From the Archives - February 28, 2008

10:05am Friday 29th February 2008

100 Years Ago February 29 1908 THE contract price (£6,850) for improving and enlarging the Evesham public library buildings will cause considerable surprise to the burgesses, who had been led to expect that the estimate of £6,000 would not be exceeded. They, however, have the satisfaction of knowing that although the cost may be heavy, especially when it is borne in mind that it is to be expended upon an old building, that this work will be complete and will be well carried out and that in 12 months' time Evesham will have a public hall which will accommodate the many functions for which such a building is required. This need has been more than ever emphasised during the past few weeks.

75 Years Ago March 4, 1933 THE question as to whether a rope ladder provided adequate means of escape from the Cottage Homes in case of fire was raised at a meeting of the Pershore Guardians Committee on Tuesday. Mr W J Gardiner remarked that he did not think that a rope ladder would prove adequate. It was all right when the children were calm and collected but he doubted whether it would prove satisfactory in the excitement of a fire. The public assistance officer (Mr S C Meredith) said that when the matter of a fire escape for the homes was previously under consideration, the alternative to the rope ladder method was an iron staircase and the committee wondered whether the additional expense would be justified. It was agreed to await a report of a sub-committee on the matter.

30 Years Ago March 2, 1978 PLANS to build 43 old peoples' dwellings at Broadway to house Great London Council tenants have come as a "bombshell" to the residents. Villagers say that the site - off Sans Close - is the only development land left for the foreseeable future. If the proposals are implemented it will mean that young people will have to move away from the village to find somewhere else to live. The Broadway Parish Council members who originally opposed a housing scheme put forward by Wheeler and Mansell, the Evesham builders, changed their minds in December when they were told they would be for young people. But the bombshell came when the council heard that the builders had offered to build 27 two-bedroom bungalows, eight one-bedroom flats and eight two-bedroom flats to house about 90 people for the GLC.

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