This sweet West Street building was run by the Dukes family as a china and glass shop from circa 1841 (not before 1834) until into the 1900s. It would appear that they were initially in one half of the above property only but occupied the full by the early 1850s. At an earlier period it was the location of the Misses Fields' private school - read more about them here
The property was owned by the wealthy Williams family.
Thomas Edward Dukes the dad in the family was also an insurance agent. He married Maria Hedges at Aylesbury in 1838.
Thomas had been assisting his father in the latter's Aylesbury china and crockery dealers before his move to Marlow.
The Dukes were members of the Wesleyan chapel. In fact Thomas served as the superintendent of the Sunday school for many years, a preacher at the Wycombe circuit, and he was a trustee of the Marlow chapel. He was a long time teetotaller.
Thomas died in 1893 after a long period of declining health and a final year much of it spent in bed rest. The local paper then described him as a man of "sterling probity and high principle". (South Bucks Standard December 1893) His final words were appropriately for the man, a prayer.
For a post about a theft case involving the Dukes as victims see here
For other West Street historic businesses look under "Specific Shops, Streets etc" on the menu here.
Post by Charlotte Day. Updated by Kathryn.
©Marlow Ancestors
You are welcome to reuse this photo and information for family and local history purposes with credit to this blog.
By cross referencing property records, wills, photos censuses etc I have identified most of the Victorian occupants of premises on this side of West Street. For a few buildings Pre Victorian and 1700s occupancy can be traced. It is an ongoing project. Information will come online gradually.
Use the Person Index option on the drop down menu to find people on this blog.
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