250 YEARS AGO:

LAST Tuesday morning, a fire broke out at a farm called Clap-hill, about two miles fromWorcester, which entirely burnt down a barn (wherein was a large quantity of straw), a stable and other outbuildings and greatly damaged the dwelling house. It was occasioned by a spark of fire which fell upon the barn from a lighted stick that a person was carrying across the yard. The buildings were not insured, therefore the loss is the greater to the proprietor. Considering that the use of insurance hath prevented many a private family from suffering ruin, it is not very wonderful that so many farmers and others should be so neglectful in a matter of such consequence. Those who are unacquainted with the nature of insurance may have information from Edward Squire of Worcester, agent to the Sun Fire Office in London. ● Yesterday at Worcester Quarter Sessions, one Benjamin Mason, being found guilty of cutting the hair off the tails of some oxen and cows belonging to Mr Payne of Wick near this city, was sentenced to be publicly whipped at St John’s on Wednesday next.

200 YEARS AGO:

IT is with much pleasure we announce to the public that the toll to cross Worcester Bridge on foot has ceased. The trustees decided that from midnight on Saturday last, the foot toll would no longer be payable. In consequence of this, a very large concourse of persons assembled on the bridge at midnight when several small cannons were discharged and the bells rang a merry peal on the occasion. The toll to walk across Worcester Bridge has been levied for nearly 40 years. ● On Monday, a young man was taken to our infirmary at Worcester with his thighs dreadfully lacerated. He had been playing in a hay field with a young woman who threw a pike at him and wounded him in a very dangerous manner. A bargeman of the name of Linn, who had his eye cut out in consequence of falling from a plank upon a barge, has likewise been taken to the Infirmary.

150 YEARS AGO:

COMING of age of Earl Coventry. The coming of age of the noble scion of the Coventry stock bids fair to be one of the notable commemorations in the history of Worcestershire. The celebrations will extend through next week and begin on Monday when the tenantry will assemble at an early hour at Croome Court to present addresses of congratulation to his lordship. At 11am there will be divine service in Severn Stoke Church and at 1pm a dinner will be provided for about 1,000 cottage tenants and parishioners of Croome, Pirton, Severn Stoke and Earl’s Croome, after which there will be all sorts of rustic and other games. Something less than a wagon-load of toys will be provided for the juveniles. At 4pm his lordship will entertain farm tenants to dinner at Croome Court and a discharge of fireworks will wind up the day. On Tuesday there will be dinners provided for the children at the Severn Stoke and Pirton schoolrooms. On Wednesday there will be a ball for the tenantry and their relatives at Croome and a second ball on Friday for servants and tradesmen. A public dinner at the Guildhall, Worcester on Friday evening is expected to be very well-attended.

100 YEARS AGO:

George Salisbury (25), a single man lodging in Tunnel Hill, Worcester, received fatal injuries in an accident at Shrub Hill station last night. He was acting as a relief guard for the Great Western Railway Company. He was knocked down by an engine about 8pm and sustained severe injuries to his back and head. He was taken to the infirmary where he lived until 2am. Mr Salisbury was crossing the line from the passenger to the goods department and apparently did not observe the approach of the Midland passenger train which knocked him down. ● Charles Benjamin Phillips, aged 12, of 40 Blackfriars, Worcester was charged at the City Police Court with stealing from a stall in the Market Hall a half-souvenir, a handbag, two purses and a pair of gloves to the value of 14 shillings. His father told the court the boy “just cannot stop stealing”. The lad was ordered to receive six strokes of the birch and his father told to pay 14s costs.