When Bill Gwilliam was about 12 years old, he had a school friend called George, who lived in a house built on the foundations of the old City Bridewell prison, at the bottom of Copenhagen Street, and through this connection, he saw much of the life in that part of the City. George's father, Mr. Blissett, was secretary of the Plough Inn Fishing Club, and Bill and his friend had privileged positions, they took part in the activities of the club, though strangely, when Bill reflected back he came to the conclusion that there was not a thing to do with fishing.
The Plough Inn then stood in the middle of Fish Street. It still exists but is now on the end of Fish street, for the western half of the street was sadly demolished to make Deansway, that cut through a maze of old houses, streets and courts, and was the beginning of the destruction of the old faithful city. But that is another story..
Fish Street was one of the most interesting of the old streets in the City, Bill recalled he always felt sorry the George's father was not attached to the Farrier's Arm's, a few doors from the Plough, for that is a marvelously romantic half-timbered house, where another of his school friend lived, Frank Sanders, whose mother rang the curfew bell at St. Hellen's Church - and what filled Bill with envy - Frank sometimes substituted for his mother. But there it was, the Plough was a plain Georgian building with a flourishing trade and had a loyal set of regulars. This was most likely due to the landlord and his wife encouraged a number of clubs and activities at the Plough, anything that would keep the community men drinking together.
Fish Street c1890. The nearest half-timbered building was the Fishmongers Hall which collapsed in 1905 - Fish Street now ends at the Plough Inn, seen in centre of the above
Mr. Blissett organized an outing for the Fishing Club and took his son along, to keep George company Bill was allowed to attend the outing, which the Severn Steamer, Belle was chartered to take the all male party to Tewkesbury, the cost being covered mainly by raffles or 'swindles' as they were known, over the year. All the food and drink was prepared by the landlord and his wife, and a few helpers, with Mr. Blissett supervising the loading on to the boat.
George and Bill earned their trip by helping with the early morning preparations, carrying tin baths filled with food down the steep slopes of Warmstrey Slip to where the 'Belle' was tied up.
A pub outing in those days meant eating and drinking, and it didn't matter much where you went. There were no inhibitions, for as one of the members put it 'you eat till you're fit to burst'. an drink till it comes out of o'your ear '. The long table in the cabin was a sight and was a lasting memory for Bill. It was laid with white cloths and loaded with food. There were mountains of bread and butter, large enamel bowls, topped with pyramid fashion of boiled eggs, tomatoes and radishes. There were galvanized baths of lettuce, cucumbers and spring onions, packed together at one end of the cabin looking like an exhibit at a flower show. On the table were buckets of pressed beef and of tongue, turned out and placed at intervals along the table as if to form the pillars of the feast, supported by great chunks of cheese, and huge jars of pickled onions, pickled cabbage, piccalilli and beetroot. With these were intended for a tea on the return journey to the Plough.
Pride of place however was given to the barrels of beer, two huge barrels were trundled on a wheelbarrow down the Slip, and with much concern were coaxed along the narrow gang-plank onto the aft part of the boat. There they were mounted on a kind of platform, at 10 o'clock the members of the Club began to arrive, looking strangely uncomfortable in their best suits- all dark blue or grey and mostly wearing caps. Black smoke was poring out of the funnel of the Belle, and after much checking to see if all had arrived, there was a flurry of water at the stern, and the Belle slid away.
The voyage to Tewkesbury was uneventful. The first pints were drawn immediately we were midstream, and as the drinks were free, including a small case of 'pop' for both Bill and George, the beer flowed all the way. Just on 11 o'clock the steward's began to slice the meat and plates were filled time and again. The Belle arrived into Tewksbury about mid-day and already the party was in a jovial mood, with much shouting and laughing and the waving of caps. 'We start back at 6 prompt', shouted Mr. Blissett.
The sun shone on the great Norman tower of the Abbey, but the Club members had no eyes for it, nor for the old mill and the medieval streets. It was the Bell Inn, and the Black Pear, the Berkeley Arms and the Plough that called to them, for their idea of a trip to Tewkesbury was to savor the atmosphere of those establishments and to sample their home-brew ales.
George and Bill saw little of the party and were back on board the Belle just after five 0'clock, and ominously in a corner of the cabin were the captain and the engineer, sat upright but swaying gently with the air of blank stupidity on their faces, and a pint of ale in their hand. It was obvious that they had also been drinking all afternoon. By six, all seemed to have arrived , staggering and singing, but the captain and the engineer sat on. Mr. Blissett began a very unsteady count of his flock and got different numbers every time. Then after much shouting it was realized that two were missing. 'They've fallen in the cut', came a voice, meaning the Mill Avon, which brought a laugh from those able to understand it. Amid cheers, three of the less intoxicated went in search of them.
Mr. Blissett then went to stir the captain and the engineer. The captain had to be supported to his box behind the wheel, but more alarming, the engineer was so drunk that he fell down the ladder into the engine room. It was obvious that he needed help, and a member of the party who was an engine driver on the GWR, and less affected than most was encouraged to go down with him and get the vessel going.
An hour later, the lost two turned up in a terrible state and were half carried and half dragged on board. Steam was raised and the Belle got into midstream, but pointing the wrong way, and it was with some difficulty and a great deal of advice, that the bow was turned towards Worcester. It was dark by the time we reached Upton, and twice we went into the bankside. The captain fell off his box and George and Bill managed to prop him up with empty crates. In one place we were struck for about half an hour, and we thought we were there for the night, when to our relief Belle slid off and started to drift downstream. There was cursing and swearing from down below as the engineer put his hand on a hot pipe, it brought him out of his stupor, but he turned nasty and he looked like being a menace down there. He was enticed up for more beer, with someone pulling from above and the GWR man shoving from below. When they got him up, the engineer immediately fell down and lay flat on the deck, completely out to the world. We pushed him under a seat, where he remained for the rest of the voyage.
It was near midnight when we tried up at at Warmstrey Slip. The captain had sobered up by the time we came through Diglis Lock, and brought the Belle to her berth without trouble. There was a crowd of people on the quay , for the news had got around that the Belle had sank with all hands. The home coming was a very subdued affair, no cheering or joking. Some of the wives, unable to stand by and see the men stagger across the gang-plank, took the matter into their own hands, and came aboard and seized their men, and having shepherded them safely ashore, hurried them off into the darkness.
In Bill's final words on the matter:
'As they disappeared l remember feeling flat and disappointed. These were the shouting, rampaging, ready for anything red blooded males that landed at Tewkesbury to set that town alight - and they went home like lambs. There would have been more excitement at the end of a Sunday School outing'.
From Bill Gwilliam's own personal records
The Plough Inn is a Grade ll Listed building near to the Worcester Cathedral and highly recommended