Odd Numbered Properties
Note: Our Marlow ancestors were terrible at giving precise or consistent street addresses for themselves or others, knowing exactly what number they lived at (!), and the authorities made some bizarre property numbering decisions (don't get us started on Berwick Road... ). Some properties in Market Square at the bottom of Spittal Street were officially numbered as if in Spittal Street and could be described as being in either Market Square or Spittal Street depending on the whim of the describer. They are included here. Properties in Spittal Square were also numbered as if in Spittal Street (but could also be referred to as being in Chapel Street or Dean Street by local residents depending on the property). Throughout history Spittal Street and Chapel Street which run into each other were repeatedly confused. Never believe any property is definitely in one street rather than the other without multiple pieces of evidence!
Edwardian building numbers are not necessarily those of the modern day. Multiple of the properties mentioned below no longer exist.
In this post I follow the popular perception of the "Edwardian age" as extending 1901-1914. Some incidences in the earlier lives of the named residents are also included. This is an ongoing project, if anyone has been missed we hope to remedy that as soon as possible.
For unplaced people who were in unidentified buildings in Spittal Street or Spittal Square see that the end of the upcoming Edwardian Spittal Street Part Two post.
1-3 Anne "Annie" Badger's fancy goods repository. Anne (born c 1842) had been in the shop for some years, though initially as a boot and shoe seller. Late on the night of Christmas Eve 1896 the horse-drawn omnibus from the Crown Hotel next door crashed into Anne's shop, smashing the window glass and breaking the gas pipe used to fuel the illuminated lamps in her windows. This represented a major fire risk but thankfully the leak was swiftly spotted and contained. Not a great Christmas present for Anne nevertheless! At least the accident did not occur in the run up to Christmas, when fancy goods shops were especially busy (they were effectively gift shops). Giving New Year gifts to friends was common at this time period however so any disruption to Anne's business would still have been costly to her, and of course the premises were also her home.
The omnibus horse received cuts from the plate glass window but the driver and sole passenger of the vehicle were unharmed.
Anne was the widow of Joseph Badger who had first ran the boot and shoe shop on these premises. He died aged just 35 leaving Anne with 6 children but thankfully also the shop to support them. Anne already served in the shop before Joseph's death. Her daughter Mary assisted in the business. A son Joseph junior was a solicitor's clerk. When Anne retired in 1903 she moved with Joseph Junior into the newly built house Lulworth in Claremont Road. Sadly Anne died of heart disease not long afterwards. She was a Roman Catholic and is buried in St Peter's churchyard in St Peter's Street Marlow.
The Badger's shop was properly in Market Square. Confectioner Elizabeth Bennett may have been in these premises at the end of the Edwardian age.
5 John Ford's wholesale and retail tobacconist's / newsagent and confectionary shop in 1912 and 1913. John sold some unusual tobacco varieties as well as cigars according to his ads. He supplied publicans amongst his other customers. Gone by 1915. Site later a cafe. Previously the International Tea Company Stores (who also occupied other premises in Marlow at different times). Property usually considered to be in Market Square.
7 Allam's fishmongery, then George and Elizabeth Davis newsagents who would remain there to at least the late 1930s. Alfred Allam took over his mother Sarah's fishmongers. It has previously belonged to his father who was also called Alfred and who operated it as both a fishmongers and fruiterers plus a horse and carriage hire business. To read more about the characterful Alfred senior and Sarah, not to mention their brush with a "poltergeist" see this post. Alfred also features in this post.
9 The Wheelwright's Arms pub. For landlords Edwardian and otherwise and for the history of this pub see this post.
11 The home of a Mr Welch in 1905 but seems to have been the site of business premises too. Situation needs clarifying.
13 Emma Carter's butchers premises. A biography of Emma is on the blog here.
15 The Carpenters Arms. Ran by Charlotte Rose and then her grandson Thomas Probert. More on the history of this pub and it's landlords here.
17 - updates to follow.
19 Henry Harris master harness maker and saddler, rope and twine maker and - early in the Edwardian era - agent for motorcycles and a seller and hirer of bicycles too. He also sold horse care equipment like blankets and cleaning sponges. A long standing business in Marlow. In 1904 his ad says that he also traded in Wooburn. Henry was born circa 1854. Wife Ellen. In 1915 their only son Edward, who had previously worked as an engineer, was killed in action when the Navy ship he served was torpedoed and sank.
21 Richard Bowles boot and shoe dealer. Richard was born c 1839. Throughout the Edwardian era he had several members of the Bailey family as his lodgers, previously he had himself been a lodger with Baileys. Richard died circa 1914. By 1920 his former premises were incorporated into no 23.
23 Charles Baker gentleman's outfitter and hatter. Charles was originally from Wiltshire and born circa 1856. His wife Catherine took over the business as a widow. By them number 23 had been incorporated into it. The shop was still in operation in the late 1930s as "Baker's Clothiers" with a live in manager.
25 Colonial Meat Stores ran by Grace and co. Employee George Tennant lived on the premises with his wife Eliza in 1910 and 1911 (at least).
27 Boot family. Eliza (nee Collins) Boot kept a confectionery shop. Her husband Henry Boot was a French polisher. The family housed several lodgers. Daughter of the family Florence attracted much sympathy when she was stood up at the altar in 1907 by her fiancee Arthur Henry Lynch. He left her family home where he was helping with final preparations on the Sunday in order to go home to London where he lived with his mother. He was due back in Marlow on the day of the wedding on the 9.15 train from Paddington. He sent a telegram to Florence saying that he had missed the 9.15 but would arrive on the 11.15 instead which would be early enough for the wedding. However he never turned up. Nor as it turned out had he even told his mother he meant to get married and she did not know where he was either. The couple had "courted" for 5 years. Poor Florence had used much money from her savings to help pay for the wedding and the necessities for their first home together. She had also given up her long standing job in readiness for her married life. Arthur had been given as a wedding gift by his employers Great Western Railway two free passes to Teignmouth in Devon for their honeymoon. Henry Boot died in 1907, the same year as his daughter's marriage disaster. A tough time for the Boot family. Eliza died in 1927. She retired from the shop after 1911 but by 1915.
29 Sawyer family home, a small cottage. Ada Sawyer born circa 1876 with her husband George who was a builder's foreman in carpentry for Sellmans builders in Marlow. Amongst the Edwardian building projects George would have worked on for the Sellmans were six houses built in Station Rise in 1904, the new C of E Boys' School in 1913 (now Holy Trinity) and the Borlase School chapel in 1914. His brother Harry was also a house carpenter and in this era lived with him.
In 1903 Ada and George's daughter Edith had a miraculous escape after being ran over by a cart in Spittal Street. The vehicle went right over her legs. After the initial swelling went down however Edith regained the use of her legs and was able to walk again.
George was one of Marlow's volunteer firefighters and in fact the deputy fire captain.
The building of this old number 29 longer exists.
31 cottage and premises of Henry Collins gas fitter and whitesmith born circa 1838. His wife was Eliza. She was born circa 1850. Building no longer exists. Henry also had premises in Chapel Street in 1915.
At end of this odd number side of street with numbers indifferently given, all really in Spittal Square=
S Dorrell wheelwright business premises. Building no longer exists. Probably Sidney Dorrell born c 1878 who lived in Station Road with his parents.
Albert Hillsdon blacksmith / farrier business premises. There by 1906 but had previously operated from premises in Institute Road. The buildings on both sites no longer exist. This Spittal Street forge were previously the premises of W.J Walker. Albert was born c 1874. Wife Kate born c 1876. Albert was the son of William who had been a blacksmith up at Marlow Common.
Henry Arber's. Building no longer exists. Henry Arbor senior and his wife Rosa lived prior to this in Duchess Place off Victoria Road and their son Henry junior when grown up also lived in that street. It is not clear which Henry is the "Henry Arbor" recorded in a property in Spittal Square in 1907 though I'm reasonably sure it was Henry junior. In either case the Arbor occupation was not for long. Henry senior was originally from Cambridgeshire and had been a stone dresser in Stephen Smith's corn mill. He was born circa 1856. In 1898 he was one of those who formed a committee to set up a sick benefit club for women as an off shoot from the Clayton Arms pub slate club. A few years previously Rosa had been seriously ill and the couple's eldest daughter Lillian was kept home from school to help look after the other children in the family and her mum. This went on long enough to lead to Henry being summoned to court for neglecting her education. Extra money from a benefit club to pay for hired domestic help and extra medical support in such a situation would have helped this family tremendously so you can understand Henry's interest in such schemes. At around the same time his son Henry junior "Harry" was refusing to go to school anyway and staying out all night. His father repeatedly asked for him to be placed in an "industrial school" as he considered the young teen uncontrollable. This was eventually achieved when a place for him was found in an Isleworth industrial school. The school didn't work as after he arrived back in Marlow Harry soon found himself fined for throwing stones in the station goods yard with other lads. Obviously he found self discipline in himself in the end as he became a regular player for Marlow Football club during the Edwardian era and also then won prizes for his punting on the river. He worked as a boat building labourer at Shaw's boatyard (who hired no one who wasn't hardworking and good at their job). While at work in 1908 Harry found in the river mud a diamond studded gold purse. It was realized to be the lost property of someone who had lost it when visiting Marlow seven years previously. Hopefully the eagle-eyed Harry got a reward!
Sadly Harry died of complications following an appendicitis operation while he was in service in France in the First World War. He left a widow Mary and three children. His bereaved parents had previously lost their baby son Edwin of convulsions caused by "teething".
By 1911 Henry senior appears to have moved to Water Eaton in Bucks to work at the Smith's corn mill there while Rosa was left behind in Marlow. This was probably a temporary job for Henry rather than evidence of a separation for the couple, however I do not know for certain. Rosa lived in Marlow Fields in the Newtown area of Marlow.
Lillian Arber became a domestic nurse.
Picture Palace cinema constructed 1913. Much more about the cinema on this post.
Post researched and written by Charlotte Day. © Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.
Compiled from a great many sources. It would take a blog of its own to list them all. Some are listed below.
Kelly's Post Office Directory of Buckinghamshire etc 1911, 1915, editions. Kelly's Limited.
Kelly's Directory Of the Leather Trades 1881.
Marlow Directory and Almanack 1902, 1907 and 1914 editions.
Marlow Printing Company.
Property and rental records, shop bills.
England and Wales Census 1901 and 1911 from the National Archives, Kew. Census information remains Crown Copyright.
South Bucks standard 7th Jan 1898 and 26th June 1903.
GRO death and marriage registrations from the National Archives.
"England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XNJ-PCN2 : Tue Mar 05 23:44:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Walker and Mary Ann Stockbridge, 25 Oct 1894.
