AS the redeveloped City Arcade in Worcester High Street nears completion, it is timely to look back two centuries to the construction of the first Market Hall on the site.

Berrow's Journal reported in this week exactly 200 years ago: "A very considerable improvement is about to take place in this city. The Kings Head Inn at High Street, with the very extensive buildings behind the same, have been purchased for the purposes of erecting a spacious Market House which will bring together under one roof the various commodities that are now dispersed for sale in different parts of the city."

The first Market Hall, which was built not long afterwards in 1800, was to be replaced in 1857 by a much larger building stretching from High Street to The Shambles. This survived until the 1950s and was later replaced by the modern City Arcade, now redeveloped.

But back to the Journal for this week of 1800. A public notice informed Worcester citizens: "The Fruit Market, which has heretofore been held at the Cross, will in future be held at All Hallows Well at the bottom of Broad Street - by order of the Mayor."

Also at this time 200 years ago, disturbances and mob riots were still erupting in Worcestershire and all over the country at the exorbitant price of wheat which was created extreme shortages of bread. So much so, that "friendly societies" attached to Worcester pubs and taverns were using their funds to buy wheat.

The Journal explained: "The Friendly Society at the City Arms in this city last night resolved to use part of their funds to purchase wheat to be ground into flour and sold at a reasonable price to members. The Reindeer and the Brewers Arms societies have adopted the same plan, and it seems to be a prevailing resolution among societies in general, by which upwards of 1,000 families in and about this city will be supplied with flour at a market price."

At this time a century ago, Worcestershire CCC had just completed its second season in first-class cricket.

Spectators had greatly appreciated the chance to enjoy top-rank cricket at New Road but, alas, the season did not finish on a conspicuous note from a playing point of view.

The Journal of 1900 reported that Worcestershire had finished 12th out of the 16 counties in the First Class Championship. The home team had played 22 matches, winning only three, losing 10 and drawing nine.

Still on a sporting note, Worcester City FC was suffering some financial difficulties at this time 50 years ago.

The Journal explained that the club had a worrying £3,722 overdraft and was about to take a £5,000 loan from the Football Association.

A century ago this week, Crowquill, in his Journal comment column, was clearly bemused by the latest actions of the Droitwich Board of Guardians who ran the Spa town's workhouse.

He wrote: "They have decided upon an interesting classification of workhouse inmates. The Master has been instructed to obtain a certain number of tweed jackets to be given to aged deserving inmates as a reward for good behaviour.

It is not altogether a new idea, being in vogue with a few workhouses around the kingdom, but it has a merit which commends itself more generally.

It was originally suggested that an entire tweed suit should be given, but this was considered to be too much of a good thing because old men strongly object to having clothes that are too smart.

''The tweed jacket is to be worn on Sundays and special occasions, and it cannot fail to give pride to the wearer and at the same time inspire refractory inmates to better things.

Should any of the jacket wearers misconduct themselves, the jackets will be taken from them as a punishment.