Page 284 - Reading Mercury

1868

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Sat 1 Feb
On Saturday evening the town alarmed by the cry of “Fire”. It appears that a shed in
the yard of the Red Lion Inn, in the middle of the Market Place, is used by the
landlord, Mr Mattingly as a carpenter shop, and the upper part as a skittle alley. About
half past nine flames were discovered in this shed. Plenty of assistance being at hand
the doors were kept closed and water poured in from the roof by which judicious
means the flames were subdued before much damage was done although a quantity of
tools were destroyed. The fire no doubt was the result of an accident.

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Sat 28 March
VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES
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On Friday, the 20 inst. The meet of the Queen’s staghounds was fixed for
Wokingham and in the morning it was rumoured that we were to be honoured by the
presence of the Prince of Wales, and this rumour was soon confirmed by the arrival of
the Prince’s horses. The hounds arrived in the Market Place shortly before the
appointed time and were met by an immense field of horsemen estimated at upwards
of three hundred besides many ladies and carriages.
Exactly at twelve o’clock the Prince, accompanied by his Equerry, Captain Ellis,
arrived in a carriage and pair, and having alighted at the “Rose” Hotel, he mounted his
favourite chestnut hunter and proceeded through the streets amidst the hearty but
respectful greetings of the assemblage to a meadow below All Saints’ Church, where
the deer, the celebrated “Doctor,” specially reserved for this occasion was uncarted.
The Prince looked remarkably well and repeatedly acknowledged the cheers of the
assemblage. The “Doctor,” directly he was at liberty, bounded off in the direction of
Bracknell, but being headed he turned into the grounds at Buckhurst and from thence
went on through Billingbear to Shottesbrooke Park at a great pace; at the last named
place he got into a pond and a check ensued which was most welcome to such of the
field as were still in the hunt.
The “Doctor” was safely taken near Taplow, after a good run. Three gentlemen only
were up at the finish. The casualties were numerous, and the Prince had several falls-
one soon after starting, his horse, owing to the giving-way of a rotten bank, falling
with him. He was, however, immediately up and mounted again, with no worse result
than a mark of Berkshire mud on his scarlet coat.

ENTERTAINMENT
On Tuesday evening Mr. Wade Clinton gave a farewell reading at the Town Hall,
assisted by some musical friends, and a very excellent programme was issued. The
attendance was not so large as at Mr. Clinton’s previous readings, but those present
were certainly well entertained and the musical pieces especially were rapturously
applauded.

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Sat 11 April
COUNTY BENCH 6TH APRIL
(Before John L. Gower, Esq.)
James Donnelly of Westminster, London, slipper maker, was brought up in the
custody of Supt. Millard charged with feloniously stealing thirteen pieces of copper
wire netting from the stained glass windows of St. Paul’s Church, Wokingham, on the

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