Recreated 1700s Trade Directory Great Marlow

Updated October 2024

Whenever I transcribe a will, look at property transactions, court cases, news stories or any of the like I note down everyone mentioned as having a trade. From these notes this trade directory is compiled. Date next to persons name is when they were mentioned as plying the listed trade. They could have been trading earlier or later too.

Something to bear in mind is that it can be difficult to ascertain the social status of someone from the way they are described in some records- a "brickmaker" for instance could be labouring and making the bricks but could just as easily be the owner of a brick making company employing many people and never getting their own hands dirty. Further research would be needed to be sure of such things.

Also be aware family members can have the same name and trade so all mentions of "Joe Bloggs, blacksmith", do not necessarily refer to the same person.

Little Marlow and Lane End people are included here if I find relevant information.

Yeoman, labourers, servants and husbandmen are not included as there were simply too many of those for one post.

I have compiled street address listings for both private and commercial occupiers of most streets in 1700s Marlow. These will come up on the blog in future but due to a log jam of scheduled posts, they won't be appearing for a while!

This list is an ongoing project and not complete online. I have more names to add from my notes.

By Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day.

Apothecaries

George Bruere (Brewer) - apothecary of Covent Garden before settling in Marlow. Also MP. 

Bell and Ear(d)ley, in partnership from 1771, High Street. See under surgeons below for more about them. 

Thomas Norton. 1791-92. Also surgeon.

William Sneath. 1758+. See under surgeons. 

George Trash. Traded from own house 1781.  In partnership with William Sneath until Sneath's death.  George died 1796. Also surgeon and "man midwife".  

Attorneys

Henry Allnutt. 1771- post 1800. 

William Deeley. 1758. Died 1766. A Mr Norton junior from High Wycombe took over his practice.

Mr Norton jnr. 1766. See above. Could be same as Wesley Norton below.

Wesley Norton. 1783.

John Phipps. 1798.

Note: for some reason Beaconsfield attorneys were often used by 1700s Marlovians.

Auctioneers

Thomas Rolls and James House "cabinet maker of Oxford" went into partnership as auctioneers in 1791 after being "prevailed upon" by their friends to do so. Rolls also draper and mercer. See below.

Joseph Rose. 1789.

Luke Medwin. 1780s. See also drapers below.

Bakers

William Cook. 1780+ Will 1793.

Robert Field. 1798.

Francis Gunnell. 1798.

William Hatch. 1794 to post 1700s. Alleged to have been a highwayman on the side! Later in High Street and most likely was there in 1700s too.

William Langley 1705. William Langley junior 1710. Same man or father and son?

Hugh Lydall. 1712.

Robert Moore (1) 1730.

Robert Moore (2) 1792-95. West Street.

William Moore. 1798.

Charles Morray. 1719.

George Murray. 1789.

Richard Nicholls. 1798.

William Phillips. 1721 to death 1749.

Richard Webb. Little Marlow. 1731.

Barbers

Charles Blewitt junior 1701. High Street. 

John Oxlade. 1715-19.

Henry Tomlins(?) Possibly Tomkins. 1723 -1726 minimum.

Timothy Tregoe. 1753-73. This Timothy is the same man as the peruke maker below but not the watchmaker also below who is his son. Timothy was originally of Amersham and also owned property in Chalfont St Peter.

Bargemen / Barge Masters

James Blackman 1701 -1712 minimum

Thomas Campling. Will 1729.

Thomas Davis 1720 

Thomas Duglase. 1712.

Francis East. 1719.

William East 1701 (Bargemaster)

Robert Goldswain. Partnership with Robert Lawrence dissolved 1789. Bargemaster. 

Michael Grace 1788 teenage son of George. Wife Sarah nee Usher. Employee.

Thomas Harman. Will proved 1721.

James Heather. 1719. Little Marlow

Jeremiah Hollis 1701. Bargeman. 

David James. 1726. Will 1727. Wife Sarah.

Robert James 1702

John Lansdale. Little Marlow. 1718.

Edward Laurence 1701 Bargeman. 

Henry Laurence. 1793.

John Laurence. 1717.

Robert Laurence (1). Late deceased 1767.

Robert Laurence AKA Robert Lawrence (2). Partnership with Robert Goldswain dissolved 1789.

Henry Lawe 1707

William Mann. Little Marlow. 1717.

Richard Milld, master 1784

Thomas Plomridge 1705 and Thomas Plumridge 1773. 

William Pudsey. 1717-1725 at least

Richard and Robert Rivers. Partnership dissolved in 1771. Richard then have up the barging business in 1784, although a few months later he was declared bankrupt anyway. At that point he is also described as a dealer and chapman. His barge was The Buck. (leased by him). 

William Rivers. Barge-master. Died 1788. 

George Rose, Little Marlow 1723 Wife Mary. 

John Rose. Well End near Little Marlow. Bankrupt 1798. Bargemaster. 

Joseph Rose. Little Marlow. Will 1778.

Ralph Rose, Little Marlow. Lived Well End. Owned the Mealcock barge which sank near Boulters flash lock in 1728 carrying a load of malt and paper. Died 1751. Also wharfinger (at Spade Oak too I believe). Ralph Rose Junior brewer and wharfinger left off from both those businesses in 1778. The latter had a wharf at Great Marlow certainly. 

Robert Taylor 1775

John Walker 1707

John West 1775

James White 1705

Robert Wiggin(g)ton senior, 1725 to death 1729. Lived Chapel Street.

Basket Makers

James Brown. 1798.

John Hammerton. Will proved 1716. Lived High Street. Wife Jane.

Timothy Stevens. 1798.

Blacksmiths

John Barnes 1723

Thomas Burrell died 1776.  

Charles Clarke "the youngest" 1773.

John Clark. Little Marlow. 1755.

Robert Deane. Little Marlow. 1716.

Francis Fryer. 1727.

Richard Helford. 1798.

James How / Howe. 1726- 1741.

Richard Lane. 1714.

Joseph Meakes. 1798.

Mr Montague. 1759. Little Marlow. Also "edge tool maker". Lost his apprentice Thomas Davis this year when the latter eloped. (Oxford Journal 25 Aug 1759)

Ambrose Thompson. 1724 -1741. High Street. Earlier resident Dean Street and used a barn Quoiting Square. 

Henry Williams. 1753.

Booksellers

John How or Howe. From at least 1782. Died 1786. See also Insurance Agents, Patent Medicine Suppliers, Printers and Stationers (same man). High Street. See here for more on him and his shop.

Braziers

Robert Morse. 1741. High Street.

Brewers

Mary Dark/ Phillips see under Publicans below.

James Fish. Will 1704. Wife Elizabeth. His will will feature on the blog in the future. Brewing by 1673. 

Cornelius Lattemore. 1715. Wife Elizabeth.

John Lattemore / John Lattimer. Late deceased 1744. Widow Mary see below, grandson Ralph Rose see below.

Mary Lattemore / Lattimer. Widow of John above. 1744 till death. Will 1762. In partnership with her grandson Ralph Rose (junior) 1755+

Joseph Plumridge. 1798.

Ralph Rose Jnr. 1755-62. Died early 1800s but may have retired from business before that. In partnership with his grandmother Mary Lattemore / Mary Lattimer from 1755 until her death.

George Wethered, High Street. Will 1783. And his son also George. They were in business as brewers and maltsters by 1779.

Thomas Wethered, younger son of George Senior above. Founder of Thomas Wethered and Sons brewery.

Bricklayers (often those we'd call builders)

Edward Allum. 1798.

William Dormer. 1753.

Benjamin Gray / Grey. Died 1791. Assisted by his sons Benjamin and William who in his will he wanted to carry on the business after his death. 

Robert Gray. 1798.

Thomas Gray. West Street. 1754. Not obviously the same man as the carpenter below but may well be, the two trades often went together.

William Gray. 1798. Probably the son of Benjamin.

Benjamin Norton. 1741.

Peter Norton. 1724.

George Oxlade. 1788.

Robert Plumridge. 1798.

William Plumridge. 1798.

Samuel Smith. Will proved 1721. Had property Marlow and Cookham. Wife Susannah. See the will here

John Wright died 1786. He had owned 3 cottages converted out of one house which he rented out in Chapel Street.

Richard Wright. 1728.

Brickmakers

William Webb and son Thomas after him. Operated brick kiln at Marlow Common before Thomas Corby took it on. 

Butchers

Richard Barnes. High Street .1735.

Stephen Burgess 1782. Gives up his shop to his son in December 1785 after he says he himself has become too infirm to carry on. 

William Burgess. 1796, see above. 

Burpess and Mayor partners. 1764. William Mayor. 1755. Should it be Burgess and Mayor?

James Carter. 1798.

Thomas Chalfont. 1716. Wife Dorothy was nee Elliot and so from a long-standing Marlow family of butchers. 

John East. High Street. 1728.

Thomas East. 1776.

William East. 1798.

Zachariah East. 1798.

William Elliot (1). Late deceased 1704.

William Elliot (2). Will written 1713. Proved 1718. Also had land in the Common Field near "a place called Deadmere" [Dedmere]. 

John Harris. 1730.

Mr Fowler. 1794-96.

Mr Nicholas. Lately occupying a property High Street near Market Square. 1783.

John Norris. 1798.

Henry Rose. Little Marlow. 1798.

William Rose. Little Marlow. 1790.

Richard Slaughter - Land End 1770. 

Richard Stone, Lane End. 1757.

Joseph Webb. Market Square [corner building next to the Coach and Horses in West Street with the High Street on the other side]. Bought premises 1743 and occupied till death 1756. Post about the various historic occupiers of this building here.

Nicholas Williams - had recently vacated his premises near the Market House in 1785. Had used two adjoining premises as one. 

Carpenters

Henry Barney. 1798.

William Biddle circa 1796.

William Bond. 1794 to post 1800. Also a builder. A detailed post on him has been published on the blog here.

James Carter. 1767-1779.

John Clark. 1781-98.

James Cooper. 1777.

John Cooper. 1766+. In 1773 purchased the business and stock in trade of  Mr Edwards of Maidenhead and so took over the yard there but he still continued his Marlow business. 

Ambrose Corby. 1798.

Abraham Creswell. 1798. Little Marlow.

Joseph Dell. Little Marlow. 1737.

William Frewin. 1798.

John Goodchild. 1797.

Stephen Gray junior 1720.

Thomas Gray 1754 West Street

Robert Gregg 1797.

John Hester (at least two generations) 1720 also sawyer. 

John Phillips 1.)1728

 2.) 1751

Robert Pratt 1726.

Abraham Simmonds. 1797-98.

Timothy Stevens. 1795 to death 1808. See also above. Read a will summary for Thomas here

Daniel Walker. 1755-98. Could be more than one generation here.

William Walker. 1798. Maybe the same man described as a broker later, in West Street.

William White. 1798.

Carriers

Francis Bristow. 1798.

Charles Carter. 1710.

Sylvester Carter. 1714. (We also note a Sylvester Carter as a carrier in 1680)

Chapmen

James Blakeley 1702

Richard Greydon. 1702. Lived house on corner of West Street and High Street, next to the Coach and Horses. Same property as Joseph Webb, butcher above later used.

William Irvin(g) / Irvine 1701 - 1706 min. 

William Moores. Little Marlow. Also "salesman". Bankrupt 1781.

Cheesemongers

John Ells. 1792. See Grocers below too.

Robert Holtham, late deceased 1702.

Samuel Phillips senior 1720

Chimney Sweeps

John Coleshill. 1757.

Clergy

Robert Allen. Independent Chapel. 1785-94.

John Benson. Independent Chapel. 1715-24.

Salisbury Chase. Doctor of Divinity. Little Marlow. Will 1772.

John Cleobury, at Parish Church 1753 to 1801. Brother of Dr Cleobury the surgeon, below.

Richard Frome or Froome. Independent Chapel 1794 to post 1700s.

Thomas Gage, Little Marlow Church. Will 1763.

John Gidley. Presbyterian Minister. 1703 to death 1711. Full biographical post on him here. 

Revd. H H Gower. Resident 1798. Seems to be a teacher.

Thomas Pitkin. Independent Chapel. 1725.

Salisbury Price. Little Marlow. Late deceased 1776.

Samuel Stevens. Independent Chapel. 1770-76.

John Wheeler. Independent Chapel. 1777-85.

Clockmakers

Alexander Jones. 1723-1726.

Coach Painters

John Lovegrove. 1770. According to his adverts " regularly bread up to the profession in London". (Reading Mercury March 1770)

Coach Proprietors

William Wyatt 1795 to after 1800. Post about him and his family here.

Coal Merchants

John Rolls. 1793-98. Lived by Marlow Bridge. One of the Bridge Wardens.

William Rose. Little Marlow. Will 1787.

Sarah Rose. Widow. Well End near Little Marlow. 1789.

Collar Makers

John Fastnage/ Fasteridge / Fastenidge. 1713-24 minimum

John Gibbons 1721

Thomas Hackshaw. 1789.

Coopers

William Parsons. 1713.

William Rose. 1798.

William Stevens. 1723.

Duffin White. Will 1793. High Street. Left his home to his servant Sarah Dennis who was also one of the will's executors. Sarah sadly died in 1794 herself. 

Richard Williams. 1781.

Cordwainers And Shoemakers.  

Samuel Barney. 1723.

Abel Bird. 1712-1756. Note there were at least 3 such men grandfather, father and grandson. One "aged" Abel's will was proved 1736. One "junior" was based West Street 1754.

William Bovington. 1713-19. This family name can also be rendered Bovington, Boffingdon and Boffington because the letter v was pronounced "ff" and a letter d other than at the beginning of a word could be pronounced "d" or "t" however you chose. Boveinton also. 

William Boulter. 1798. Note: there were two adult men in Marlow with this name at the same time. Probably father and son. Which was a shoemaker is not certain, both may have been of course. In 1787 a William Boulter Junior was tenant of George Faux the schoolmaster. This was most likely in Chapel Street.

Stephen Camden. 1798 to post 1700s.

William Carter. 1711.

William Croxford. Specifically Heel Maker. Little Marlow 1761.

Richard Curteis. 1754.

Benjamin Fletcher. Lane End. 1716.

Samuel Harmon. 1787.

Thomas Harris. 1749.

George Haycroft. 1724.

Thomas Higgins. 1713.

John Lake. 1713-32.

Law, uncertain first name. 1795.

Thomas Lockwood. 1782 Little Marlow. Late deceased 1791 and of High Street Marlow then. Wife Ann. 

George Oxlade 1.) 1719-25. 

2.) 1798.

John Payne. Little Marlow. From pre 1700. Note his will says he is a "Citizen and cordwainer of London and inhabitant of Little Marlow". Wife Mary.

Harmon Phillips. 1736.

Thomas Plumridge. 1755.

Peter Rivers 1717 A Peter Rivers of Great Marlow would in the 1720's spend time as a poor debtor in gaol. Richard the cordwainer was executed in 1730.

John Ryder. 1726.

John Smith. 1798.

William Smith 1.) West Street. 1779-98. There were Smith cordwainers / shoemakers well into the 1800s in West Street. I know the premises of the later ones but these Smiths were not using the same premises in the 1700s. 2.) Late deceased in 1791. Wife Catherine. Shoemaker.

Carter Webb. Chapel Street. 1748.

Curriers

Jonas Bird. 1724.

Francis Bristow. 1798.

Thomas Bristow. 1776.

William Newberrie/Newbury. 1724-34

Distillers

Daniel Bradshaw. 1752.

Samuel Bradshaw. 1766. Died 1781. 

"Doctors Of Physick" (see also surgeons which were more common and took on much of the doctor's role)

Stephen Chase. Little Marlow. 1733+. Will proved 1741.

Drapers

Joseph Burrough. 1796-1803. See also Wilkinson below. 

John Coulson. 1798.

Mr and Ely Doley - A Mr Doley tailor, haberdasher and draper dies in 1781 & his widow Ely (qv) takes over the shop but not the tailoring side of the business. 

Thomas Emes. 1782.

Timothy Evans English. 1798. Took over from Greenaway and Lovegrove 1800. Went bankrupt 1811.

Anthony Field - in partnership with his brother James until 1787 when James gave all up. The split sounds acrimonious or at least the division their business affairs became so. Anthony continued in the old shop. 

James Field. In 1787 he withdrew from a partnership with his brother Anthony in a business and lace dealing. But a James Field was a draper 1798 to post 1700s so he may have started again on his own account.

Greenaway and Lovegrove. 1767 -1799. Partners were Mary Greenaway and her son in law John Lovegrove. John died 1799 and Mary and her daughter Elizabeth Lovegrove sold the linen drapery business to Timothy English in 1800. Also lace merchants. John was the son of Henry Lovegrove.

Buckle Hawes- yes that really was his name. 1755-82. Probably High Street. He certainly lived there. Apprenticed to the below William Hawes 1740. One of the executors and legatees of fellow draper Joseph White.

William Hawes 1737-52. Probably High Street.

Christopher Irving, late deceased 1778. Linen draper. High Street.

Luke Medwin. 1753-1781. The Luke Medwin draper 1753 was "middle aged". It is not certain whether he is the same man still trading 1780s but the term "middle aged" was loosely applied- could apply to someone in their late 30s! The draper who was around later went bankrupt 1781. He worked also as an auctioneer and estate agent before and after the bankruptcy .One Luke Medwin lived next to the Roebuck Inn on the Causeway Marlow, near the church at one point. The one who went bankrupt in 1781 lived that year further up the High Street in what was later known as Globe House on the site of some of the modern Liston Court shops which lie against the pavement. His shop was in the converted front parlour of the house. Bankrupt Luke does look to have had Causeway property too so the Luke of the 1750s actually may also be him.

Thomas Rolls (also mercer and auctioneer) 1788-97 known dates as draper. See also under Auctioneers.

James White. 1780. Dead by 1783.

Wilkinson & Burrough - 1783, linen and woollen drapers.  Aka (Samuel) Wilkinson & (Joseph) Burrough. By 1802 were also acting as bankers, dealers and chapmen. Bankrupt 1802/3. In 1789 they say they have a branch in High Wycombe too. 

Joseph White. 1780. Will 1781.

William Williams  - linen draper, see lace merchant. 

Estate Agents 

Luke Medwin. 1769-1783. Also a draper. He started property auctions and managing lettings in 1769. See under drapers for more.

Farmers

Thomas Allen. 1784-88. At Pigeon House Farm Little Marlow.

Henry Barney d. 1782. Spinfield Farm (later turned into Spinfield House and Park) and Poynetts were his main holdings, 40 acres in all. 

Mr Brangwin. Barmoor Farm. 1798.

William Brookes. Blounts Farm. 1788.

Robert Cane, wife Rebecca (previously Rebecca Cowper) 1756

Richard Corby. Munday Dean Farm. 1720,21. Died 1722. More here

William Curtis. At Hard To Find Farm, Little Marlow 1785 and Monkton Farm Little Marlow 1784. He came from Oxfordshire in 1784.

Joseph Dutton. Little Marlow. Late deceased 1794. Probably at Sheepridge.

Jeremiah Harding. 1754 farming land called Spinfield.

Jeremiah Harman. Limmers Farm. From at least 1754 to his death in the late 1700s. His grave is on the blog here.

Richard Harmon. Clay Lane Farm 1775.

James Hollworthy. Munday Dean. 1788. More on the history of this place here

Mr John Johnson. Copy Farm. 1798.

John Keely junior Lane End 1725

Aaron Medwin. Little Marlow. 1764. Also maltster.

Thomas Medwin. Little Marlow. Late deceased 1783.

Mr Micklem. Blounts Farm. 1798.

John Morton / Moreton. Little Marlow. 1778. Also overseer of poor. Late deceased 1782. Wife Ann.

Jonathan Plummer. Little Marlow. Died 1799.

Aaron Richards. Little Marlow. Will 1790.

John Simons 1781. Monkton Farm Little Marlow. Came from Great Missenden. 

William Smith. Oaken Grove. 1793 to long after 1800. Wife Mary.

Mr Townsend. Left Wood End Farm 1773 according a contemporary report but the Townsends remain at Wood End until at least 1820. 

Alexander Webb. Tenant farmer Marlow Bottom from circa early 1760s onwards.

Joseph Webb, leaving "Seymours Farm" 1796. Farm owned or leased by John Johnson.

William Webb 1773+. Munday Dean Farm. Occupied not all of farm it seems. Will proved 1797. Husbandman which is a small scale farmer in some records but given farmer title in others. More here

Samuel Wellesley, Homers Farm Handy Cross 1742.

William Wethered. Little Marlow. 1787. Wife Mary.

Farriers

Stephen Hawes. 1799. Little Marlow.

Robert Moone. 1714.

Fishmongers

Thomas Davis. 1798.

Fruiterers

Thomas Beck. 1790.

John Bowles Junior. 1798.

Corby Langley. 1798. (In 1785 he is also listed as the person to whom the Hartley barge, built 1782, is let)

Gardeners (Market)

William Bradshaw. 1726. West Street.

John Dormer. Will proved 1763.

William Frith. 1798.

William Harman. 1716 to death 1721.

William Gunnett / Gurnett 1722

Thomas Howard 1721-27.

John Newberry 1760 (wife Mary nee Wigley)

James Stockbridge. 1798.

William Stockbridge. 1798.

Richard Williams. 1715.

Thomas Weedon 1720 -1723 min. 

Thomas Wright 1723

Gentry (select)

Thomas Beesley. 1712. Rev. 

Frediswide [female, a once common name] and George Bruere, husband and wife. George was an apothecary and M.P. 

John Bruwer. 1714.

William Burgiss 1737 Wife nee Cooper, only daughter of John Cooper of Berkshire. "A very agreeable young lady with plentiful fortune" according to The Daily Gazetteer (Feb 1737) on their marriage at Windsor. 

William Cabburn. Will 1793. I have transcribed this will and it can be read here

Francis Carter, Marlow Place. 

James Chase, Esquire. Westhorpe Little Marlow. 1721.

Samuel Clark. 1789.

Richard Coombs / Coombes. 1769+ Will proved 1782.

J Dalmes Esquire. West Street. 1784.

George Davenport. (A surgeon but not I think practicing as such in Marlow) Court Garden. 1795.

Mrs Fanny Maria Davenport nee Sanxay. Wife of above. Collapsed and died while on holiday in Brighton in 1796 age 49. 

John Duck. 1784. More on him in future.

Charles Etheridge. 1720. James Etheredge 1728.

Henry Fletcher. High Street. 1730.

Admiral Forbes, late of Marlow Place 1770s.

Elizabeth and Francis Bennett Goldney. Newly married 1792.

John Grace. 1788.

John Guise of Harleyford and Marlow manors which he bought 1718.

John Hammond alias Cooper. Will 1719.

Thomas Handly, Esq. 1755.

William Hoare. Little Marlow. 1762.

John Hone Esq. 1793. Probably High Street.

Alexander Jones. 1729. See also clockmakers. 

Thomas Langley. 1793. 

Daniel Loftin / Lofting. Died 1758.

Daniel Moore. 1754. MP for Marlow at one point.

Cornelius Norton 1775-85. Father of Thomas the apothecary above. Son of Cornelius of High Wycombe, Wallingford and later Bath. Had property Chalfont St Peter High Street and in Hambledon. 

John Orts. 1777.

Gilbert and Isabella Parke. 1786+. Isabella died 1797, and Gilbert died 1807 age 80. Retired mahogany dealer. Originally from London. 

Samuel Parker 1720

Stephen Remnant, West Street (Remnantz). 1753-circa 1787. After that absentee landowner. A biography of him is available here

Thomas Rickell. 1793.

Richard Spier. 1725.

John Stevens. Daughter Mary. Bovingdon Green. 1788.

Edward Valentine Stead Esq, Marlow Place 1780.

Thomas Taylor. 1788.

Joseph Townsend. 1761 property earlier and later known as Gyldernscroft.

John Wakelin 1782-84. Will Proved 1784. Name also occurs as Wakeling.

Alicia Wallop, Marlow Place 1741

James Warren. Little Marlow. Died 1774.

John Borlase Warren. Little Marlow. 1775-95 (at least).

Richard Wilder 1718

Owen Williams. Marlow Place. 1795.

Mrs [Sarah] Winford. Thames Bank 1769 (at least) to death 1793 aged 85. Winfords still there later - unmarried daughter Harriet stays at Thames bank until her death 1801. Sarah is the widow of Thomas Geers Winford (formerly Thomas Geers, name change when he inherited from his maternal uncle.) Read about her struggles with Thames bargeman here

Glaziers

James Lovegrove. 1796-98 Also plumber and painter. Takes eldest son into partnership with him in 1796.

John Lovegrove. 1798.

George Trash. 1768. Not the same as the surgeon below. Died 1777. Succeeded by son Samuel. Also plumber, painter, ironmonger. 

Samuel Trash. 1777. Late deceased 1790. Also plumber, painter and ironmonger.

Richard Young. 1713.

Glovers

John Glanville. 1755.

Grocers

William Ashley. 1799.

Richard Aveling (senior). 1793 to after 1700s. High Street. Exact premises known.

William Baster, (?Baker?)Chapel Street. Selling up in 1797. Trading out of premises said to have been in grocery and chandlery business for upwards of 100 years. Also maltster. 

Robert Bancks / Bankes - 1770. See metal dealer below, his main trade. 

James Digweed. 1762.

George Ells. 1798.

John Ells. High Street.  1795, 1796. Probably same person as John Ells cheesemonger as many Marlow grocers were both. Bankrupt as grocer and tea dealer in 1795. So shop contents and household furniture sold off by auction in that year. 

George Hood. 1798. Probably High Street

Richard Mills. 1778.

James Muspratt 1798.

Robert Oxlade. 1798.

Glassmen

Richard Howard 1711 to death 1713/ 1714. His will was uploaded onto this blog here if you are interested. 

Gunsmiths

George Clark(e) senior. 1798. Possibly by 1780. Either he or the George William Clark below were still manufacturing flintlock pistols in 1800.

George William Clark(e). Contemporary to above but not same man. 

John Harris. 1713.

Haberdasher 

William Williams, selling up 1777.  See lace dealers below. 

Joseph Hurley, selling up and moving away 1786. And clothier. Also sold "a variety of goods in the hardware way"

Hairdressers

James Carter. 1798.

Harness Makers

John Gibbons. 1740.

Hatters

Cornelius Richardson. West Street. 1754.

Higgler

Charles Carter 1721

Hosier

William Williams - see lace merchant below. 

Hoop Makers 

Robert Beckford. 1713-18. 2. Hoop Shaver 1731. 

Insurance Agents

Messrs Wilkinson and Burrough, drapers as above. 1786.

Thomas Emes. 1786. The draper above.

Robert Goldsmith. Fire insurance for farms, homes and trade goods. 1786. The attorney above.

John How or Howe. Sun fire insurance. 1782. Also bookseller, stationer. High Street. Exact premises known. 

Ironmongers

Mrs Anne Hobbs. West Street. At least 1774 till death 1787. John Lane took over 1788. See below. Exact premises known.

John Lane. Started business 1788. West Street. His daughter Lydia later took over. The exact premises are known and can be seen on the blog here.

George Trash - see glazier

Samuel Trash. Late deceased 1779. Also plumber and glazier.

Jeweller

Joseph Low, died 1780. After which some of his stock in trade is auctioned off including seals, bone and silver buttons, buckles, necklaces, ear-rings etc. 

Joiners

Sherley Tile. 1737. May be same man removed to Marlow from High Wycombe 1716 with his wife.

Kidders (goatskin or goat dealers)

Thomas Hollis. 1728.

Lace Buyers

Giles Hancock 1762-63.

William Hoare 1762.

Lace Manufacturers

James Field. In partnership with his unknown brother but choosing to withdraw from it 1792. They also linen drapers.

Thomas Sears. Chapel Street. 1748.

Lace Merchants

Greenaway and Lovegrove. See below. Dates of lace involvement 1783 to 1799.

William Williams "laceman". Previously also a linen draper, hosier and haberdasher but he sold up the contents of his shop by auction at the old Market Hall in Market Square 1777 to concentrate on his lace business. Possibly the same William Williams of the High Street whose household contents are up for sale in 1796 after his death. 

Linen Weavers

Thomas Deane. 1714-15.

Locksmiths

Richard Langley 1712. Will 1713. Lived Oxford Road. 

Maltsters

William Baster, (possibly Baker) malt house is in Chapel Street at the time of his giving up the business in 1797. Also grocer and chandler. 

Henry Carter 1737. And victualler 1720s/30s. Declared bankrupt 1736. [Daily Gazetteer 7th June 1836]

William Carter, 1718 Little Marlow

James Crease. 1789+. Will 1795. Wife Jane.

Aaron Medwin. Little Marlow. 1764. Also farmer.

Robert Johnathan Oxlade. High Street. Leaving ofc business and moving away from Marlow 1786. 

William Rose. Will 1783. Little Marlow.

Henry Smith, High Street. East side. Wife Sarah.  By 1783 these premises were leased by George Wethered.  

James Stevens. Will 1747. Had a barn at Oaken Grove /Oakengrove.

John Webb. 1720.

George Wethered. 1778 And son George ditto. See Henry Smith above. 

Man midwife

See apothecaries

Mantua Makers

Hannah Barrington. 1794 - post 1700s.

Mary Hennett. 1756.

Jane Pritchard. 1793-99.

Mealmen

John Bovington 1740? (Date hard to read)

William Coleshill 1720

William Langley. 1736.

Thomas Rickett(s) - owns and operates the corn meal, and owns the freehold of the papermills on his death 1797 when they are in occupation of the Wrights. Also owned the lock, fisheries, and eel bucks on his death plus some dwelling houses. 

Edward and Joseph Wright.1798.

Mercers (silk and satin dealers)

Thomas Rolls also draper and auctioneer see above. 

Edward Stone  Died 1709. 

Merchant

John Smith -1738

Metal Dealer/Worker

Robert Bancks/Bankes - 1770. Takes out an advertisement in 1770 Reading Mercury to counteract "malicious rumour" that he is leaving off his business. Buys used copper, brass, and pewter  and made, tinned and repaired goods in the same materials. In "the best manner" naturally  With a sideline as a grocer. 

Milliners

Mary Greenaway. 1759.

Miller

George Phelps 1735 See "publicans" below.

Millwrights

Robert Gray. 1715 - at least 1721.

Joseph Haynes. From at least 1798 to post 1800.

Miniature Painter:

Mr Lovegrove, 1770. 

Nailers (Nail manufacturer)

Wildsmith Badger. 1779.

Oatmeal Men see also mealmen

Thomas Stevens 1713.

John Tanner. Died 1718

Thomas Webb 1701

Painters 

James Lovegrove. 1796. Also plumber and glazier.

George & Samuel Trash - see glaziers

Paper Makers

John Dell. 1798.

James Gould. 1798.

Thomas Rickett. From at least 1783 to death 1797. At mills near the Lock. See nealman above. 

Wrights- see Rickett above.

Patent Medicine Suppliers

H Crockford / Crookfield 1773+

Miss A Hawes - 1789+, also stationer. 

John How or Howe. 1781-84. See also under booksellers, stationers and insurance (same man). High Street. Exact premises known. Shop tour here

John Hubbard. Sold tincture for scurvy and "worm cakes" for humans  1768.

Christopher Irwin, 1725. 

Pawnbrokers

James Pudiffant. 1788-98. West Street later and described as gentleman. Wife Sarah. Biographical post on them including image of their home as it looks today here

Peruke Makers

Timothy Tregoe. 1757 -73. Same as the barber above. Father of Timothy Tregoe the watchmaker below. Originally of Amersham. Wife Mary. (Peruke is a wig)

Plumbers

Henry Lovegrove. Will proved 1774. Son James takes over. Possibly other son John too. 

James Lovegrove. 1796. Also glazier and painter.

George Trash - see glazier above

Samuel Trash. Late deceased 1790. Also ironmonger and glazier (Q.V)

Printers

John Howe - see above

Potters

George Oxlade. 1735.

John Sears. 1798. This could be at Lane End.

Publicans, Victuallers, Innkeepers And Beersellers etc

Thomas Archer. 1798. (White Hart)

Richard Aycott./Eycott 1724-29. Three Tuns.

Widow Aycroft, /Aycott / Eycott. Three Tuns. Widow of Richard above. 1752

Charles Bossam. 1788. Will 1791. Name also occurs as Bassam. A widow Mrs Elizabeth Bossam, late of Great Marlow died in 1793. 

Robert Bowrey. 1798

Richard Carr. 1797,98.

Henry Carter 1725 Ale house see maltsters. 

Sylvester Carter, junior. 1719. See also carriers. 

Mrs Carter. Two Brewers. 1795.

Mr Samuel Chapman, Upper Crown. 1785.

Mrs Mary Chapman Upper Crown 1786-97. See 2020 posts for a history of the Crown.

Mr Crocket - 1755/6 White Horse

William Dark, Crown and Broad Arrow, High Street. Died 1763. Widow Mary Dark then ran the same. She had always been the one brewing the bill from buildings out the back. She had previously ran the premises with her 1st husband Phillips. William's will is transcribed elsewhere on this blog. See 2020 posts for a history of the Crown inns. Will of William Dark and more info here.

George Davis. 1798.

Robert Dixon, Crown and Broad Arrow. 1790s.

Mr Faithorn. Upper Crown. 1778-80.

Charles Fletcher. 1798.

Joseph Grey senior 1721

Nathaniel Gunnell. Little Marlow. 1798.

Richard Hall. Innkeeper. 1719. Bankrupt  1724.

Richard Holloway. 1690 -1710 minimum

Thomas Hussey. Ship, West Street. 1792.

John Ireland. Late of the Two Brewers, St Peter's Street. 1770.

Robert Irwin (occasionally Irvin) 1723. Ale house keeper. 

Thomas Johnson 1798.

Richard Keene. The Roebuck on the Causeway. 1754.

John Langley. 1713.

Richard Langley 1713 (ale house keeper)

Thomas Langley junior 1724 : Ale house. 

William Langley. C1798.

John Law / Lawe / Lawes. 1719-29. Also a John Lawe yeoman, 1716. 

Sylvester Law 1750s and 60s ran at different times The Upper Crown and the Cross Keys. Sylvester's will has been transcribed elsewhere on this blog here. He witnessed many other wills himself. See here for a history of the Crown pubs. 

Henry Lawrence [victualler] 1719.

Edward Neighbour [victualler] 1783, died 1787. Of the Coach & Horses, West Street

Thomas Ollis. 1798 to post 1800. Three Tuns.

John Parsons, Upper Crown 1768-75. See post on history of Crown pubs here

Mr Patrick, Lower Crown 1799. 

John Perry 1724/5 ale house keeper. Probably in Dean Street. 

George Phelps, last landlord of the Bowl & Pin, demolished 1790 St. Peters Str. See also miller's above. Also pound lock keeper. See here

John and Mary Phillips. 1750-51 Crown and Broad Arrow, High Street. Mary was the one doing the brewing for the inn and may well have ran the premises entirely herself. John was also a carpenter. After John's death Mary married William Dark and he ran the inn. See above.

Henry Pomfrett, innholder, wife Barbara. 1701. 

Joan Pomfrett. Died 1702. Probably Three Tuns.Will of hers here and see here for discussion on her premises.

John Pomfrett. Three Tuns. 1714. Son of Joan above.

John Pomfrett. Upper Crown. 1770.

Mr Robinson. 1710. And Charles Robinson 1744. 

Mrs Stevens, Complete Angler. 1766.

Nicholas Thomas, Crown and Broad Arrow, AKA Lower Crown. High Street. 1782. See dedicated post on the Crown pubs published

John Webb, Upper Crown. 1766-67. See here for history of the Crown. See also maltsters above. 

Thomas Webb. 1797.

Elizabeth Wright, Dukes Head, West Street. 1761. A Robert Wright was selling beer at an unknown premises 1753. Could be her husband as she was a widow in 1761.

Rope Makers

Thomas During. 1727.

Thomas Gibbons - 1787

James Higgs. 1798.

James Howard. 1735.

James Little. 1798.

Robert Rance. Late deceased 1770.

Ann Rolls. Gave business over to son in 1776. See below.

John Rolls - the young man was assigned the family business by his mother Ann Rolls in 1776. Already working in the trade prior to that.

Thomas Rolls. 1798.

Saddlers

Francis Bushnell. 1787.

John Glanville. 1798.

James Harris. 1798.

Sawyers

Richard Hackshaw. 1798.

John Hester 1721 Also carpenter. 

Thomas Langley. 1723.

School Proprietors - for more on these schools see my dedicated Schools post here.

Elizabeth Davis. 1787-90. Trainee teacher 1790 Judith Bosley. Albion House.

George Faux. Circa 1760s to 1787. Died  1797. Probably Chapel Street / Wycombe Road. Mrs Anne Faux assisting. "Fox"

Henry Gower. 1786. Oxford Road.

Thomas Heather. Head Borlase 1780. Took over from his deceased uncle William. Was assistant teacher there before then. He himself died 1793. Lived opposite the school more or less.

William Heather. Head Borlase School from at least 1770 till his death 1780. Also took in private boarding pupils. Succeeded by nephew Thomas to both roles. 

Revd Oakey Nash. 1798+

Mrs George Trash. 1791.

Mrs Sophia Tylecote. 1794 to post 1700s. Albion House.

Shoemaker  - see cordwainer

Shopkeepers (unknown specific trade)

William Cutler. Lane End. 1788.

Mrs Hawkes. 1797.

Elizabeth Lattemore. 1735. Will proved 1736.

Ambrose Smith. 1715-18. Catholic recusant.

Soap Boilers

William Howard. 1741. High Street.

J Street (and tallow chandler). Opens shop High Street 1789. 

Stationer

John Bullock. Went bankrupt 1784 when he is described as stationer to the Board of Ordnance, in partnership with William Johnston of Hamilton, Middlesex. [The London Magazine 1784]

Miss A Hawes. Also patent medicine stockist. 

Stay Makers

John Brinscomb 1754

Mr William Gritten also the man for cotton hose, hankies etc. 1782.

Henry Husssey. 1798.

Stonemasons

John Smith. Lane End. 1793. A John Smith stonemason is listed as of Great Marlow in 1799 when he advertises to inform the public that he has opened a mason's yard in Maidenhead "near the Chapel".  Later also a China and glass factor. Goes bankrupt 1814, but his wife continues the china business. 

Surgeons

Henry St John Bell. 1747-52.  

H Bell - Went into partnership with William Earley, and moved into joint premises in High Street 1771. Also apothecary. May or may not be same man as above. 

Mr Cleobury. 1786-92. Lived on the Causeway. The house with the sundial on its gateway (put there 1786).

William Dawson. Died 1781. 

William Earley/Eardley. And apothecary. Went into partnership with H Bell 1771, High Street. Still surgeon in 1791. 

Stephen Galhie 1735. Aka Etienne Galhie, a French Huguenot. 

Mathew Hawes. 1798. West Street. Went to West Indies c 1799

William Hickman. 1787 to post 1700s.

William Medwin. 1793.

Thomas Norton. 1791-92. Also an apothecary.

William Sneath. Also an apothecary. High Street. 1758 (possibly by 1735). Deceased circa 1775. Son in law of butcher Joseph Webb above. George Trash below took over his business.

George Trash. Previously in partnership with William Sneath also at Marlow. Used own home instead of Sneath's from 1781. Died 1796. Also a midwife and apothecary.

Tailors

John Brinscombe 1724 will

John Burridge. 1724.

William Doley. 1714. A Mr Doley tailor and draper dies in 1781 & his widow Ely (qv) takes over the shop but not the tailoring side of the business. 

Anthony Field. 1798. See drapers above. Possibly the same man. 

Mr Hervey. 1784

James Johnson. 1705. 

William Massey. 1798.

George Newbury / Newberry. 1798. See also curriers. 

William Nibbs. 1778.

Samuel Phillips jnr 1722

John Wye 1706

Tallow Chandlers

There was one such premises in the High Street from at least the 1760s to at least the 1780s but I am still working on being certain as to the occupiers of that. Known chandlers:

William Baker, Chapel Street. Also grocer. Selling up 1797. 

Joseph Bird. 1765-99.

Henry Crockford. 1783. See also patent medicine sellers. 

William Heeley. 1710.

George Harris. 1702. Wife Susanna. Her cousin left his own chandler's shop to her. See below.

Mr J Street. Opened his shop in 1789. Also soap boiler. 

Richard Widmore. 1702. Will proved 1705. Left his house come shop to his cousin Susanna Harris, wife of George Harris see above.

Timber Merchants

Ambrose Smith. Will proved 1726. Catholic. Unknown if same man as shopkeeper above but likely is.

Tinplate /Tinman

Bartholomew Branscombe. 1769-98.

Benjamin Fish. 1718. Same or different one died 1765.

Tobacconists

Benjamin Fisher. Not obviously the same as above Benjamin "Fish" but contemporary. 1726.

Turners

William Aylworth. 1715.

Watchmakers

Sylvester Law / Lawe. Pre 1700s to 1702.

James Cooper. 1798.

Richard Lee 1768

William Lee 1770

Timothy Tregoe. 1770- 1798. Apprentice to Abraham Fowler of Amersham 1763. Died 1815 describing himself as a gentleman by then. Son of Timothy Tregoe the barber / peruke maker above. Married Elizabeth Crockford of Bix, at Bix 1793. (Also Trego, Tragoe, Tagoe)

Weaver

John Beckford 1725

Wharfingers

Ralph Rose (senior). Little Marlow/Spade Oak. 1718. Died 1751. Also barge owner. 

Henry Turner. 1713.

Wheelwrights

Robert Blick. 1776.

George Butler. 1794. Apprentice then John Gunnell.

John Corby. 1797-98.

John Cox 1770

Richard Dormer. Lane End. 1752. Wife Rachel.

John Gunnell. 1798. Probably not the same as John Gunnell apprentice above.

Ralph Gunnell. 1713-41. Also rendered Gunhill. The central letter h was seldom pronounced in the past.

William Gunnell. 1700 to death 1701. Lived High Street. Wife Elizabeth.

John Haywood 1704 (also given as Howard)

John Moss. 1798.

Ralph Rolls. 1740-47. High Street.

Clark Webb. 1731.

1820s recreated trade directory part 1 here and part 2 here

1600's trade directory part 1 - here and part 2 here

1810s recreated trade directory part 1 here

For a list of occupiers of both residential and commercial properties for Quoiting Square / Place (Coiting Place) in the 1700's see here and for Dean Street here High Street here and Chapel Street here.

To find out more about everyday life in old Marlow see the post listing here

All mentions of an individual on the blog can be found in the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. Additional research Kathryn Day. 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use information from this research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog. Thanks.

Panton Villas and the Nutt family.

 

Panton Villas are two houses within Glade Road Marlow. From circa 1893 to circa 1899 the Nutt family lived in one of the two. Sadly I am not sure which one! 

Francis, born in Oxford, was a master tailor offering all the latest styles and materials or so he promised. Before he came to Marlow he worked for Messrs Wyatt at Minster Street, Reading. He later ran his own Marlow  business out of his home in Panton Villas. A pair of the best tweed trousers crafted by Francis would cost you 12s 6d and up. He had "thousands" of patterns for customers to choose from. After selecting your item, style and fabric, Francis would craft your garments on a made to measure basis. "All kinds of work executed at the lowest prices."

His wife Margaret may have been his cousin as her maiden name was also Nutt. She was born in County Mayo Ireland to an Irish mother and an English father. Her father was a glazier, just like her future husband Francis's widowed mother (presumably running a glazing business was meant by this as I am unaware of female glaziers working in a hands on way at that time).

In 1896 Margaret gave birth to a daughter Margaret Lucy at home in Panton Villas. She and Francis already had a daughter Frances and son Frederick. 

Francis was the District Secretary of the National Deposit Friendly society and hosted many of their meetings at home in Panton Villas. These friendly societies worked to a similar end as Slate Clubs, to provide an affordable kind of health/unemployment insurance for working men and their families. You can read more about these kind of organisations in Victorian Marlow here

At some time after 1899 but before the 1901 census the family moved to nearby High Wycombe. Francis took over the shop of Mr Evans at number 10 Crendon Street Wycombe.

Sadly their daughter Frances died aged 27 in 1915.

Sources include:

Marriage and birth certificates obtained from the GRO.

Census my transcriptions except High Wycombe 1901 which was by Jane Pullinger, National Archives Kew.

South Bucks Standard April 13th & August 3rd 1894 and April 5th 1901 copies held at British Library and accessed via the BNA. 

Marlow Guide 1903 

Marlow "Almanack" & Directory 1907. 

GRO Death Registration Index.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

1700s Quoiting Square People

The following occupied property in Quoiting Square, or Quoiting Place as it was then known, during the 1700s. Dates next to each persons entry are for when I know they were in Quoiting Square. Most of those listed did not own the properties they occupied. I have noted owners here only when they have a family link to the occupier. In some cases who owned the property is unknown to me. It is usually impossible to know exactly which property is being referred to- but I am working on it! Finding names of 1700s residents anywhere is very difficult. The fact I have any at all for any street in Marlow is down only to years of research. I'll never be able to find everyone but along with Kathryn I'll give it my best shot!

1700s residents of Chapel Street are available here and Dean Street here.

Mrs? Allen renting house and garden 1797.

James Biggs- 1717 occupier of a property.

John Butler. Part occupier of a cottage 1729. Robert Johnson occupied the other part. The cottage was owned by John's relative Robert Gray the Elder.

Richard Bye. Tenant of a property 1792.

Charles Carter. Occupier of a property but not it's owner 1729.

Sarah Davis. Tenant of a property 1792.

Thomas Gray. Occupier of a property 1729. Property owned by his father Robert.

Thomas Harmon, bargemaster. Owner and occupier of a house 1717 to death 1721.

Samuel Harmon. Resident of house adjoining the Salem Chapel 1796.

Roger Howard. Tenant 1717.

Robert Johnson part occupier of a cottage along with John Butler 1729. 

John Lattemore, brewer. Rented part of "the great cellar near Quoiting Place" 1739. This "Great Cellar" intrigues me but sources are thin. It had an ownership which was hazy and which caused legal dispute at least once. It seems anyone who could get down to it might use a corner! I think it was on the North side of West Street and was under multiple properties.

John Phillips occupied a cottage 1717.

George Rackstraw tenant of a two bedroom cottage and yard 1785.

Mary Stiles, widow. In 1717 occupied a home owned by her brother Thomas Harmon. He left this property to her in his will which was proved 1721. After her life it was to go to her son Richard Stiles. This may be the Quoiting Square property a John Stiles left in his will written 1751 to his relative Richard Smith.

James Toppall occupier of a property 1717.

John Topp. Tenant 1717.

The majority of this information comes either from wills I have ordered from the National Archives and transcribed, has been extracted from scouring property related documents from the Centre For Buckinghamshire Studies or has been extracted from auction reports, court cases or personal letters variously held. It is likely I have more people to add as my research notes are still largely unsorted.

1700s street listings for elsewhere in Marlow will be provided when time permits.

To search for people of interest on the blog use the Person Index option on the drop down menu. For more Quoiting Square content try the Specific Shops, Streets Etc menu option.  

For landlord listings for historic Quoiting Square premises see here 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this original research for family or local history purpose with credit to this blog and a link here.

The Poaching Perrys

The men of the Perry family of Dean Street / Hatches Row Great Marlow were notorious for their prolific, unapologetic and at times violent poaching in the 1800s.

The main suspects were brothers William and John Perry, sons of Joseph and Sarah (née Heather, married 1803). William was born circa 1804 and John in 1810.

Look them up on the census or other records and they tend to appear as harmless agricultural labourers and in William's case a beer seller too but at the end of that working day their other, to them probably more important work, began. It's a bit of a surprise that any game survived locally!

The first conviction for William I found was in 1830 when he received 3 months in jail for poaching. In 1838 he was fined for illegal use of a gun, while in 1839 he was forced to pay up after being caught trespassing in search of game. By 1840 he was already described as a notorious and long standing poacher. That year he was caught poaching by a gamekeeper at Shottesbrook. William beat the gamekeeper about the head with the butt of his rifle and escaped. Reports of the incident lead to two Windsor policeman pursuing and arresting him. Could they hold him between them? No. The Perrys were consistently described as tall, heavy built men. William was one of those in Marlow who sometimes fought with cudgels for a share of a prize pot. This sport had its heyday in Marlow late 1700s to about 1840s. He was said to be one of the best fighters in Buckinghamshire.

If William thought he would get away with attacking the gamekeeper however he was wrong. The Windsor constables he escaped from knew exactly who he was and where he lived.

Marlow Parish Constable Henry Stallwood, another Constable Daniel Cox, Tithing Man (Marlow was divided into East and West Tithings each with a man responsible for certain criminal matters on their patch) James Cox and Constable Horton from Windsor got together to try to take William into custody. They didn't expect it to be easy.

James Cox must have drawn the short straw as he was the one to knock on William's door.

The constables went round the back.

William was in and asked for the warrant to be read out in full to him, perhaps giving himself time to weigh up his options. John Perry the brother of William shouted at him to run away and save himself. His friend Charles Gibbons used the "say it backwards" language of criminals in those days to urge the same "t'nod og!" [don't go with him, the constable] . Horton however cuffed William and escorted him towards the door. A man called Richard Carr came in causing a distraction (not necessarily on purpose) and John Gibbons another friend of the Perrys who was also already on the premises attacked Horton and freed William. A different Constable stepped up and seized William getting him as far as the street. Horton followed and also took hold of the prisoner. At this point someone struck him on the head. Others including Charles Mould and Charles Gibbons moved in to try to rescue William once more. Horton had a staff as part of his official kit and used it to prevent this. People began pouring out of their houses in support of William until an estimated 100 people had gathered. Some openly called for the Constables to be killed. Horton was repeatedly hit by Charles Gibbons and Charles Mould and set on by a bulldog before being knocked unconscious with a stick. It was thought Charles Gibbons was responsible for that blow. A James Richardson dragged Horton away down a side way and confiscated his staff.

William made something of a run for it, to the cheers of the crowd, but the other constables did manage to capture him. They also recovered the unconscious Horton and sat up all night tending him. Later they successfully arrested James Richardson, Charles Gibbons and Charles Mould. All would be jailed for several months for their part in events.

Considering all these convictions it is a puzzle to see just how William managed to get a beer house licence. These had to be renewed yearly and you were supposed to have good character to get one. Yet time after time William was allowed to keep his beer house the Fox and Pheasant (appropriate title!) in Dean Street. He and his wife Avis (née Butler, married Great Marlow 1829), were there by 1861. William was still listed as landlord in the late 1860s when he was fined for being open illegal hours.

His last poaching conviction was in 1876. The weary sitting magistrate said that that occasion was the 10th time he alone had sentenced William, mostly for similar poaching offences.

William died in 1880 at the quoted age of 73 or 74 after falling out of a tree in Datchett whilst gathering walnuts and apples for his employer John Langley the fruiterer. It was thought a dizzy spell brought on by heart disease caused the accident. He fractured his spine in the fall. Avis had predeceased him. 

What of his brother John?

He started his criminal career in traceable records with a charge of handling a stolen silver pocket watch in 1829 when he was 19. In 1840 he was fined 10 shillings for shooting at the sign of the Fighting Cocks pub in Dean Street, causing it damage. Inebriated poaching practice? William East was charged with the same offence. The Easts seemed to have had something of a shakey on-again off-again relationship with the poaching Perrys. (Thomas East was one of those who witnessed the fight occasioned by William's arrest and gave evidence against Richardson in that case.)

In 1842 he was described as a "stout, resolute poacher" in the Windsor and Eton Express. The Marlow constable Henry Stallwood surprised him in bed with a warrant for his arrest on multiple charges of poaching at Fawley. Stallwood must have had a short memory as he believed John when he promised that he would come quietly and waited for him to dress himself before taking him outside. Can you guess what happened next?

Yes, John shoved him aside and ran off. Several days later Stallwood had another go. He found John in a beer house. John made no pretence of going quietly that time and struggled. Stallwood threatened to show him the work his Constable's staff could do if he kept resisting. John ignored him and ended up so badly injured his life was feared for. Despite having multiple severe head injuries and a badly bruised body he stood trial, found guilty and sent to jail for 14 months.

While he was being help in the lock up prior to trial various Dean Street women and men gathered outside the premises and urged him with their shouts to try to escape. They presumably didn't realise how badly he was injured at the time.

Did this experience put him off offending? 

Not a bit. As "John Perry the notorious poacher" he was back on trial for the same in 1843. 

He teamed up with his brother William in 1844 for another bout of poaching. In 1884 John tells the J P at his latest trial for shooting game, that now he's over 70 he will "go poaching no more". Knowing John he probably meant he would try not to be caught any more! The justices awarded John a £2 fine, promised  future angelic behaviour not withstanding. 

Joseph and Sarah Perry had two more sons - George born 1813 and Samuel born 1804. Both were convicted poachers. Samuel (m Mary Ann Miller) also ran the small Rose and Crown beer house in Dean Street by 1842. Samuel died in a tragic accident, falling from a ladder which gave way under him while he was gathering walnuts in 1844. Historic landlords listing for this pub is on the blog here

He served 3 months in jail for poaching in 1830 and a further 2 months for the same in 1837.

Poaching wasn't his only crime - he was jailed for being part of a gang that burgled a house in 1831 and stole 2 great coats, 2 pairs of breeches and sundry other articles.

Samuel's grandson Alfred Perry features in my History of Marlow Bridge post here

George received an unusually large fine of £5 for poaching in 1840. If he failed to pay it he was to be jailed for 3 month instead. He had been caught on the land of Colonel Higginson.

The same year he and his brother John were caught poaching together and described as "incorrigible poachers" when jailed again for two and three months respectively. Later reminisces recalled many a "desperate and more or less bloody struggle" between later parish constables Richard Davis and Tom Walker and a Perry or two. 

Later generations of Perry men clocked up their own poaching convictions too. The last I saw evidenced was in the 1930s.

Of course not all Perry men poached. I think it is fair to say too that the family seemed to have been thought of affectionately by those reminiscing about the old poaching days. If you weren't a poacher or an official they may have been perfectly nice to you. Something made those 100 people come out to support William that time. Poachers were arrested all the time, especially in Dean Street without the arresting officials being subjected to that much hatred.

The Perry women had no criminal convictions that I can find except Keziah (née Warwick married 1853) wife of a James Perry. She managed to get into a fair amount of trouble generally and was jailed in for stealing money from a shop till. I am uncertain how this James relates to the poaching Perry family above. He was the son of James and Ellen/ Eleanor. His brother Joseph went on to be landlord of the Fighting Cocks.

Sarah Perry mother of the Perry poachers and widow of Joseph worked as a lacemaker during her long widowhood. Elizabeth wife of John (née Coleshill m 1832) was a seamstress.

The trade of wooden skewer making was once a Marlow speciality. Various Perry men worked in that trade and and are amongst those that are featured in this skewer making post.

There was a wealthy lawyer named Nicholas Perry in Marlow in the 1600s. I have transcribed his will and it can be read here.  There were Perry residents of Dean Street by the mid 1780s.

*To find all mentions of an individual on this blog choose the Person Index on the drop down menu*

Post written and researched by Charlotte Day, with additional research by Kathryn Day. 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this research for local or family history purposes if you credit this blog and link here so that my sources also remain credited. Thanks.

Sources:

Censuses Great Marlow 1841, 51, 61, 71, 81 my transcription from microfilm.

Great Marlow Parish Registers, my transcriptions.

GRO Marriage Index.

Property records in my family.

Reading Mercury May 1840, 2nd December 1844.

Windsor and Eton Express 27th October 1838, 15th August 1840, 26th February 1842.

Bucks Herald 17th July 1841 and 14th August 1880.

Bucks Gazette 5th March 1831.

South Bucks Standard 25th October 1884 & 7th April 1899

Newspaper copies above are in the British Library Archives and supplied by the BNA. 

James and Sarah Puddifant

James and Sarah (née Tregoe) were a married couple by 1786 when their daughter Ann was baptised at the Salem Chapel (now Christ Church URC), Quoiting Square, Great Marlow. They didn't have far to walk to get to that church living as they did just around the corner in West Street (modern 42). See below.

Sarah was born 1755, the daughter of barber surgeon and peruke maker Timothy Tregoe and Mary his wife. Her family was of Amersham origin.

James was a pawnbroker. On the 1798 posse commitatus (list of those men of fighting age in each town and village) he is stated as lame so his likelihood of being called up to do any fighting was slim.

He was obviously a religious man being a long term subscriber to the biblically inspired poetry of William Lane (on Google Books but really if you haven't read it you are not missing a lot!) as well as being a member of the Marlow branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1812 he donated £1 2 shilling to them for instance.

James died in 1816- Sarah would live on for another 24 years. Death notices give her age then as 85 so she was born circa 1755.

In his will James calls himself a gentleman. The majority of his personal possessions went to his "dear wife" Sarah and daughter Ann Millard but his sisters Mary, Susannah and Hannah also got a legacy of £10 each, his brothers John and Thomas £2 2 shillings each with bequests also to niece Mary Gray and nephews William Godfrey and James L...b..

There was another daughter Keziah (biblical name, once common) baptised at the Salem Chapel to James and Sarah. Perhaps she did not survive her childhood as neither she or any likely descendants are mentioned in her father's will.

Wife Sarah and a Timothy Tregoe were the will's executors. This was Sarah's brother Timothy Tregoe the watchmaker. By the time the will was proved it was a bit out of date as Timothy had died a few months previously. Sarah was the executor of Timothy's will too and inheritor of all her brother's Marlow property as although he had married Timothy apparently had no surviving issue. What that property consisted of isn't itemised in the will but contained at least one house rented out for profit. Sarah was asked by Timothy to pay out of her rental income 15 shillings a year to a faithful servant he had had.

Sarah continued to live in West Street. From the obituary given to her in the Reading Mercury when she died we know that she spent much time doing good during her life in Marlow. The paper said she had been for over half a century as a member of her church an "exemplar" "an excellent woman" and "attentive friend to the poor". The Aylesbury News agreed that she was well known for her benevolence  and generosity and that she had been every ready to spend time at the bedsides of the sick. "A lady more revered for her kindness" could not be found. 

In 1825 she was amongst those present when the minister of her church, George Edwards, criticised a young Sunday School teacher for allowing children to skip Sunday School, with him implying that this was down to her immoral character. The allegation was seen as extraordinary by many in his congregation including Sarah as was the use of the pulpit to make such a complaint. The falling out of minister and flock over this caught the attention of local and national newspapers. George sued the Times for slander over the nature of their coverage of his troubles. In that slander case Sarah Puddifant was one of those who gave evidence in a London Court about what she had heard the minister say and the aftermath. You can read more about this case in a post specifically about it here

Sarah's will was written in 1838 and proved in 1840 when she was approx 83. She appointed as executors and trustees of her personal property John Gibbons, a fellow West Street resident, and Jabez Millard of Grays Inn London.

The main legatee named was her granddaughter Sophia Harris, wife of John Harris who "by her husband's civil conduct lives with me". Not sure what was going on in that situation! Was Sarah being sarcastic??  As well as the interest from Sarah's investments Sophia got half the household furniture in their home and all residual property Sarah possessed. Grandson Alfred Millard got the rest of the furniture, a share of the principle of the money Sarah had invested and her leasehold property in the village of Penn near High Wycombe (her paternal grandmother Mary had come from Penn).

The rest of the principle of the money she had invested went to her granddaughter Ann Burton.

Witnesses to the will were High Street chemist Robert Footitt, Hezekiah Groom a linen draper of Woolwich and one Daniel Groom.

Extra notes= James and Sarah were both witnesses to the will of Mary Crompton written 1786. Sarah was also witness to the will of Catherine Allnutt written 1819.

Timothy Tregoe was one of the executors of the will of Thomas Ollis landlord of the Three Tuns next door to the Puddifants.

More pub content can be found by looking at the Pub Related option on the menu. All mentions of someone on this blog can be found on the Person Index. To read about others who ran businesses in West Street see the "Specific Shops, Streets...Etc" option on the menu.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

**DO YOU, LIKE THE PUDDIFANTS, HAVE A FAMILY CONNECTION TO CHRIST CHURCH? IF SO, YOU MAY LIKE TO COMMEMORATE YOUR ANCESTOR BY SUPPORTING CHRIST CHURCH WALK OF LIGHT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS - SEE  Here FOR MORE INFORMATION**

Sources:

Will transcriptions by me of the wills of James Puddifant, Sarah Puddifant, Catherine Allnutt and Mary Crompton. All wills obtained from the National Archives.

The Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1812. Digitized by Google.

Property records held by my family.

The English Reports [law] volume 130. W Green. 1912.

Reading Mercury. January 25th 1840. Copy held in the British Library and accessed via the BNA.

Baptisms of Ann and Keziah Puddifant Microfilm of Independent Chapel Great Marlow baptismal registers, library of the LDS church.

Posse Comitatus from Jane Pullinger who went to the LDS Family History Library.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse content for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here. Thanks.

The Grave Of The Lester Children, Holy Trinity Church, Great Marlow

 Sadly the angel above this grave toppled down about 6 years ago and some of the pieces have vanished including the angel's head.

"In Loving Memory of dear little Raymond. Younger son of F W & E C Lester who passed away 16 Sept 1903, age 6 Years

ALSO OF 

Stewart, the dearly loved eldest son of the above who passed away Apr 13 1907 age 12 years. "Oh rest in the Lord, Wait patiently for him."

Raymond's birth and death registrations give his full name as Herbert Charles Raymond, and in turn Stewart's given name in full was Frederick William Stewart Lester.

Frederick William U Lester and Eliza Caroline  Lester were proprietors of Clayton Arms at the time of Raymond's death, and had moved to the Red Lion by 1911. Frederick senior was born in Suffolk, and Eliza in Wembley. She was née Batterber. They married 1893, Chelsea Registration district. The children, which include a daughter Irene b.1893, were all born in London. Irene is then given the surname Batterber but later used Lester. She went on to assist her mum in running the Red Lion. Frederick senior died in 1910, completing what must have been an appalling decade for Eliza and Irene.

Source - GRO Birth, Marriage  and Death Registration index. 

Kathryn's landlord listings database and Charlotte's census transcriptions.

To find other graves on the blog see the Graves option on the menu. Also take a look at the Pub Related and Person Index options on the menu to help you find what you need.

© Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use these images or research for family and local history purposes if you credit this blog and link back here. 

Menageries And Moving Pictures - Marlow Fair Memories *Updated Jan 2024*

If your ancestors lived in Marlow at any point up to the early Edwardian era, Marlow Fair would likely have figured largely in their lives. The fair was an old one, but this post isn't the story of the granting of charters and the like. Instead we want to concentrate on describing what living in the town was like when the fair arrived, and what it was like to visit the event. There was also a May Fair but this post is concerned with the October event, which survived the longest.

Originally held on October 18th, St. Luke's Day, it was extended to 3 days and then reduced to 2 in the 1770's, by which time it had also moved date to October 29th. It moved back to a 3 day event at the end of it's life. 

Most of the descriptions we have of the fair come from the last decades of it's existence when many considered it had become an embarrassing anachronism not least because it was held in the town centre streets. These descriptions were given mainly by those who wanted to abolish the event, the councillors and journalists whose day job as town centre traders left them with little love for the fair. Reading these, it can leave you with the impression that the fair was so despised that the showman and traders travelled great distance to attend an event in tumbleweed strewn streets, watched perhaps by pickpockets and drunks with everyone else staying home waiting for the horror to be over. In reality, traders kept coming back because trade was good, and while the original purposes of the fair may have changed, business was brisk enough. I hope to make this description as balanced as possible and also give a voice to those who looked forward to October 29th with more joy than trepidation, using original sources. 

Surviving images of the fair leave no doubt that it was disruptive to traffic, with booths and caravans or "vardos" lining the streets. It occupied the High Street, Causeway, West Street, Quoiting Square, Oxford Road, Spittal Street, Station Rd and Chapel Street, as well as Crown Meadow, or Riley Recreation Ground as we now know it. For traders in the High Street area, getting on with business during these few days was clearly going to be a problem. References to the unsanitary arrangements of the horse drawn caravans, who obviously had no plumbing, give an insight into another practical difficulty! Many of the traders got fed up with looking out of their shop windows on crowds spending their coin elsewhere, and with disruption putting off others from venturing out at all, several shut up their shops for the two days. Others took the precaution of boarding up their windows in areas where livestock was sold, in case a runaway beast should do any expensive damage. Horned cattle were eventually banned, and restrictions were also placed on the sale of pigs. Sheep feature mainly in pre Victorian descriptions if talking about large numbers of them, but they did continue to be traded throughout. 

Those writing about the fair at the time often struggled to square the circle of their own opinion (the fair is dirty and disliked by all, trade is dull) and the contrary evidence before them. For example in 1898 we are told by the writer in the South Bucks Standard that the fair was opposed in all influential quarters and continued to "defy public opinion" by turning up at all. He hoped the event would soon die from indifference. However he also noted the streets were crowded on the first day despite heavy downpours and remained so until late at night. So many people making an effort to turn out in the rain to an event nobody wanted to go to! And despite saying trade was poor, he admitted almost all of the horses put up for auction found a buyer.

WHAT YOU COULD DO AT MARLOW FAIR

In its early incarnation the fair was there to allow the sale of farm stock and produce but there was always a pleasure element. Each day was technically devoted to the sale of certain categories but as time went on, this became more blurred. The first day was usually devoted to horses and cattle, and also formed a statute day for hiring of farm servants. If your ancestor was seeking a long term job on a farm, they would head to the fair, wearing a symbol of their skilled agricultural trade, or carrying a tool to indicate what they did. Farmers could then approach them, conduct an interview and conclude a legally binding arrangement for employment for a fixed term such as 6 months or a year. The hiring aspect tends to get mentioned most pre 1830's but there are plenty of examples of people gaining casual work there until the fairs street based end. Helping to erect or take down the booths or manage the horses were popular ways to earn a little extra. 

Farmers and businessman travelled from all over the region to buy the horses and stock on offer. Marlow fair was regarded as somewhere to buy the very finest Welsh ponies and cobbs. In 1839 it was called "one of the first marts in England for the number, quality and superior breed of cart colts." The sellers could be more sure here of a good price and ready sale than almost anywhere else. Description of the trade done was considered worth reporting in the papers far and wide. In 1849, a good 2 year old colt would cost you between £32 and £35. Gradually trade decreased from this height but it was subject to lots of fluctuations reflecting the agricultural economy as a whole. It was still a place people met dispersed family - an annual family reunion for farming folk as one contemporary put it - describing how many attended in their best clothes.

Day two (and three when it existed) was for "all kinds of wares." Cheese, butter and hops get frequent mentions, along with toys and clothing in the late 18th and early 19th century. As the 19thc goes on, there were more side shows, rides and entertainments on offer, not to mention the traditional gingerbread and cake stalls. In the 1887 the goods for sale were summed up as "all things dear to the heart of little children."  Another stall offered cheap art prints of the finest quality. Or so they said. 

In 1892, a journalist reminiscing on Marlow Fairs past, noted it was once renowned for it's onion sales, with heaps of them to be seen in every direction. Vegetables also featured in vast quantities early on, less so later. 

There was also a time when traders, especially smaller ones, welcomed the fair for other reasons  - stocking up their own shop supplies. The South Bucks Standard Marlow guide of 1891 noted that the older inhabitants "still remember a time when the Gipsy dealers bought in large stores of all kinds of merchandise, which in great part provided the shop keepers with their goods for the year." 

MENAGERIES AND MOVING PICTURES

George Stevens, a Marlow man who wrote a series of nostalgia pieces for the local press in the 1890s, reflected too on the 1840s fairs. He recalled the excitement of seeing Wombwell's Menagerie, complete with elephants and other wild animals. They paraded down Henley Road, proceeded by a band, a day before the fair proper. Setting up in Quoiting Square, the shows took place in a tent with Crown meadow used for some of the vehicles. Space must have been at a premium. The less well off probably seized the chance to catch a glimpse of the exotic beasts as they arrived, as admission was regarded as a bit more expensive than to other shows. (1 shilling in 1869, with reductions for those under 10.) Wombwells visited Marlow for decades, under different owners and had the distinction of claiming Royal patronage in the 1860's - they had exhibited before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle twenty years before. It also visited outside of fair time, on a regular basis, usually setting up in Crown Meadow. The same can be said of some of the other attractions. 

Wild animals unfortunately continued to pop up throughout the Victorian period, with a lion keeper in 1898 narrowly escaping with his life after a lioness attacked him. This man, Monsieur Viola, was part of Biddalls Menagerie this time using the Market Square. He recieved large lacerations to his torso and legs and his clothes were left in shreds. A surgeon was called and it seems he survived his injuries. (Incidentally Biddall's gave an entertainment at the 1890 fair in aid of the Marlow cottage hospital raising over £4 and Mr Bailey whose roundabouts filled the Causeway also made a substantial donation to the same cause in 1891, while Mrs Wilson, roundabout proprietor occupying Strong Beer Acre 1898 sent  the entirety of her Friday afternoon takings to the same cause. This is just a selection of fundraising by the fair people occuring every year the late Victorian period. Mrs Wilson gave a generous charitable donation at every place she went to in fact.)

Quite how the farm animals felt with predators caged close at hand must be wondered at! (An account of the 1867 fair says the hugely popular Manders Menagerie "somewhat interfered with the cattle fair". ) The ponies were exhibited in Oxford Road, with cart horses in West Street and cattle and other livestock took up Crown Meadow. A separate auction of working animals and vehicles was carried on at the Crown, taking advantage of the gathered crowds. West Street was also the place to go for equestrian accessories stalls selling items such as whips. 

Swing boat rides feature in 1840's descriptions and were still mentioned  in the final fair to be be held in the streets in 1903. They were regarded then by some as a sort of nostalgic throwback to fairs of yore. Originally placed in Quoiting Square once the horse sales were over, they later tended to occupy spots in the Causeway and Spittal Square, or the Common Slough as that was then known. Plum spots were regarded as the Market Place and the Spittal Square, because they could house the larger and most exciting attractions.

Knife throwing acts were perpetual favourites, with Biddall's show in the Market Square regarded as the most popular attraction in 1892. (The show was also stationed in Spittal Square on occasion.) A lady stood in the traditional manner while knives were thrown - hopefully - around her outline. Breaks is another knife throwing entertainment that came to Marlow, also occupying Market Square. Biddalls also offered feats of "jugglery", and rope dancing performed by a young girl. An occasional waxworks joined the fun such as Sedgwick's Menagerie and Waxwork in 1889. 

Travelling theatres featured heavily in the first three quarters of the 19thc eventually giving away to peep shows, cinematoscopes and moving picture shows. George Stevens, mentioned above, earned extra money by painting scenery for these theatres while they were in town. The theatres did not produce plays in the main, but included things like comic performances, and in 1838 a pipe smoking wheelbarrow wheeling monkey featured in William's theatre!

Here's an idea of some of the other attractions of 1880's fairs - In Quoiting Square was Taylor's Naval and Military warfare exhibition plus "Birds Galloping Horse Circus" while in Market Square you could encounter boxing booths, and see models of steam engines and silk machines shown by Mr Gregory. The Causeway was the place to go for Baileys Steam Circus while food stalls, photography tents and "cocoa nut throwing" booths popped up all over. A steam powered roundabout with "galloping horses" set up outside the George and Dragon in 1886 when it was the top attraction of that years event. In the 1890's there's more mention of steam powered roundabouts, as well as shows in booths, whose nature can be seen by the fact the public "were informed by printed placards that females would not be admitted." Apparently putting up these signs caused a rush of men to the shows concerned. The show people were clever marketers after all! Other peep shows included "The Horror of War" outside the Chequers in 1889, and an "Exhibition of Startling Events" in Market Square in the same year. In 1902 "animated photographs" joined the attractions. (Before Marlow got it's first cinema basic films were also shown at the Music Room in St Peters Street with special showings at times like Easter). In 1903 a bioscope is mentioned for the first time - more moving pictures. 

Side attractions included "machines" to weigh you (best used before a visit to the sweet stalls),  wheels of fortune, throwing at nine pins (to win a prize of a quantity of nuts) and darts competitions (hit the bullseye for a prize). All of these cost a penny a go in 1872. 

Shooting Saloons were forbidden after 1887, after a bullet from one positioned in the Causeway during the summer regatta smashed a bedroom window in a house next to the George and Dragon, causing much alarm but no serious injuries. (Many of the rides that came to the fair also came for the Regatta, causing "great obstruction" around the Causeway with one roundabout also setting up in St. Peters Street. The council was much less vocal about this issue than the fair, despite the same proprietors attending both. If you see an old photograph labelled as Marlow Fair, have a look at bystanders costumes. If it's summer clothes, it's likely to be a photo of the rides attending the regatta rather than the late October Fair.)

One last performer to mention - an unnamed "wonderful man" who was born without arms but who nevertheless demonstrated his wood carving, neat letter writing and concertina playing abilities. This 1889 "act" could be found in West Street at the junction with Quoiting Square. 

"A DELIGHT OF ANTICIPATION FOR YOUNG AND SOME OF THE OLD"

So is the fair described by George Stevens, looking back to the 1840's. He described the mounting sense of excitement as the date approached and the town began it's preparations. For some traders this meant stocking up on extra provisions to cater for the increased trade. Yes, for every shop that complained of a loss of income occasioned by the rival attractions outside, there were others who looked forward to a bumper few days trade. For example, in 1891 - the Messrs Myrton Bros had laid on "extra stock of provisions to deal with increased demand caused by visitors to Marlow fair" according to their advertising. And in 1896 Death the bakers of West Street advertised their special Marlow Fair ginger nuts and ginger buttons from 4d a pound with the very best quality a snip at 10d a pound - "rich, good, fresh". 

Stevens also remembered speaking to a man named Gunnell who had been born in Marlow in 1770. This man had seen George Alexander Gratton,  known as "the Spotted Boy," exhibited at Marlow Fair by showman John Richardson who also came from Marlow. Little George Alexander had black and white mottled skin and had been bought by the showman. He died age approximately 4, and is buried in Marlow. This is one of several references I have seen to Richardson exhibiting in Marlow.  A full post on young George is available here

TROUBLE AT THE FAIR? 

The perceived influx of ne'er do wells into the Town come fair time was one of the reasons presented as a reason to close it down. Pre and early Victorian records show that pick pocketing and the use of counterfeit coins were a frequent problem although reports of both actually declined as time progressed. Thomas Wyatt discovered £8 worth of counterfeit coinage in his strawyard in 1827, supposed to have been intended for use at the fair. On the other hand, in 1838 the Reading Mercury reported that while the pickpockets had arrived in Marlow, the activities of the officers meant "we did not hear that they had much success." And again in 1865 there was not one recorded incident of robbery or pickpocketing. 

In fact when the parish constables put in a claim for their attendance at the 1868 fair, much grumbling was made as to why they needed to be there at all - there were 9 members of the Bucks constabulary present after all and this was considered more than enough to keep order by the naysayers. 

Those who had been seen to do a few good sales were at risk of being followed on their way home and robbed of their profits. An unnamed local farmer was relieved of £40 in banknotes and 9 guineas in gold coin in this way in 1797. However Constable Thomas Hackshaw was on the case and apprehended the culprits who were sent off to Aylesbury Gaol. 

Fast talking salesman or "Street Jacks" offering poor quality goods or confidence tricksters plying their scams were also a feature, both of these said to move on quickly in order to avoid dissatisfied customers. And of course drunkenness was also to be found. But despite the impression given in late Victorian times, things seemed to get much tamer as time wore on. An especially busy fair in 1886 due to fine weather saw "no disturbances" while the show people were said to have behaved themselves perfectly. In 1892 the local papers reported that while extra police were on duty, there had been not a single arrest for pickpocketing or drinking. They reported the same in 1901, that extra police had not been "seen to be called upon in any requisite." A trawl through petty session records supports these eyewitness accounts of declining crime associated with the fair. Mostly it relates to drinking, and the magistrates often took the approach of letting non locals off the hook if they promised to leave town. Not quite the scene of crime that's lingered in the popular imagination! In fact just as many cases of drunkenness were bought before the magistrates at regatta time and far more at Christmas. 

Many of the beer sellers applied for permission to open early on fair days and this was generally granted. This recognised trading could start early in the morning. The White Hart, Greyhound and Coach and Horses were three establishments you could generally rely on to be open should you wish to have an early pot of beer. Clearing the crowded pubs at 11pm was a little more tricky. When it was reported in 1872 that a number of boxing exhibitions would take place at fair time, with a predicted increase in "roughs" attending, the landlords of the Greyhound (George Abbott), the George and Dragon (James Tilbury) and some others applied to the magistrates for the police to be ordered to clear their premises for them just before 11pm. The magistrates thought they would have to ask the chief constable not them, and the latter thought such action unnecessary. They would have extra police on duty and would attend any premises having difficulty if their attention was bought to it. But the victuallers solicitor Ralph Spicer pointed out it was difficult to find a policeman on such a busy day. To no avail. No trouble was in fact reported at closing up time and the only reported crimes at any point were two picked pockets. Incidentally Ralph, who lived in West Street, and Quoiting Square right in the thick of fair action, was absolutely against any plans to suppress the event. He saw "no harm in it." 

 Another cause of complaint was the fact the fairground rides and accompanying organ music continued late into the night. It was suggested in 1898 that the fair men could be asked to cut off their music at 11pm rather than the early hours of the morning! It had been determined that the council probably did not have the power to make a bye law to restrict the noise however. In 1896 the residents of Market Square complained they had been kept awake all night by the roaring of wild animals at a nearby menagerie! A description of the fair from 1879 does make it sound hard on the ears. Most of the stall holders and showman were using "voice trumpets" to make their cries carry further and one man was also using a gong, drum, pipes and a horn. And then there were the barrel organs. 

Other troubles, like perhaps striking a bad bargain are harder to trace. There were also a few minor accidents, mainly relating to rides and attractions. A little boy belonging to one of the fair people, aged 4 or so, run down by a waggon in 1892 is one unnamed example. He was last heard of doing as "well as may be expected." And then there was the freak accident that resulted in the death of a young servant, Elizabeth Townsend in 1886. Elizabeth was walking close to a "strength testing machine" when the man using it lifted the mallet to strike the target and accidentally struck her a blow on the temple instead. She was knocked senseless. Reports then vary as to what happened next. She was either carried still unconscious to the High Street home of her employer Miss Ralfs or she recovered sufficiently on the spot to walk away up the street until she met Dr Culhane who sent her home immediately. Sadly her wound was more serious than first suspected and nothing could be done for poor Elizabeth and she died soon afterwards. Although it was accepted that the man welding the mallet was not guilty of negligence, he had ran off after the accident and I do not believe he was identified. At the inquest it was suggested he was a person temporarily put in charge of the strength tester by its owner who did not know his employees name. The owner had visited Elizabeth before her death to express his sorrow at the incident. 

Lastly there was the problem of litter left behind. Confetti sellers had become a feature of the fair in the last decade of its existence and they also attended the regatta. This obviously left some mess to clear up. As for the refuse left by the fair people themselves, the Rev Whittingstall* was one of the few to point out that they had no means of rubbish disposal available to them and no effort had been made to provide a solution. 

CLANDESTINE GOINGS ON

In 1879 some of the traders and gentry discovered that if just a few of them as rate payers wrote collectively to the Secretary of State to ask for the fairs abolition, the Secretary could consider their request. This needed to be signed by the magistrates, but did not need to be endorsed by an particular number of residents. So a meeting was organised in the Boys schoolroom in the Causeway. It was a private rather than public meeting and only those against the fair were invited.  Word got out and some others attended, 40 people in all. 22 of those voted to petition the Secretary of State. However when the news spread of the action taken in their name, many of those not invited to participate were furious, even those supportive of its demise. A second petition was sent to the Secretary asking him to make no decision until a proper public meeting had been held to discover the town's wishes. A parish vestry was called, and those present at the earlier meeting were met in part with boos and hisses, and much criticism of their "high handed action" . While the idea of removing the pleasure aspect from the street in favour of another location seemed to gather much support, the out right abolition of the fair did not. It had now been ascertained that the Secretary of State could not order the fair to be moved from the streets to a less crowded location, and could not forbid just  the pleasure part of the fair from continuing. He could only order it's complete abolition, and this was not supported. And so no further action was taken.

 The abolition supporters said the cause had been ruined by an influx to the Vestry meeting of the denizens of Well End (Dean Street as we'd call it, not Well End, Little Marlow) and Marefield - in other words the working class. The Maidenhead Advertiser, which was probably the most balanced in its reports of the various camps, pointed out that these people had in fact been specifically invited and their opinions had just as much weight at a parish vestry (in theory at least) as the wealthy. In fairness it must be noted that many wealthier people did support the fair and/or did try to understand why others did. For example Owen Peel Wethered appreciated it was often the one holiday that labourers got and that they much looked forward to it. 

The language used at the first private meeting, as regards the reputed evils and moral dangers of the fair caused amusement in some quarters even at the time. One letter writer to the Maidenhead Advertiser was quite baffled by these peoples description of the event - he said he'd never witnessed anything at all objectionable there. Of course for some any game of chance, of which the fair had many, was regarded as a form of gambling that would lead the poor into a downward spiral. Just seeing someone spending their money on an activity "debasing to public morality" was enough to make it objectionable in their eyes. 

THE END IS NIGH

The amount of agricultural trade done at the fair declined from it's pre and early Victorian days gradually. It's demise in this guise was predicted from the 1870's as we've seen but it continued for decades. In 1898 those residents living in the streets immediately occupied by the fair such as Oxford Rd and West Street (up to Quoitings Square) had been asked to append their names to a notice either pro of against pursuing the abolition of the fair. The result was 15 persons for its continuance and 105 against. While considering the wishes of those most immediately affected by the fair was obviously important, it meant that the vast majority of Marlow's residents and in particular the poorer ones, had not had their opinions considered. 

Later that year the Marlow Urban District Council wrote to General Owen Williams esq who had the right to collect the fair tolls, as without his support, cancelling the fair would be virtually impossible. (For example the tolls were 2d of each animal sold, 2d for a small booth, and 1s to 10s for larger ones in 1892.*) They did not receive an immediate response but Williams agent promised to speak to his employer about it. Williams had however replied to a query from the Marlow Rate Payers Association to say he had frequently recieved letters and petitions related to the abolition of the fair. But he had never acted on them as on closer enquiry it proved that "it was by no means the desire of the majority of the people of Marlow that the fair should be abolished." He added that for all those that were inconvenienced by the event, there were still more who were bought pleasure by it. He regarded himself as a "guardian" of this very old institution. Furthermore he said the fair was very well managed and the attendees "very well conducted". Abraham Baldwin of the aforementioned Ratepayers Association generally agreed. Abraham added that if there was a sanitary concern related to the holding of the street fair, why had the town's sanitary inspectors not used any of their powers to deal with it? He considered they had made no effort at all to this end. He also considered that if the fair was moved to somewhere further from the town centre, it would lead to an increase in immorality rather than the opposite. The goings on would be less public and open you see!

Not to be deterred, the council wrote again to Williams in 1899. He responded that he had received a second petition, this one in favour of KEEPING the fair. He noted that this latter had the support of many working class people and the smaller traders.  Sweetly some worried children had added their names to this pro fair petition too. Williams thought that the working classes would overall be more interested in keeping things as they were, and asked if the council had actually asked the voters their views. It seems they still had not done so in a comprehensive way, as they then arranged a canvas of rate payers and electors. They went house to house and you could also vote in the Post Office. Turn out was very small but the tally such as it was read - For abolition 263, against 151, neutral 96, did not vote 300. This was enough for the council and they wrote again to General Williams. He had previously said he would act if this was the wish of the majority of the population. In the end he changed his mind, and accepted the vote in which a minority of the population had voted at all, let alone for the fairs abolition. He agreed to support the councillors proposal if he was compensated for the loss of income from the tolls. A subscription fund was set up in 1902 with this in mind. 

In the meantime, the authorities decided to restrict what they could of the event. The police did not have the power to stop the fair while it had its charter, even if they wanted to. Rules were instead introduced by the local councils to limit when the stalls and show people could arrive in town and how soon they had to leave. Some did question whether they had the authority to ask the fair people to do the latter, as they were told to clear out by 10am on day three and many remembered  that the fair had a three day charter even if they had not used the third day often in recent years. (Some stalls stayed and traded on day three regardless of the official arrangements. Eg in 1886 30 stalls were still present and open for business on the Monday, when the fair had started Saturday.)  An attempt in 1903 to restrict the arrival time of the fair people to after 3pm did not work out well as the roundabouts and caravans were just forced to queue on the Berkshire side of the bridge, blocking passage of traffic. Nevertheless the subsequent setting up of stalls and rush for a good spot was said to be conducted in "an orderly manner."

  In 1901 it was decided that no one could set up any kind of booth or tent that in any way involved disturbing the surface of the streets. At a stroke, this made it impossible to safely erect many of the rides and attractions. The fact that posts for tying horses to could no longer be knocked into the road caused chaos at the horse fair in West Street. 

Alfred Ball, proprietor of the Market Square "Cinematograph" exhibit in 1901 was summoned for damaging the surface of the road which had recently been repaired with broken granite and steam rolled. He had driven in some small iron pegs to secure his large booth. In his defence, he stated that he had attended Marlow Fair for 20 years and had always used them. Any such restrictions would be the death of the fair he added, which no doubt was the point. He was fined 20s plus costs. The necessity of fixing booths properly was demonstrated in 1887 when an overnight gale knocked over several. No one was thankfully hurt. 

NOT IN MY BACK YARD

When the circular asking for donations towards the Williams compensation fund was put out, a suggestion was included that perhaps the fair didn't need to disappear altogether but could be moved to somewhere off the streets, perhaps Crown Meadow (which was already used by the fair). This upset an anonymous letter writer to the South Bucks Standard who said that if the event was such a nuisance, why should moving it to a different part of town be considered a reasonable solution, as it was just handing on the problem to others. He or she also cast doubt on how representative the ballot on removing the fair had been - "from what I have seen in this neighbourhood of late, I am of the opinion that the working classes are more in favour of carnivals than ever." 

Plans to make the abolition of the fair a memorial for the Coronation of Edward the 7th came to nothing. But in 1903 enough funds had been raised to pay off General Williams so steps were taken to apply formally to the Home Secretary for the axing of the fairs Charter. The last event to be held in the streets was therefore 1903. Local photographer J Badger went out and took many pictures, one appearing in the South Bucks Standard, with prints available from Mr Badger. He obviously felt there would be enough nostalgia for the event to make his efforts worthwhile! 

The horse sale at this last street wide event was described as well patronised and good prices were recorded at the accompanying equine auction at the Crown. 

In 1904 Williams received his money but what of the fair? It's fate had been described as "up to the fair people." But the horse and cattle fair was held in the Star Meadow in 1904 with the pleasure part in the Crown Meadow, complete with Alfred "Professor" Ball's Cinematograph after all. It is definitely not the case that the fair ceased to have any kind of agricultural function by the time it left the streets. 

In 1908, Mr Porter's meadow off Dedmere Road was also hosting rides and the event was back to 3 days in length. From 1910, both the pleasure and much reduced cattle and horse fair were to be held in Star Meadow but just to confuse things, the animal sale and the greater part of the rides then switched back to Crown Meadow. They continued for a number of years there with Star Meadow taking the overflow. The former still saw rides and theatres take up residence at other times too. The show and ride proprietors continued coming to Marlow in October specifically until the outbreak of war saw the cancellation of the 1939 Marlow fair. We now associate the pleasure fair with the summer regatta only. 

The fair could never have lasted long term in the streets in the motor car age, as it stood in 1903. The authorities actions only hastened the inevitable. But it was definitely mourned by many, including the children of Oxford Lane infants school which had previously closed during fair week. The teachers reported little attendance and those that did could scarcely concentrate over the noise of the steam organs in Quoiting Square. 

* In some years in the first half or so of the 19th century, at times of agricultural depression, the tolls were remitted fully or partially. They were then under the control of the then Lord's of the Manor, the Clayton family of Harleyford.

To read about the Edwardian Fair  see here. 

Pets in Marlow History kept by those without an menagerie (but still including monkeys and the like) here.

Written and researched by Kathryn Day

Above - Bottom picture the memorial to enslaved child  George Alexander Gratton, who was used as a show exhibit, and top picture the grave of the Marlow born showman John Richardson who exhibited him and had requested that they should be buried together. More on both here

*Rev Fearnley Whittingstall thought it would be better overall for the fair not to exist anywhere but he recognised that not everyone would agree. He thought that given that fact, it was desirable that the venue should remain somewhere in the town rather than outside it where there would be added difficulty in policing it thoroughly. He was also one of the few to express partial sympathy for the fair people themselves, who he pointed out were in his experience no more likely to contain villainous members than any other group of people. He thought it a pity too that their children should rarely have any schooling and so their "excellent qualities of heart and character" were not more often utilised for the public good. 

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

Sources:

Oxford Journal, 14 April 1764. Copy held at British Library and accessed via the BNA

Encyclopaedia Londinensis, Wilkes, John 1816, J Adlard, London. 

The New British Traveller or Modern Programme of England and Wales, Vol 2, Dugdale, James. 1819 J Robins &Co. 

Robson's Directory 1839

Pigots Directory 1831

Kelly's Post Office Directory 1854, 1883.

South Bucks Standard Marlow Directory, 1891. (Courtesy of Michael Eagleton) 

The Ethics Of Performing Animals, Aflalo, Frederick George, 1900 

Royal County Directory of Beds, Bucks and Berks, 1876

Maidenhead Advertiser 6th November 1872, 5 November 1887, 2 November 1898 - Bayliss Media Archive. 

 South Bucks Standard 17 July, 1896, 30 October 1891, 4 November 1892, 12 August, 7 October & 4 November 1898, 8 December 1899, 6 April 1900, 8 November 1901, 9 May 1902, 30 October & 6 November 1903, 30 October 1908, 6 October 1910, copies held at British Library Archive, as above. 

Berkshire Chronicle 8 December 1827, 3 November 1849 as above

Bucks Herald -  6 November 1847, 28 March 1885, 6 August 1887 as above

Reading Mercury 17 November 1791, 03 November 1838, 26 October 1839, 02 November 1867, 25 April 1868, 20 March 1869, 8 November 1890 BNA as above. 

Petty sessions reports, as above. 

Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer November 6 1886, Slough Library. 

©Marlow Ancestors.