May 24-June 2
11:07am Monday 26th May 2008
100 Years Ago:
THE city coroner, WB Hulme, conducted an inquest at Worcester Infirmary respecting the death of Herbert Digger (42), a stonemason of 67 Tybridge Street, Worcester, who died from extensive scalds received when he fell into a brewing mash tun at the Cross Keys Inn, Friar Street.
William Walker, the landlord, said that his friend Digger often came to assist in beer brewing at the inn.
However, on the evening of the tragedy, Digger was tipping in the first bag of malt when he lost his balance and fell head-first in the scalding mix in the tun.
The landlord immediately pulled him put but not before Digger has suffered scalds to the face, neck, arms, body and legs. At the infirmary, surgeons reported no possibility of recovery and he died the following day. Mr Walker stressed that Digger was not drunk at the time and never drank heavily.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and expressed deep sympathy with the widow. (The Cross Keys Inn closed in the 1920s and formed part of what is today the mediaeval Tudor House Museum complex).
150 Years Ago:THE subscription list for effecting the desirable object of filling the east window of Worcester Cathedral with stained glass is, we are glad to find, progressing satisfactorily. Already £237 has been promised. We trust that the example set will find liberal imitators and that we shall ere long have the pleasing duty of recording that the requisite amount has been contributed for carrying out an undertaking which will prove so great an ornament to the venerable edifice and redound so greatly to the honour of this city.
* Severn Valley railway. Parties have been engaged in making and sinking sections on various parts of this proposed railway in the immediate vicinity of Broseley and in the direction of Bridgnorth.
If these indications of commencement may be relied upon, the time is not far distant when this important undertaking will be begin.
* Beerhouse offence. Thomas May, a beerhouse keeper residing at Ombersley was fined 10 shillings with 10s.6d costs at Worcester County Petty Sessions for keeping opening his house at unlawful hours on the seventh of last month.
200 Years Ago:Workmen, in sinking a well upon the banks of the Severn near this city for the use of the steam engine which is about to be erected, found upwards of 20ft below the surface the sculls of several cows with horns and likewise a large piece of stone.
From these articles being found at such a depth below the surface, we may conclude that the soil has undergone some extraordinary revolutions at a former period.
* On Monday night last, a Severn trow belonging to Mr Dovey of Stourport, bound from Bristol to that town with groceries etc, was lost on the Hen and Chicken rocks opposite the Old Passage and, as the vessel sank in deep water, it is feared no part of the valuable cargo will be saved.
* Certificates for shooting. A clause has been introduced into the Bill before the House of Commons which exempts persons from the game duty who use guns to shoot rabbits on their own grounds.
250 Years Ago:ON Sunday last, Thomas Homan, butcher of the parish of Bell Broughton sic, was committed to our county gaol in Worcester for threatening to take away the life of Mr Harris, an eminent attorney and for failing to keep the peace.
The said Homan, we hear, is a fellow of a very bad character and was an acquaintance of one Collett, who was executed here in this city a few years ago for horse stealing.
It seems both Collett and Homan belonged to an infamous gang that have for a long time been a very great nuisance and terror to that neighbourhood, but it is hoped they are now nearly dispersed, particularly with Homan being apprehended.
The gang, it seems, once formed a scheme for way-laying Mr Harris in order to rob and murder him but, by some fortunate incident, he escaped them.
* Cock match to be fought at the Star and Garter Inn, the Foregate, Worcester, between the gentlemen of Worcestershire on Tuesday next, to show 21 cocks for four guineas per battle.