300 YEARS AGO:

LAST Friday was taken up out of the river Severn, near a mile below Worcester, one John Mantle, a genteel young man, lately servant to the Rev Dr Chaundler, having about two months ago drowned himself for the love of his sweet-heart, who (we hear) had promised to marry him, but at last refused to have him. And last night, one Joseph Scott, a weaver in this city, upon some discontent, hanged himself in his house-ofoffice.

250 YEARS AGO:

LAST Sunday evening some Methodists were assaulted at a house in Cooken Street, Worcester. Just as they were in the height of their devotions, a mob beset the house and broke all the windows etc., which put the inmates into so terrible a panic that they ceased their devotions and, as soon as they thought it was safe, quitted the premises.

200 YEARS AGO:

ON Monday, an inquest was taken at Redmarley d’Abitot, near Ledbury, on view of the body of Richard Holder, a fine boy aged two years and a half, who being left alone by his mother, his clothes took fire and he was so miserably burnt that he died almost immediately afterwards.

On Friday another inquest was taken at Peopleton, near Pershore, on view of the body of Thomas Playdon, a boy about the same age as the former, who falling into a pool, not fenced round, a few yards from the cottage, was drowned. Verdict in each case: casual death.

150 YEARS AGO:

SEVERAL fine salmon caught in the Severn at Worcester have been exhibited for sale in the fishmongers’ shops during the week. On Wednesday, a salmon weighing 40lbs, caught by George and Henry Jenkins, fishermen, near the Ketch Inn, was shown in the shop of Mr Jenkins, fishmonger, of High Street, and yesterday, another weighing 31lbs, also caught by a member of the Jenkins family, was shown at the same place. Mr James, fishmonger of Broad Street, exhibited on Wednesday, among other fish, one salmon weighing 25lbs, caught by John Jenkins near Diglis Weir. All these fish have been greatly admired by connoiseurs.

Salmon are very scarce in the beginning of the season – the price is now 3s.6d per pound.

100 YEARS AGO:

ON Monday afternoon, Mr Macnamara, the manager of the Theatre Royal, Worcester, was proceeding on a motor cycle to Malvern when, on account of the thickness of the clouds of dust, he ran into a car between Powick and Leigh.

He was knocked off his machine and his foot was injured as well as his knee which was cut in two places.

He also sustained a severe shock to the system. He was removed to the Grosvenor Hotel where he lives. He is now doing well and hopes to be about again in a fortnight.