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A common Hall to save the Arboretum

  • 24 Oct 2021
  • Worcester People and Places
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A common Hall is a public meeting of citizens. When half of the 3,000 ratepayers showed no interest in the saving of the Arboretum, a Common Hall was called. There had been Common Halls called for before, but probably none as so rough as this was, for it offered an excellent opportunity to the opponents of the scheme to attend and disturb the advocates. About 250 attended, but there was a large element determined that the proposal should not be put. Catcalls drowned the speakers, and at length some persons put out the light of the candles, and there was a rush for the platform and a scuffle took place. Person's were knocked down, and the police had to be called in to restore some semblance of order, and the gathering quickly dispersed. Thus ended an attempt to save the Arboretum Gardens, and to give Worcester a central park.