sign suspended over the office windows and wrecked the stand. A posse of police, hastily summonsed, restored a degree of order and prevented further molestation.

''Even so, the crowd of angry farmers remained for the afternoon, maintaining a close blockage of the Webb offices.

"The hop growers explain their extraordinary behaviour by alleging against Webbs a mean attempt to spoil the sale of hops by means of their recommendation in a circular issued to the brewing trade, in which they advise brewers to delay their purchase of hops until the market has settled down and prices have fallen.

"The hop growers are particularly aggrieved because, as seed merchants and manufacturers of manures and hop washes, Messrs. Webb and Sons have supplied many of the growers in the district with these aids to the hop crop, the price of which their circular is calculated to depreciate."

Disturbances in the markets...

TWO centuries ago, too, the Worcester Journal reported on disturbances in the city's markets.

The edition for this week of 1801 carried this public notice: "Several disorderly persons have recently assembled for the purpose of controlling the sale of provisions in the Markets of this city so notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Magistrates are determined to punish all such irregularities in future and have accordingly given strict orders to the Constables to take into custody all those who attempt to disturb the public peace or molest any persons bringing provisions into the Markets for sale, to whom every protection possible will be afforded."

No such problems, however, were being experienced at Worcester's Hop Market two centuries ago.

Far from it, the enterprise was successful and expanding, as we see from another public notice in the 1801 Journal.

"To Hop Planters and Hop Merchants - The Guardians of the Hop Market, perceiving from the present early appearance of the quantity of hops brought to the market that one day will not be sufficient for the transaction of business, have, with a view to the accommodation of the public and by consent of the Mayor and Justices, ordered that the said Hop Market shall be held on Friday and Saturday of every week."