250 YEARS AGO:

OUR Worcester Fair on Saturday last was much infested with sharpers who collected a tolerable booty from the ignorant and unwary at different public houses by the stale trick of cutting a card, and other such artifices. One countryman, who had received money for some cows, was tricked out of 10 guineas. From another they got about eight guineas; and several others lost one or two guineas each before they had wit enough to discover what company they had got into. After the many cautions that have repeatedly been given in the newspapers respecting these vultures, it is really astonishing that they still find so many dupes to prey upon.

200 YEARS AGO:

ON Saturday last, the driver of a wagon was convicted before our magistrates and paid the penalty of 20 shillings for contumaciously refusing to draw off from the wrong side of the road, on which he was driving, thereby placing a gentleman on horseback, who met him, in imminent danger, and afterwards refusing to give up his name when it was demanded.

150 YEARS AGO:

Narrow escape for the Mayor. William Hagh, our respected Mayor of Worcester, had a narrow escape from serious injury on Friday morning. When crossing the Foregate, opposite the shop of Mr Grainger, bookseller, he was knocked down by a cart belonging to Mr Gill, butcher, of Fernhill Heath, which was coming along the street from the Cross. The wheel of the wagon went over one of his legs, the horse trod on his left thigh and had it not been for the presence of mind of a man named Bourne, an officer of the County Gaol in Castle Street, who witnessed the accident and seized the other wheel, it is probable that it too would have passed over his body. The unfortunate gentleman was soon extricated from his peril and taken into the shop of Mr Hartin and afterwards into that of Mr Grainger, where restoratives were applied with effect. It was then found that one of the Mayor’s hands was badly grazed and that his leg was much bruised, as well as other parts of his body.

After some little time had elapsed, he left for his residence in a fly. The driver of the cart, of course, expressed great sorrow for what had occurred, and said that he could not succeed in stopping the horse in time to prevent the accident.

100 YEARS AGO:

ON Wednesday evening at the Guildhall, citizens gathered to consider the report of the King Edward Memorial Committee. The Mayor, the Hon AP Allsopp said the committee almost unanimously recommended that the proposed memorial should take the form of an addition to the Royal Infirmary, to be known as the King Edward VII Annexe, for the more efficient treatment of outpatients and children. It seemed a suitable way in which the memory of the late king could be commemorated, and it offered the citizens an unique opportunity of making an addition to the infirmary which was very much wanted.