1836—John Bury, Esq.
1837—John Nichols, Esq.
1838—John Beddoe, Esq.
1839—James Cole, Esq.
1840—William Bucklee, Esq.
1841—T. S. Cartwright, Esq.
1842—George Baker, Esq.
1843—James Holder, Esq.
1844—Joseph Farmer, Esq.
1845—George Masefield, Esq.
1846—T. T. Lankester, Esq.
1847—James Banks, Esq.
1848—Adam Prattinton, Esq.
1849—John Baker, Esq.
1850—John Bury, Esq.
1851—Slade Baker, Esq.
1775—W. A. Robarts, Esq.
1808—Samuel Baker, Esq.
1816—Slade Baker, Esq.
1833—William N. Marcy, Esq.
The close Corporation of Droitwich used formerly to elect two Bailiffs and two magistrates, year by year, out of their own number; the Lords Foley, from time to time, holding the office of Recorder. The two last Bailiffs, for the year immediately preceding the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, were E. B. Penrice and W. H. Ricketts, Esqs. The following is a fist of Mayors under the Municipal Act.
1836—E. B. Penrice, Esq.
1837—John Robeson, Esq.
1838–9—E. B. Penrice, Esq.
1840—E. B. Penrice, Esq., (resigned) and S. Tombs, Esq.
1841—William Trehearn, Esq.
1842—Samuel Tombs, Esq.
1843—Edward Smith, Esq.
1844—John Pumfrey, Esq.
1845–6—T. G. Smith, Esq.
1847—Edward Smith, Esq.
1848–9–50—John Bradley, Esq.
1800—Thomas Jacob White, Esq.
1820—Thomas Gale Curtler, Esq.
1836—Samuel Tombs, jun., Esq.
1800—Hon. & Rev. G. Rushout.
1801—Anthony Roper, Gent.
1802—John Lord Northwick.
1803—George Day, Gent.
1804—Thomas Gore, Gent.
1805—William Barnes, Gent.
1806—William Soley, Gent.
1807—W. F. Preedy, Gent.
1808—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.
1809—John Hunter, Gent.
1810—Sir C. Cockerell, Bart.
1811—Rev. E. Dolman Cooper.
1812—W. F. Preedy, Gent.
1813—Matthias Stratton, Gent.
1814—Rev. H. P. Cooper.
1815—George Day, Gent.
1816—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.
1817—Hon. & Rev. G. Rushout.
1818—Daniel Edge, Gent.
1819—Edward Savage, Gent.
1820—Rev. Joseph Martin.
1821—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.
1822—William Barnes, Gent.
1823—Benjamin Murrell, Gent.
1824—William Soley, Gent.
1825—W. F. Preedy, Gent.
1826—George Day, Gent.
1827—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.
1828—William Byrch, Gent.
1829—John Procter, Gent.
1830—John Thomas, Gent.
1831—Daniel Edge, Gent.
1832—John Walford Izon, Gent.
1833—Sir C. Cockerell, Bart.
1834—Alfred C. Cooper, Gent.
1835—William Barnes, Gent.
1836—William Barnes, Gent.
1837—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.
1838—T. N. Foster, Merchant.
1839—Ben. Workman, Solicitor.
1840—John New, Esq.
1841—J. M. G. Cheek, Esq.
1842—Thomas White, Tanner.
1843—Anthony New, Esq.
1844—Richard Gibbs, Gent.
1845—John Bromford, Gent.
1846—Zaccheus Hughes, Draper.
1847—J. B. Haynes, Surgeon.
1848—Anthony Martin, Surgeon.
1849—R. H. Hughes, Merchant.
1850—John Clarke, Esq.
1800—James Taylor, Esq. (reappointed 1836)
1838—Oswald Check, Esq.
Prior to 1836 the chief officers of Kidderminster were High Bailiffs. The following are the Mayors elected since 1836:
1836—William Butler Best, Esq.
1837—George Hooman, Esq.
1838—George Talbot, jun., Esq.
1839—Charles Talbot, Esq.
1840—Henry Brinton, Esq.
1841—Joseph Newcombe, Esq.
1842—Wm. Henry Worth, Esq.
1843—James Morton, Esq.
1844—Wm. Butler Best, Esq.
1845—George Hooman, Esq.
1846—Wm. Butler Best, Esq.
1847—Wm. Boycot, sen., Esq.
1848—Wm. Boycot, sen., Esq.
1849—Wm. Roden, Esq., M.D.
1850—Wm. Boycot, jun., Esq.
1800—James Pinches, Esq.
1801—George Hallen, Esq.
1826—Thomas Hallen, Esq.
1801.
1811.
1821.
1831.
1841.
1851.
County of Worcester
139,333
160,546
184,424
211,365
233,484
276,926a
City of Worcester
11,131
13,551
16,207
b18,442
27,023
27,528
Dudley
10,307
13,925
18,611
23,443
31,232
37,954
Stourbridge (including the Lye and Upper Swinford)
8,297
9,755
11,227
13,571
17,483
19,246
Kidderminster Bor. & For.
8,036
10,025
12,752
17,913
17,500
20,852
Bromsgrove
5,898
6,932
7,511
8,612
9,676
10,310
Redditch
1,000
—
—
—
3,314
4,774
Stourport
1,603
2,352
2,544
2,952
2,952
2,993
Evesham
2,837
3,068
3,472
3,976
4,245
4,605
Pershore
1,910
2,179
2,328
2,536
—
2,717
Droitwich
1,840
1,977
2,176
2,487
2,779
3,125
Upton
1,858
2,167
2,319
2,343
2,599
2,698
Tenbury
1,541
1,562
1,668
1,768
1,776
1,784
Great Malvern
—
—
—
—
2,768
3,763
aBy the Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 61, part of Halesowen parish, containing 18,827 persons in 1851, and parts of other parishes, locally situated in Worcestershire, but belonging to other counties previously, became parts of Worcestershire. Taking the same limits, the population of Worcestershire in 1841 was 248,460.
bThe population of Worcester, even at this time, was estimated at 25,000; but the figures given above, up to this census, only indicate the population included within the old city boundary.
HOUSES.
POPULATION.
Inhabited.
Uninhabited.
Building.
Males.
Females.
Total.
Eastern Division
32,136
1,387
236
81,441
81,067
162,508
Western Division
23,503
1,336
101
55,515
58,903
114,418
Entire County
55,639
2,723
337
136,956
139,970
276,926
The following statistics only relate to the county of Worcester. Prior to 1821 there are no records of convictions, &c., in existence; the Table, therefore, commences with that year.
Year.
In what Court Tried.
Number of Prisoner Tried.
Number Capitally Convicted.
Number Sentenced to Transportation.
No. Sentenced various terms of Imprisonment.
Number Acquitted or Discharged.
Summary Convictions.
Total Number of Persons Convicted.
Proportion of Convicted to Population.
1821
Assizes
80
25*
15
18
22
Sessions
167
—
26
92
49
292
468
1 in 359
1822
Assizes
58
16
6
10
26
Sessions
132
—
22
57
53
324
437
1 in 390
1823
Assizes
69
15*
8
20
26
Sessions
68
—
12
35
21
348
438
1 in 397
1824
Assizes
49
16
5
12
16
Sessions
86
—
8
37
41
352
430
1 in 408
1825
Assizes
54
15
6
21
12
Sessions
103
—
14
51
38
363
469
1 in 379
1826
Assizes
90
27*
10
30
23
Sessions
70
—
8
36
26
304
405
1 in 446
1827
Assizes
110
34
25
29
22
Sessions
124
—
17
79
28
332
516
1 in 354
1828
Assizes
42
13
6
10
13
Sessions
156
—
27
88
41
304
448
1 in 414
a1829
Assizes
83
39
5
13
26
Sessions
154
—
34
75
45
287
453
1 in 412
1830
Assizes
80
32*
3
12
33
Sessions
142
—
25
81
36
319
470
1 in 405
1831
Assizes
90
43*
7
23
17
Sessions
220
—
41
112
67
402
628
1 in 307
1832
Assizes
74
28*
9
16
21
Sessions
164
—
36
83
45
373
545
1 in 345
1833
Assizes
73
22
13
19
19
Sessions
258
—
53
137
68
448
692
1 in 285
1834
Assizes
69
3*
20
23
23
Sessions
260
—
63
124
73
526
759
1 in 262
1835
Assizes
51
11
6
16
18
Sessions
139
—
24
82
33
373
512
1 in 393
b1836
Assizes
47
4
14
12
17
Sessions
212
—
32
125
55
357
544
1 in 363
a1837
Assizes
66
14*
10
24
18
Sessions
278
—
47
141
90
328
564
1 in 354
1838
Assizes
64
3
23
21
17
Sessions
303
—
36
179
88
425
687
1 in 292
1839
Assizes
70
1
16
31
22
Sessions
323
—
44
190
89
411
693
1 in 292
c1840
Assizes
76
—
10
36
30
Sessions
474
—
68
278
128
566
958
1 in 202
1841
Assizes
99
1
9
60
29
Sessions
383
—
43
231
109
461
805
1 in 256
1842
Assizes
101
1
16
59
25
Sessions
440
—
57
252
131
439
824
1 in 253
1843
Assizes
120
2
14
44
60
Sessions
418
—
39
245
142
535
879
1 in 242
1844
Assizes
141
1
17
78
45
Sessions
390
—
31
239
120
535
901
1 in 237
1845
Assizes
135
1
20
66
48
Sessions
368
—
28
220
120
460
785
1 in 298
1846
Assizes
154
—
17
79
58
Sessions
329
—
7
220
102
377
700
1 in 337
a1847
Assizes
88
—
7
52
29
Sessions
458
—
30
302
126
458
849
1 in 281
1848
Assizes
109
—
12
70
27
Sessions
515
—
21
354
140
599
1056
1 in 228
1849
Assizes
99
3*
10
33
53
Sessions
452
—
50
289
113
614
999
1 in 244
1850
Assizes
115
3
15
62
35
Sessions
427
—
38
280
109
605
1003
1 in 246
* Executions in all these years—vide pp. 146, 148.
a aCriminal code greatly mitigated. Various offences hitherto only triable at Assizes, transferred to the jurisdiction of Quarter Sessions.
bPrisoners’ Counsel Bill passed.
cCounty Police established.
dSir John Pakington’s Juvenile Offenders’ Act passed.
***In 1836 the jurisdiction of the City Quarter Sessions was extended to the new city boundary, and the deduction of population from the county raises the proportion of convicted persons from that year forwards. In 1845 the outlying parts of the county were included in the jurisdiction of the County Quarter Sessions, and the ratio of convicted persons is proportionably diminished.
It is not pretended that the following statistics are absolutely accurate—the amount of accommodation afforded being altogether matter of computation. Neither do they afford reliable data for comparing the relative increase of different religious denominations, because a considerable proportion of the old churches have been enlarged in the present century; while, on the other hand, many of the new chapels built by Dissenters, especially the Wesleyans, were erected in the place of preaching rooms used before the year 1800.
Built before A.D. 1800.
Accommodation.
Built after A.D. 1800.
Accommodation.
Places of Worship in the County connected with the Established Church
210
63,680
24*
14,590
Wesleyans
6
3,240
34
6,760
Baptists
13
3,654
17
3,498
Independents
4
2,283
10
3,176
Primitive Methodists
—
—
13
1,906
Wesleyan New Connexion
—
—
8
2,526
Wesleyan Association
—
—
4
950
Countess of Huntingdon
1
1,400
9
2,790
Catholics
2
630
10
2,089
Unitarian
8
2,300
—
—
The Friends
7
1,500
—
—
Other Sects
—
—
4
500
* The Churches built in the county since 1800 are—Redditch (chapel of ease); St. George’s Chapel, Kidderminster; St. Andrew’s, Netherton; St. George’s Chapel, Claines; St. Peter’s, Malvern Wells; Christchurch Chapel, Broadheath; Christchurch Chapel, Catshill; Bartley Green Chapel, Northfield; Christchurch Chapel, Lye; St. James’s, Dudley; St. John’s Chapel, Kate Hill, Dudley; St. Michael’s Chapel, Broadway; Christchurch Chapel, Trimpley, Kidderminster; Yardley Wood, Yardley; St. John’s Chapel, Kidderminster; Aston Magna, Blockley; St. Matthias, Malvern Link; St. Paul’s, Worcester; St. Peter’s, Cookley; North Hill District Church, Mathon; The Quinton, Halesowen; Langley Green, Halesowen; St. Peter’s, Worcester; Amblecote, Oldswinford; Trinity Church, Malvern.
Year.
Worcester. *
Cleobury. †
Orleton. ‡
1835
—
29.16
27.265
1836
—
32.93
28.155
1837
24.465
31.18
28.545
1838
23.850
28.73
26.355
1839
34.595
37.70
34.145
1840
20.715
26.94
25.800
1841
29.649
34.82
32.770
1842
—
25.09
25.480
1843
—
30.42
29.935
1844
—
23.56
21.730
1845
—
27.91
27.405
1846
—
29.24
27.015
1847
—
28.60
27.985
1848
—
36.69
39.015
1849
23.88
30.79
26.945
1850
18.66
22.84
24.615
1851
18.93
21.33
28.276
* The first series of these observations at Worcester were taken by Mr. T. R. Hill, at the Literary and Scientific Institution, and those for 1849–51 by Dr. Turley, St. John’s. It would seem as though less rain fell in this neighbourhood than in other parts of the county; but the years given happen to be amongst the drier ones, and in general it will be found that more rain falls at Worcester than in most other parts of England. The mean height of the thermometer in the midland districts of England is about 50°, at Worcester the mean will be found slightly to exceed that figure.
† From observations taken by Mr. Hunter of Mawley Gardens.
‡ From observations taken by Mr. T. H. Davis of Orleton, who possesses an accurate register of the rain which has fallen in each month for the last twenty years. The result shows May to be the driest, and November the wettest, month, and gives 2.19 as the average of January; February, 2.21; March, 1.91; April, 2.05; May, 1.82; June, 2.41; July, 2.39; August, 2.70; September, 2.41; October, 2.80; November, 3.16; December, 2.17; and of the whole year, 28.276 inches.
Worcestershire East—J. H. H. Foley, Esq., and Captain Rushout reëlected without opposition.
Worcestershire West—Hon. General H. B. Lygon and F. W. Knight, Esq., reëlected without opposition.
Worcester—May—(Election on Mr. Rufford’s accepting the Chiltern Hundreds)—William Laslett, Esq., of Abberton Hall, had some time previously announced himself as a candidate for the representation whenever a vacancy should occur, professing Radical opinions. The Conservatives brought forward Mr. Charles M‘Garel, who declared himself a supporter of Lord Derby’s Government; but as he was not explicit on the subject of “Protection,” he found so little favour with the voters, that after four days’ canvass he left the city. Mr. Laslett was then returned unopposed.July—Mr. Ricardo and Mr. Laslett united the suffrages of the Whig and Radical parties, and the candidate supported by the Conservatives was J. W. Huddleston, Esq., the well known barrister on the Oxford Circuit. He avowed himself a Free Trader, but would support Lord Derby’s Government in other matters. The Sheriff’s return showed 1,212 votes given for Mr. Laslett, 1,164 for Mr. Ricardo, and 661 for Mr. Huddleston.
Kidderminster—Mr. John Best, the former member, was opposed by Robert Lowe, Esq., a member of the Australian Council from 1843 to 1850, and member for Sydney in 1848. He professed to be ready to support Lord Derby’s Government according to their measures, though a thorough Free Trader. He thus obtained the support of the Whig and Radical parties in the borough, and also of a section of the moderate Conservatives. He was returned on the poll by a majority of 94: the numbers being—Lowe, 246; Best, 152.
Bewdley—Sir Thomas E. Winnington, Bart., Liberal, and Joseph Sandars, Esq., Conservative, were the candidates—Viscount Mandeville having been previously elected for Huntingdonshire. The votes were—for Winnington, 169; Sandars, 151.
Evesham—Lord Marcus Hill retired from the representation, and the candidates were Charles Lennox Grenville Berkeley, Esq., formerly member for Cheltenham, Liberal; Sir Henry Willoughby, Bart., Conservative; and Sergeant Wilkins, Radical. The votes given were—for Willoughby, 189; Berkeley, 170; Wilkins, 87.
Dudley—John Benbow, Esq., the former member, Conservative, and James Baldwin, Esq., an alderman of Birmingham, Radical, were the candidates. The votes given were—for Benbow, 400; Baldwin, 231.
Thefollowing are the winners of the “Gold Cup,” value 100 guineas, the surplus in specie—4 miles—which used to be the principal race at the Worcester Summer Meeting, and which was first run for in the year 1812.
1812—August 12—Mr. Shawe’s b. h. Offa’s Dyke.
1813—August 11—Mr. Munsey’s b. m. Meteorina.
1814—August 10—Sir W. Wynn’s b. c. Bravo.
1815—August 8—Hon. W. B. Lygon’s b. c. Tozer.
1816—August 14—Mr. Charlton’s b. c. Tozer.
1817—August 13—Sir W. Wynn’s b. c. Piscator.
1818—August 12—Mr. Charlton’s ch. c. Indus.
1819—August 11—Mr. West’s br. h. Fitz Orville (w. o.)
1820—August 9—Lord Stamford’s ch. c. Comet.
1821—August 15—Mr. L. Charlton’s Master Henry.
1822—August 14—Lord Stamford’s Peter Lely.
1823—August 15—Mr. Mytton’s ch. g. Euphrates. The Grand Stand was first used at these races.
1824—August 11—Mr. Mytton’s br. c. Comte d’Artois (w. o.)
1825—August 4—Mr. Mytton’s ch. g. Euphrates.
1826—August 2—Mr. Mytton’s b. h. Longwaist.
1827—August 22—Sir W. Wynn’s ch. c. May Fly.
1828—July 30—Mr. Mytton’s ch. g. Euphrates.
1829—August 19—Sir T. Stanley’s ch. g. May Fly.
1830—August 11—Mr. Davies’s ch. g. Villager.
1831—August 10—Mr. Beardsworth’s br. g. Independence.
1832—August 16—Mr. Griffith’s Thorngrove.
1833—August 7—Mr. Phillips’s b. c. Tom Brown.
1834—August 6—Mr. L. Day’s b. m. Diana.
1835—August 5—Sir T. Stanley’s b. c. Intriguer.
1836—August 3—Mr. Haywood’s br. g. Lentulus.
1837—August 2—Mr. Speed’s gr. g. Darling.
1838—August 8—Mr. Speed’s gr. g. Isaac.
1839—August 8—Mr. Tomes’s gr. g. Isaac. The “Gold Cup” was discontinued after this year.
Winners of theWorcestershire Stakes, 20 sovs. each, 2 mile heats, from 1840.
1840—August 4—Mr. Collins’s gr. g. Isaac.
1841—July 8—Mr. J. Taylor nas. Earnest.
1842—July 7—Major Hay’s ch. g. Retriever.
1843—July 6—Lord Palmerston’s b. m. Ilione.
1844—July 11—Lord Warwick’s b. c. Yardley.
At the Worcester Autumn Meeting this year was run, the celebrated match between Mr. Timms’s Cora and Mr. T. Smith’s Lady Harkaway, both ridden by the owners: Cora winning by a length only. Time, 9 minutes; 52 seconds; 4 miles; 6 flights of hurdles.
1845—July 8—Mr. Collett’s b. h. Coranna.
1846—July 7—Captain Harcourt’s br. c. The Druid.
1847—July 6—Mr. Bristow’s ch. f. Marietta.
1848—July 4—Mr. J. Day’s b. m. Milliner (w. o.)
1849—August 7—Mr. Mynors’s br. f. Miss Bunney (w. o.)
1850—August 6—Mr. Sharratt’s b. f. Egret.
1836—March 2—The first steeple chases ever run in Worcestershire came off this day. The ground chosen was on the west bank of the Severn, from Frieze Wood to the centre of the Lower Powick Ham, about four miles of a stiffish hunting country. Captain Lamb’s Vivian, ridden by Captain Beecher, beat Midnight and Saladin.
1841—March 24—Steeple chases at Crowle. Cotton Ball won the first and Fairy the second.
1844—March 14—The first of the Worcester grand annual steeple chases. Sixteen horses started for the Royal Birthday Stakes, which were won by Discount—Vanguard being second and Harkaway third.
1845—March 19—Seventeen starters for the Royal Birthday Handicap. Won by Mr. W. Holman’s The Page. Value of stakes, £819.
1846—November 7—Twelve starters for the Grand Annual. Won by Lord Strathmore’s Switcher; Marengo second, and Pioneer third.
1847—November 6—Sixteen horses started. Winner, Mr. Little’s br. g. Chandler; Glaucus second.
1848—November 4—Nineteen horses started. Winner, Proceed; Red Lancer second.
1849—November 2—Ten horses started. Winner, Mr. Vevers’s Vainhope; Young ’Un second.
1850—December 4—Twelve starters. Winner, Miss Collingwood; Tipperary Boy second.