BACK in the 1990s some bright spark in the political underworld coined the phrase “Worcester woman” to describe a certain type of swing voter whose views could well decide an election.
It’s a pity the nerd concerned wasn’t around two centuries earlier because hay would have been made.
Disregarding the historical fact that women were a long way from being allowed to vote in the 1700s, the hustings were no place for ladies.
Worcester Guildhall, where election results have traditionally been announced, decked in bunting and flowers in 1902 to celebrate the end of the Boer War
Election meetings were noisy, violent and riotous events. When candidates took to the platform brick ends, broken bottles, cabbages, bad eggs and other pieces of rubbish were habitually thrown about and if the crowd was not volatile enough, party organisers were there to crank up the atmosphere.
Why were coppers always bigger in those days? The Cross end of High Street before that building was removed in 1903 for road widening to make way for electric trams
Of course, the newspapers loved it and at the 1784 election – which lasted for 15 days incidentally – it was reported that Worcester “completely surrendered itself to a saturnalia of infamy” and there were “hideous scenes of debauchery and drunkenness”.
This was another entry in the 1872 competition by national architect Alfred Waterhouse
Not quite the style in which Robin Walker was elected in May, 2010, if I recall correctly, although maybe there was a nip of sherry behind closed doors.
By 1872 Worcester Guildhall was in a bad way and a competition was held to design a new one. This is a rare sketch of the winning entry by Christopher Wray. After much furore, the City Council decided to renovate what it had
The description of a Worcestershire election meeting in the era ran: “At eleven o’clock John Bompers with many friends, began to throw cabbages and carrots about in front of the hustings. Many people were struck by these missiles and either left the place or retaliated by throwing them back at Bompers and his friends.
“Eventually, Bompers being struck in the eye by the sharp end of one of his carrots, violently assaulted the thrower, a gentleman called Eustace, and a free fight ensued. Soon everybody in the neighbourhood joined in and pandemonium prevailed”.
The Guildhall and High Street in 1904, when electric trams had just arrived. Inset, Worcester Guildhall, where election results have traditionally been announced, decked in bunting and flowers in 1902 to celebrate the end of the Boer War
The winner of the election was usually the candidate who had the most money available to rally support. A process underlined by the shenanigans surrounding the 1835 election in Worcester when the person elected, a rich Tory ironmaster called Joseph Bailey, didn’t even set foot in the city until after the votes had been counted.
A petition was raised alleging widespread corruption, claiming that 41 paupers had been brought in to vote, two people had been impersonated – one was already dead on polling day – and 23 admitted being paid to vote.
Worcester High Street in the 1960s with two way traffic, Marks and Sparks and Woolworths
The investigating committee comprised seven Tories and four Whigs and despite the strongest possible evidence of malpractice, gave the seat to Bailey by one vote.
He had spent £16,000 (something over £2,000,000 today) on his campaign and by way of thanks provided free beer at 80 Worcester pubs for voters.
Whether Worcester Woman paid for her own was not recorded.
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