This is the second part of the story of the curious building currently known as the Masonic Centre in St Peter Street Marlow. As mentioned in part one here , it was originally built and licensed as a place of worship for a break away group of worshippers from the Salem Chapel. We've passed through its history as a lecture hall, girls school, Music Room and cinema and now we are resuming the story in the time of the First World War. It was then usually known as the Public Hall and it's owned by a small company of Marlovians.
Jerome K Jerome treads the boards
As previously mentioned the building had a stage at one end right from the start. While that may have been intended as a platform for speakers and preachers, for the last half century at least it had been more commonly used by musicians, artistes and actors. One such was the author and playwright Jerome K Jerome who lived at Marlow Common. In 1914 he put on his play "Robina in search of a husband" at the Public Hall. Jerome filled one part while his daughter Rowena reprised the lead role that she had previously performed at London theatres. Other cast members were mostly local amateurs. The performance was a great success and raised funds for the Marlow Cottage Hospital and the Marlow cricket and lawn tennis clubs.
At this point retiring rooms for both ladies and gentlemen and lavatories had been added to the hall facilities.
During the First World War
During the war, the hall put on a number of entertainments by troops stationed at the Bovingdon Green and Marlow Common area camps - sometimes in aid of their YMCA tent, sometimes to benefit local causes or military charities.* Most of the soldiers housed locally would have been familiar with the hall partly for this reason. But it was also used by locals as a space to show their gratitude for the men passing through. At Christmas 1916 local fundraisers organised two free smoking concerts in the hall. Some 90% of the men in camp at Marlow would get no festive home leave that year. All those attending were given some cigarettes and the hosts even managed to rustle up some Christmas puddings to share. Let's hope it provided some happy memories in the dark days ahead.
Between the wars
Although these events stopped the hall falling into disuse, the number of regular bookings dwindled to a trickle. Too many men were absent to keep up the kind of clubs and societies that used to fill the hall with their concerts and shows. As a result when the war was over the directors and shareholders of the Marlow Public Hall Co found their finances in dire straights. They decided to put the freehold up for auction in 1919 but unfortunately there were zero bids. So the directors decided to carry on but there were frequent reports that the company would be happy to receive offers for the same. In 1922 they approached the urban district council to see if they'd like to buy the freehold. They said no, the town coffers could not afford such a scheme.
In 1935 the hall was opened for use by the Marlow lodge of the Freemasons. They had been present in Marlow for some time before this - for many years their lodge room was upstairs at the Institute, now Marlow library. Local groups such as the St Martin's Players felt the loss of the only public building with a proper stage and dressing rooms. They were forced to use the much more cramped facilities of the Church Hall in the Causeway - until what is now Liston Hall was secured and later adapted for plays. (In 1935 the future Liston hall was about to be adapted for use as the library and labour exchange. It had recently housed the Salvation Army while their new citadel was being built.)
In World War Two
During the war the Freemasons made their hall readily available to help various groups in the town connected to the war effort.
At first it's main use was as a recieving centre for evacuees and as emergency accomodation, under the supervision of Chief Billeting Officer and boys school head Victor G Kibblewhite. Some of those arriving with their families were voluntary evacuees, eg those not arriving under a government scheme. Victor had a difficult job in finding accommodation for all and although he was required to provide for them for only two days, many were forced to stay in the hall longer.
The hall also housed the Infant Welfare Centre but this was forced out when it was decided to start a Bucks County Council "War Nursery" there in 1941. Operating from 7.30am to 6.30pm six days a week the nursery catered for about 25 children of women who were engaged in war work. Or who would be prevented from "doing their bit" by child care difficulties. The youngsters were provided with their own little overalls to wear and were given three meals a day plus a simple cot to sleep in.
Written by Kathryn Day
Related Posts:
Life for the soldiers at Bovingdon Green Camp in World War One here
