BERROW'S Journal this week exactly a century ago was conspicuous for the thick black lines alongside every column on every page. The newspaper was sharing in the city, county and nation's mourning at the death of Queen Victoria.

Britain's longest reigning monarch had died at her seaside family retreat, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. She was 81 and had occupied the British throne for 63 years.

Berrow's Journal, of Saturday, January 26, 1901, brought the painful news to the people of Worcestershire under the headlines: Death of the Queen, A Peaceful Ending, The Scene at Osborne.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of Her Majesty the Queen, which took place at Osborne at half-past six o'clock on Tuesday evening, declared the Journal.

At a few minutes past seven o'clock, the official bulletin announcing the melancholy news was posted at Osborne House as follows: 'Her Majesty breathed her last at 6.30 pm,surrounded by her children and grandchildren'.

The Journal's leader column summed up the feelings of the nation and of local people: "In spirit, the people of the greatest empire the world has ever known watched by the bedside of the stricken Queen. In spirit, too, they will stand where all that is mortal of Britain's late Monarch will be laid.

There is now the sorrow of a nation so terribly bereaved; and from all parts of the earth - from countries included in the higher civilisation, from lands where rule is autocratic, from republics in the old world and the new, from Christians and Mohammedans, from native races that have reverenced the name of England's Sovereign - comes testimony of the most earnest appreciation and expressions of profound sympathy.

UPON all the land has fallen such gloom as none can remember, for the Queen who had lived for nearly 82 years is no more.

She rests from her labours and afflictions, but there will yet be a large fruitfulness of the life that, during a reign of unprecedented length, was consecrated to duty and enobled by an ever-abounding grace of heart and mind.

Berrow's also highlighted The Reception of the News in Worcester":

There was a remarkable display of the most genuine emotion. Never, within living memory, had there been such a widespread and instantaneous suspense of interest in ordinary affairs as during the Queen's final illness. Public and private functions of a festal character were suspended, and interest was centred alone on the Queen's condition.

People perambulated the principal thoroughfares of the city in expectation of the fateful news, and as it began to spread nationwide, the offices of this newspaper were besieged by anxious crowds of people, upon whom a strange hushed silence befell.

Crowds lingered about the streets for hours exchanging comments of mournfulness, and the popular gloom was deepend by the tolling of church bells throughout the city. The great bell of the Cathedral tolled between eight and nine, after which a muffled peal was rung.

FLAGS were flown at half mast and the Jubilee statue of the Queen in front of the Shirehall was draped with black.

Everywhere the depth and universality of our sorrow can be seen. Tradesmen and shopkeepers have put up their shutters and private citizens have pulled down their blinds. The altar has been draped with black for services at the Cathedral and the City Chamberlain has directed that the front and windows of the Guildhall be draped in black and purple.

There was a large audience in the Theatre Royal to hear the performance of 'Faust' when the news of the Queen's death was received.

''Shortly after the start of the second Act and after Marguerite's Jewel Song, the High Sheriff, Councillor Maund and the Theatre Lessee, Mr Gomersal went upon the stage and announced the Queen's death. Mr Maund said that everyone present could only show their deep sorrow and sympathy for the Royal family by allowing the curtain to brought down on the performance and by leaving the theatre and retiring quietly to their own homes. This everyone did.