100 YEARS AGO:

WORCESTER boy spiked – railings condemned. An inquest has been held at the Guildhall into the circumstances of the death of Frederick James Atkins, the four-year-old son of James Atkins, Sergeant- Major of the 2nd South Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, of 35 Barry Street, Worcester.

Neighbour Mrs White said she was in her back yard when she heard the boy cry out. She found him lying across 3ft high spiked railings nearby.

A spike had pierced into his abdomen and he had one leg each side of the railings. She lifted him off and took him to his mother. The boy was taken to the infirmary and appeared to be recovering well for three days, but suddenly began vomiting and died from internal injuries.

Witnesses spoke of longstanding concerns over the spiked railings, on which children regularly climbed.

They were surprised there had not been more accidents. The inquest jury condemned the railings and said they ought to be at least 5ft high and protected.

150 YEARS AGO:

YESTERDAY afternoon, as a boy was driving a pony in a gig along Foregate Street, the animal, on approaching the railway bridge, took fright and started off at a furious rate towards the Cross. A gardener named Newey, living at Claines, who was pushing a truck containing garden stuff, turned round quickly in hearing the noise of the fast approaching gig and fell across the shafts of his truck and in doing so was knocked down by the shaft of the gig.

The pony galloped on down Broad Street and, opposite Messrs Thorne and Younge’s shop, ran between the window and some scaffold poles that were in the watercourse, clearing everything and continuing its career to the Bull Ring, St John’s, where it was stopped by two cabmen.

The boy who had care of the gig remained in the vehicle all the time, but the animal, being a spirited one, he had not sufficient strength to hold it in. The poor fellow Newey was at once taken home in a cab and attended by W Woodward, surgeon. No blame is attached to any one.

200 YEARS AGO:

AN inquest was taken by Mr Hill, coroner, at Knightsford Bridgeon Thomas Bray, aged 60, who was found dead on the turnpike road at noon on Monday. The deceased had been in an indifferent state of health for many years, and on his way home from Worcester, died suddenly. Verdict: Died by the visitation of God.

250 YEARS AGO:

LAST Thursday evening, about 11 o’clock, a foot soldier coming through the Cathedral College churchyard and enquiring for a lodging, was knocked down by a lusty man that had the appearance of a bargeman and robbed of his knapsack, in which were contained a quantity of linen and shoes, some net work, also a guinea in money.

The fellow was apprehended by the soldier on the morrow on board a vessel lying by the bridge and upon being charged with the robbery, offered to go before a magistrate, but in going over the bridge was met by a parcel of bargemen who rescued him and made use of many violent threats against the soldier if he attempted to give the fellow any further trouble.

● On Monday last, a child of about three years of age was rode over by a boy on horseback in too hastily turning the corner of Silver Street, Worcester, whereby the child’s skull was terribly fractured and is now under the care of our infirmary.