May 31 - June 7

10:53am Monday 2nd June 2008

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100 Years Ago:

William Nash (43), bricklayer of 86 Lansdowne Road, Worcester was charged at the city police court with attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a knife at his home.

Witnesses stated that he had been drinking heavily since the death of his wife four years ago.

His son promised to take care of him and on this understanding, the bench bound him over for 12 months. The chairman, Alderman JA Steward advised Nash "to look on the bright side of things."

* JH Jones of the Lamb and Flag Inn, the Tything, Worcester, made a notable catch at Diglis Weir on Thursday when he landed two salmon weighing eight and 14lbs respectively. Of course, the fish were not remarkably large as salmon go, but the catch was notable because it was made with rod and line.

Practically all large fish in the Severn at Worcester are netted. In the Wye, no nets are used and salmon of 30lbs and 40lbs are not unusual - in fact, Mr Jones frequently took fish of that weight from the Wye when he lived at Fownhope, Hereford.

150 Years Ago:Worcester and Hereford Railway. Operations for cutting this railway at Rainbow Hill were commenced on Tuesday and the works will be rapidly proceeded with in that locality. The removal of houses in Foregate Street where the line is to cross that thoroughfare by bridge, will, it is expected, be commenced in about a month.

* A lad named Lewis, employed at the Diglis Saw Mills, had his hand accidentally caught in the sawing machinery yesterday and four of his fingers and almost the whole of his thumb were cut off. He was taken to the infirmary where his hand was amputated at the wrist shortly afterwards.

* The annual ball in aid of the philanthropic fund of the Ancient Order of Druids in Worcester was held in the Guildhall Assembly Room under the patronage of Earl Beauchamp and the city members on Tuesday evening.

The company numbered nearly 200. Norman's Quadrille Band was in attendance and performed a choice selection of fashionable new dance music, comprising admired operatic airs which gave much satisfaction. Mrs Price of the Golden Lion provided the supper in her usual good style. Dancing was prolonged till five o'clock the following morning.

200 Years Ago:Unicorn Inn, Broad Street, Worcester. Thomas Welles returns sincere thanks to his friends and the public for the favours already conferred on him and begs leave to inform the nobility, gentry and gentlemen travellers that he has greatly enlarged and completely fitted up the above inn by the addition of several spacious bedrooms, excellent bedding and new stabling and coach-houses. Laid on too, is a fresh assortment of genuine old wines and spirits etc. Neat post-chaises with able horses and careful drivers are also provided. The nobility, gentry and the public may depend upon the best accommodation at the Unicorn Inn.

(The façade of this once large Worcester hotel now forms the portico entrance off Broad Street into CrownGate's Chapel Walk shopping concourse).

* On Thursday last died, deeply regretted by his family and friends, John Plastans of Broad Street, Worcester, for 34 years proprietor of the London and Leominster coaches operated from the Bell Inn, Broad Street. The poor have to regret the loss of a generous benefactor and his acquaintances a faithful friend.

250 Years Ago:NOTICE is hereby given that the Worcester stagecoach, instead of going twice a week in a two-day journey time, began on Monday last, to run three times a week in a day-and-a-half and will continue to set out from the George and Blue Boar Inn, Holborn, London, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 2 o'clock and on the same days from the Bell Inn, Broad Street, Worcester at 11 o'clock in the forenoon.

Both coaches meet in the evening at Moreton-in-Marsh and return next day to London and Worcester. Each inside passenger is to pay £1 five shillings while outsiders and children on lap will pay half price. Each inside passenger will be allowed 14lbs weight in luggage. This service will be performed by William Penny and Thomas Tavener. The coach will come into Worcester every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the forenoon so that passengers living at any place within 30 miles or upwards may with ease reach home on the second day.