AT this time two centuries ago, wrestling was clearly a very dangerous sport compared with the somewhat theatrical and seemingly staged variety of today.

The Journal for this week of the year 1800 brought news of the tragic death of a young Worces-tershire wrestler.

"John Price, servant of Mrs Winton of Tenbury and a young man of very respectable character, was killed in a very violent foil while wrestling in a prize contest at the Bockleton Wake. It was another of the many accidents attendant on this dangerous exercise of wrestling.

The same Journal edition of 1800 told of a successful bet made by a Worcester man.

On Saturday morning, a horse belonging to Mr Tully of St John's started for a wager of 25 guineas to go 70 miles in 12 hours on the London Road. It actually performed a journey of 71 miles in eleven-and-three-quarter hours."

Also this week 200 years ago General Rooke reviewed the Worcester Yeomanry Cavalry on Pitchcroft and highly complimented them on their military proficiency."

The nation was still at war with France but the Journal claimed with pleasure" that there were fewer than 100 British prisoners-of-war held by the enemy while, in sharp contrast, this country was holding in excess of 22,000 French POWs.

1800, saw the start of a growing export and import trade with Japan.

A considerable trade, we learn, is now being carried on with the Japanese. The merchandise going thither consists of spices, sugar, Bengal silks and woollen cloth, for which is received gold and silver, cabinets, and lacquered wares. Japan is said to be the richest country in the world in gold," said the Journal.

Sparks flew in Foregate Street, Worcester this week a century ago when two city "cabbies" got into a fight at the horse-drawn cabs rank outside the Shirehall.

The Journal gave details of the subsequent City Police Court case. Two cabbies, William Hole of Waterloo Street, and George Siers of Infirmary Walk apologised for their behaviour and were each fined five shillings for fighting."

At the same court, "Benjamin Parker (58), carrier of Barnards Green, Malvern, was convicted for the 18th time of being drunk in charge of a horse and cart. He was fined £1 or 14 days jail in default."

Also a century ago this week, the Worcester Board of Guardians were discussing the regular bill of fare at the city's Workhouse. Officers had consulted the National School of Cookery and come to the conclusion that the inmates no longer ought to be subjected to at least two servings a week of suet pudding which "lay heavy on the chest''.

As Crowquill said in his Journal comment column: "Imagine the horror of so much suet pudding!"

But the Board of Guardians also felt the inmates were not eating enough bread. Half the week's supply was always having to be feed to the workhouse pigs, kept in sties at Tallow Hill.

Fifty years ago, county farmers were counting the heavy cost of "exceptionally bad weather through the summer".

The Journal explained: "There has been a big loss of straw for feeding purposes, potato blight has been prevalent, and the cost of harvesting has trebled. In all, it is estimated the county farmers have lost a total of £750,000" - a huge sum in those times.