THIS week 250 years ago, Worcester people were offered the chance to gaze on possibly the world's tallest man at that time.
The Worcester Journal of 1752 carried a public notice and engraving "to acquaint the curious that Mr Blaker, the modern Living Colossus or Wonderful Giant, who has given universal satisfaction in London, is to be seen at the sign of the George in The Tything at the upper end of the Foregate Street,Worcester.
"This phenomenon in nature hath already had the honour of being inspected by great numbers of the nobility and gentry, and several Gentlemen and Ladies who are lovers of natural curiosities give testimony to Blaker's stupendous height and great proportions.
"It is certain he infinitely exceeds the height of the famous Swedish Giant and also Maximilian Miller, the Saxon. Blaker is not yet 27 years of age and continues to grow."
Tantalisingly, however, the advertisement did not tell us the actual height of the "Wonderful Giant," though from the engraving he appears almost twice as tall as average sized men.
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