1837—May 5—Public meeting at Worcester, to consider the best means of alleviating the distress existing amongst the operative glovers. The Mayor, C. H. Hebb, Esq., was in the chair. John Dent, Esq., Dr. Hastings, Mr. S. Pumphrey, E. H. Lechmere, Esq., John Williams, Esq., W. Wall, Esq., Mr. Tymbs, Mr. Lavender, R. Berkeley, Esq., and Mr. T. Newman moved the various resolutions. The distress was not traced further, as to its causes, than the decay of trade and want of orders. Many hundreds of families had applied for relief. It was determined that a general subscription should be entered into, and a committee of master glovers was appointed to scrutinise the applications for charity. About £1,000 was collected, including £100 from the Earl of Coventry, £50 from Earl Beauchamp, and £30 from a performance at the Theatre, given for this purpose by Mr. Bennett.
1837—July 18—Anti-Slavery meeting at the Guildhall, to hear an address from Mr. Joseph Sturge, on the apprenticeship system. Mr. Alderman R. Evans was called to the chair. Dr. Redford, Mr. Stanley Pumphrey, Rev. Thomas Waters, and Mr. Brewin moved resolutions declaring for total abolition; and pledging the meeting only to support such candidates, at the next election, as would vote for such a step. Mr. Robinson and Colonel Davies gave the meeting satisfactory assurances. Mr. Bailey was not present, but Mr. Gutch read a note from him.
1837—August 10—County meeting held at the Guildhall, Worcester, to congratulate Queen Victoria on her ascension to the throne, and to condole with the Queen Dowager on her bereavement. The High Sheriff, W. Roberts, Esq., was in the chair. The Earl of Coventry moved the addresses; and the Bishop of Worcester seconded the one, and the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Foley, the other. Earl Coventry was requested to present them.
1837—December 20—Meeting of the clergy in the Chapter House, the Ven. Archdeacon Onslow in the chair. Addresses to Her Majesty, a memorial to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and petitions to Parliament were adopted against certain clauses in the Marriage and Registration Acts, against the Tithe Commutation Act, and against the constitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission. The Revs. T. Baker, C. Dunne, Hon. J. S. Cocks, A. B. Lechmere, G. W. Kershaw, C. Benson, R. B. Hone, J. F. Turner, W. R. Holden, and W. A. Pruen, moved or seconded the resolutions.
1837—December 30—Anti-Slavery meeting in the Town Hall, to petition for the immediate abolition of the apprenticeship system. Mr. Stanley Pumphrey was in the chair. The speakers were—Dr. Redford, Mr. Bowly, Mr. George Thompson (London), Mr. S. Burden, Mr. Alderman R. Evans, Mr. Ledbrook, and Mr. B. Stokes.
1838—February 6—Common hall at Worcester, to petition for the ballot. Mr. Alderman Hebb took the chair. The movers of the resolutions were—William Acton, Esq., Mr. Arrowsmith, Mr. Elgie, Mr. James Wall, Charles Hanford, Esq., Mr. Greening, Mr. Edward Hooper, and Mr. George. A Mr. Davis, a native of Worcester, but who had resided a considerable time in the United States, said the ballot had not worked well there. Colonel Davies and Mr. Turton, the expectant candidate, afterwards addressed the meeting.
1838—September 11—Meeting of citizens at the Guildhall, at which it was resolved that an act should be applied for to obtain powers for the better regulation and repair of the streets and highways within the borough. Mr. Pierpoint proposed that the powers under such act should rest in the City Commissioners, and Mr. Deighton moved, as an amendment, that they should lie in the Council. Mr. Pierpoint’s resolution was carried; and, further, that the qualification of a Commissioner should be reduced to an income of £20 a year. In consequence of this decision the Council refused to proceed further with the bill.
1839—February 23—County meeting, in the New Shire Hall, on the Corn Law question. The High Sheriff, Mr. Russell, presided. The outer hall was completely filled, and the minority of Corn Law repealers were very noisy. The first resolution, proposed by the Earl of Coventry, and seconded by William Acton, Esq., was as follows: “That taking into consideration the natural and artificial causes which produce variations in the price of corn, and which experience has proved it is beyond the power of human legislation at all times to obviate or control, and looking at the slight changes in prices which have occurred since the last corn act was passed, which, while it regulates the duties on importation, affords protection to the home grower—this meeting is of opinion that it would be unjust and impolitic to make any alteration in the principle of the present law.” The remaining resolutions were merely routine, and were moved or seconded by Sir Offley Wakeman, Bart., O. Mason, Esq., Hon. W. Coventry, George Allies, Esq. (Mayor of Worcester), John Freeman, Esq., Sir A. Lechmere, Bart., Earl Beauchamp, and General Lygon, M.P. They were all carried by very large majorities. Towards the close of the meeting the uproar was very considerable, and at last, on the interposition of the Earl of Coventry, Mr. F. H. Coates, though not a freeholder, was allowed to speak in favour of a repeal of the Corn Laws, and was heard with considerable attention.
1839—April 6—Large meeting of the clergy and laity of the Church of England held in the Crown Court, New Shire Hall, to form a Diocesan Board of Education in connection with the National School Society. The Lord Bishop took the chair, and the Rev. Donald Cameron read a report of a committee which had been previously appointed on the subject. Archdeacon Spooner, Sir John Mordaunt, Bart., M.P., Prebendary Digby, Mr. Pakington, and Canon Benson were the principal speakers, and moved resolutions pledging the meeting to form such a society as was suggested, and vigorously to support it. A training school for teachers was especially mentioned. Handsome donations were given on the spot.
1840—March 27—The first Anti-Corn-Law meeting held in Worcester. It was a gathering of operatives, and took place in the Town Hall. Mr. John Richardson, ironfounder, was called to the chair; and the speakers were Mr. Robert Hardy, Mr. Thomas Waters, and several operatives, by whom indeed the meeting was convened. A petition, praying for a total repeal of the Corn Laws, was unanimously agreed to. The meeting was held with the view of strengthening Mr. Villiers’s hands in an approaching debate, and the number of signatures attached to the petition was 3,326.