THIS receipt from a number recently discovered in the town reveal a little of the workings of the legal system in 1873 and provides some interesting information on the price of food and drink some five years before the Gazette was born.

Minor civil matters were dealt with at this time by the Court Leet, which was held twice a year in Thornbury's Booth Hall. The court was presided over by the Lord of the Manor's steward, or his deputy, and there were a number of officials involved in the proceedings. It was customary for these officials to be entertained to a dinner at a local hostelry at the expense of the Lord of the Manor (Mr Henry Howard of Thornbury Castle, in this case) at the time of the court sessions.

In this instance, dinner for ten cost £10.25, beer and cider £1 and three bottles of wine 75p! Yet more interesting prices of beer, wines and spirits are provided by an extract from an advertisement in Brown's Directory for 1877. At wholesale prices, beer was 85p for nine gallons (a little over a penny a pint), champagne 15p a pint and whisky 85p a gallon.