The Riot Act was read from the old Town Hall on the night of local elections in 1910.

The Act allowed councils to disperse any group of 12 or more people deemed to be unlawfully assembled – or face punitive action. 

When a crowd of opposing Unionist and Radical supporters refused to back down, mounted police charged in, swinging their batons freely.

Queen Victoria was not amused when she heard about Droitwich’s fearsome reputation for troublemakers.

The Royal household refused to let a train carrying the monarch stop as it passed through the town.