One of the joys of living in Worcester is the fact that we have the world’s oldest extant newspaper, Berrow’s Journal – established 1690. Which means that the “from our files” column usually gets back to 1760 (publication and indeed filing was a bit erratic in the first 50 years).

The current edition (click here to view) reports

200 YEARS AGO:

By the new Stage-coach Act, a penalty of not less than £5 is to be inflicted on coachmen permitting other persons to drive.

Postboys are not to take up passengers without a ticket and toll collectors are to file such tickets and give, in all cases, exchange tickets. No postboy nor carriage driver is to drive sitting in the inside of any post chaise or carriage, under penalty of 10s. to £5.

It does make you wonder what actually happened with all of these “exchange tickets” at each toll bar. But at least you’d know exactly where the concessions alighted!