From the Evening News, January 26, 1977

THE blackest unemployment picture for nearly 30 years is painted today by the January jobless figures - the first full official figures for three months. The 1,448,193 total on January 13 was the highest January figure since 1948. It represents 6.1 per cent of the working population, and is 144,950 more than in January last year.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, January 26, 1952

MUSIC hall comedians and cricket writers will point to Manchester as if it were the wettest spot in the country. They would be surprised if they consulted the authorities for official figures.

Mr Eric Hendy, the Borough Meteorologist, puts it this way: "The further we go North, the greater the tendency to find higher rainfall."

Here are recent average figures: Manchester (Whitworth Park) 31.7in.; London (Camden-sq) 24.5in; Bolton (Queen's Park) 43.1in.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, January 26, 1877

DAVID Harper, blacksmith, Blackhorse-street, was charged at the Borough Court, on Monday, with stealing an iron pan and a spade from a beerhouse in James-street, on the 19th inst., the property

of Thomas Bleasdale, value 3s; and also stealing a tub, dolly, bucket, one pair of stockings, and four napkins, from the back yard of the house, 10 Fletcher-street, the property of Ann Markland, value 10s. The property of Mrs Markland was missed from the backyard on Saturday morning, and the same day prisoner sold the dolly and tub to Mrs Isherwood, in Crook-street, alleging that he was a widower, and they were his own. On Friday the prisoner was seen near the yard of the beerhouse in James-street, and the articles were shortly afterwards missing. Prisoner, it was proved, was afterwards dealing with them Committed to the Sessions.