Let's see what happened this week many years ago. Our archives provide us with much information. In 1779, Gibraltar was at the beginning of a siege that would last four years.
Diary entry - 27th October, 1779: Rice twenty one dollars per cwt. Great scarcity of Fresh Meat. Geese at a guinea each, ducks at $2 each and pork at 5 reals per lb.
Diary entry - 1st November, 1779: Bread delivered by bakers through a wicket protected by guards. Piteous sights seen of men, women and children struggling to obtain a morsel of bread at an incredible price. Flour stock available only for 2 months.
In 1805, the port of Gibraltar was busy in the aftermath of the Battle of Trafalgar:
Diary Entry - 27th October, 1805: General Thanksgiving service held in King's Chapel by the Rev. J. Hughes by command of H. E. the Lieut.-Governor. Arrival of Spanish Frigate San Juan Nepumoceno captured by Lord Nelson's fleet. Arrival of H. M. ship Victory having on board the remains of Lord Nelson.
Times change. In 1865, Gibraltar was celebrating the end of a cholera epidemic that decimated the population.
Diary Entry - 26th October, 1865: Thanksgiving service at Catholic Cathedral and principal Hebrew Synagogue for cessation of cholera epidemic. General holiday observed.
Communications improved at the turn of the century...
Diary Entry - 3rd November, 1903: First wirelsss telegraphic message between England and Gibraltar received by H. E. the Governor, through Signor Marconi.
...and by 1919 things were really changing in previously unknown ways...
Diary Entry - 25th October, 1919: Coalheavers strike which lasted till 24th November...
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