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The King's Head Theatre

The King's Head Theatre

During the 18th century few places had a theatre that was not a barn or improved building. At Worcester, the theatre was a wooden building in the yard of the King's Head Inn, opposite the Guildhall in High Street. The first report we have of it is in the Worcester Postman of January 4th 1717, when 'Oedipus, King of the Thebes' was preformed...


Early Fairground Stalls c.1870

The pictures on this page are among the earliest taken of a fair in the City, and date from around 1870. They are the work of F.C. Earl, who had a studio in Foregate Street........


Strickland's Gallopers

Harry Strickland's grandson, Ray Strickland of Bromyard visited Bill back in 1993, when he saw a article Bill had written in Worc. Evening News, (27.9.1993), Bill recorded the conversation which gave an insight to 


Two Worcester Showman's Roundabouts/Galloping Horses

Two Worcester Showman's roundabouts in Angel Place. Alf Peters stands in front of his Gallopers in Angel Place c.1930, and Stricklands Horse Gallopers in Angel Place c.1920.....


Robert Whiston and the Worcester King School Endowments

Robert Whiston and the Worcester King School Endowments

Robert Whiston, celebrated headmaster at Rochester and reformer of Cathedral schools, was friend and life-long correspondent of James Knight, the Editor of the Worcester Chronicle. Robert Whiston was headmaster of Rochester Cathedral Grammar School from 1849-1853. He  examined records and found that funds for scholars, and for four scholars at Oxford, were going into the Dean and Chapter's pockets.


The Black Library

The Black Library

Mrs. Sherwood, the writer of children's books, who died at Britannia Square in 1851, was the daughter of the Rev. George Butt, Rector of Stanford and vicar of Clifton-on-Teme from 1771 onwards. When she was only seven years old, an event occurred which left an abiding memory with her. Many years later she described it :- 


The Old Worcester Book-worms

The Old Worcester Book-worms

Mention was originally made of James Coombs in Old Worcester People and Places, Volume 1 p.29. Edward Corbett wrote of him: 'James Coombs, l remember was a local institutional; a ig framed man of somewhat ungainly carriage, who kept a book-shop chiefly second-hand, on the west side of the High Street..... 


Robert Whiston & the Worcester King School Endowments

Robert Whiston & the Worcester King School Endowments

Robert Whiston, celebrated headmaster at Rochester and reformer of Cathedral schools, was friend and life-time correspondent of James Knight, the Editor of the Worcester Chronicle. Robert Whiston...


Widows Re-marrying

Widows Re-marrying

It was the practice in some parts of requiring widows, on re-marrying, to pay a fine to the Crown, but by the mid-19th century, it had become a thing of the past. Berrow's Worcester Journal...


Two Unusual Marriages at Worcester

Two Unusual Marriages at Worcester

In the church records of All Saints Church, Worcester, is what looks like the usual details of a marriage which took place in the church in 1784. It reads: James Grubb of this parish batchelor...


The black Library

The black Library

Mrs. Sherwood, the writer of childrens books, who died at Britannia Square in 1851, was the daughter of the Rev. George Butt, Rector of Stanford and Vicar of Clifton-on-Teme from 1771 onwards. When she was only seven, an event occurred which left an abiding

Two old Worcester book-worms

Two old Worcester book-worms

Edward Corbett wrote @James Coombs, I remember, was a local institution; a big framed man of somewhat ungainly carriage, who kept a book-shop, cheifly second-hand, on the west side of High Street, about mid-way between the Old Bank and the Guildhall; a shop