The discovery of a 110 year old 'Tizer reminded MICHAEL BAWS that the past really is another country.

IT was a wild week in Ludlow. John Hall, otherwise known as "Lion", and Ernest Watkins, from Old Street, received 21 days' hard labour for fighting with the police.

Residents bombarded Mayor T Roberts with complaints about people firing catapults in the streets - but he was also part of an appreciative audience that heard songs and dialogues at the Brand Lane Parish Room.

Welcome to Ludlow in May 1894. Queen Victoria had been on the throne for 57 years. In the wider world, Gladstone resigned as Prime Minister and Japan declared war against China. Closer to home, Mr Gregory was offering "painless extraction with nitrous oxide" and Mr A Walker of Tenbury was selling native guano for £3.50 a ton.

This glimpse of life 110 years ago was unearthed by a reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, who was sorting out a relation's papers and came across a copy of the Ludlow Advertiser dated 12 May, 1894.

In those days the eight-page paper did not carry pictures. The front page did not have any stories but was chock full of advertising.

The biggest advert was from Bodenham & Sons, at The Cross in Ludlow. Alterations had been completed and new showrooms were now open with "the largest and best assorted stock in the Midlands".

The ladies of Ludlow could take their pick of millinery, mantles, dresses and hosiery as well as corsets, sunshades, Indian mats, cocoa mats and cradles.

Also at The Cross, chemist R Sweetman was selling boxes of pills to help with "constipation, loss of appetite, indigestion, heart burn, flatulency etc".

They seem to have worked as Mrs Price, of Bell Lane, was quoted as saying: "I always find great relief from your Liver Pills."

The newshounds of the Advertiser found most of their stories in the courts.

"Lion" and his friend Ernest Watkins upset the landlord of the Hop Pole Inn when they demanded a pint of ale. When landlord Arthur Anderson refused, Watkins broke a glass door and struck Mrs Anderson.

Later, police saw them boxing in Castle Square. Led by Superintendent Hayward, police tried to take them to the lock-up, but that involved further fisticuffs.

The more decorous entertainment at the Brand Lane Parish Rooms was by members of the Boys' Church of England Temperance Society. The newspaper coyly related that a dialogue called Black Editor "deserves special mention" as "G Stead making a good Mrs Blobs and H Mapps as Theophilus Blobs and C Evans as Dab caused roars of laughter".

The following night, Mayor Roberts also turned up to the Ludlow Bowling Green Club where: "Many other gentlemen and members seemed to enjoy themselves at the Skittles Alley. Roars of laughter kept all in a good humour."

In those days the Advertiser cost one pre-decimal penny but in some ways it is priceless. Ludlow Museum's newspaper archives go back to 1856 but it has only seven newspapers for the whole of the '90s and none for 1894.