Name spellings are as given in the original source, even if this differs from usual as this can help provide an alternative search term to use in other records.
The Verney Arms has been demolished. It stood on the Dean Street car park/Wethered Rd side of the road, not far from Verney Close.
1858 - Date given for granting of first licence in 1872 list of pubs and their owners and occupiers in Bucks Archives. But must have had a different name then as the Verney Arms is said to have received the name from a popular but failed election candidate Captain Verney who stood in 1868 not 1858. Could be a slip of the pen. Multiple records actually show the pub opening in October 1869. These premises were new built.
1869- John Langley moved into the premises in October 1869. He had an opening dinner for 200 friends! They were entertained by a group of 6 singers bought down from London. John gave up some but not all of his farming concerns when he started the Verney, selling off a large number of pigs, some cart horses, waggons etc. He maintained his business as a fruiterer however. The Verney Arms was then new built. John had been landlord at the Royal Exchange until a month before that, a smaller concern (but one that could still host a club dinner for 150) but left after a last unsuccessful attempt to upgrade its licence from just a beer one. Within a few weeks of John opening the Verney Arms police were called in to break up a brawl on the premises! This was probably why John's application for a wine license for his pub was refused. Read more about John and his son also John here
1871 - John Langley, also listed as a fruiterer, employing 8 men and 3 boys. Wife Ann. Their youngest child Kate, age 2, has the middle name "Verney". In 1872 he wanted to open the Verney Arms for longer hours during Marlow Fair but withdrew the application when he realised he'd have to pay for the privilege!
1874 - John Langley - also farmer and fruiterer. The next year he applied for an alehouse license for the premises but was refused. Hosted a dinner at the pub for 40 of his workers plus some neighbouring farmers also in 1875.
1879- Lodgers John Dennis and Benjamin Hatch have their work boots stolen from the stairs of the pub where they left them overnight. A not infrequent hazard of lodging in a Marlow pub! But as labourers, this was a hard loss for the men. Two men from Wycombe who were drinking at the pub on the evening concerned are suspects.
1880 - Landlord John Langley still. A presentation is made at the pub this year to John Langley Jnr son of the landlord, who has just been released from prison for his part (or supposed part) in the 1880 election riots. Read more here
1881 - John Langley, wife Ann. She died shortly afterwards and John moved to the Crown, marrying it's widowed proprietor Susan West in 1883. To read more about this see the post here He was killed in an accident at the Crown 1886. Also in 1881 John is described as a farmer of 230 acres employing 50 men and 8 boys. They sell potatoes at the Verney Arms along with the beer, although John is mainly a wholesale fruit and vegetable dealer. This was an off extremely common Dean Street occupation.
1886 - James Edwards. Came from Chairmaker's Arms Dean Street (more on that pub here). He was sent to numerous Marlow pubs to keep things going if a previous landlord quit, was having difficulties or could not have licence renewed.
1888 - John Langley (Proposed transfer to William Wallace Symes of Reading falls through). This John is the son of the above John Langley for whom you can read a full biography here. His wife is Ellen nee Bristow/Biggs. Also farmer and fruiterer. (See Ellen's grave at Holy Trinity church, Marlow here. And read about Ellen's parents here)
1889 - 1.John Langley 2. James Edwards again (temporary) 3. Thomas Bryce Robinson
1890 - 1. Thomas Bryce Robinson. Accusations that he allowed drinkers on the premises during prohibited hours lost him his license. He had earlier in the year escaped charges of allowing drunkenness on his premises 2. WJ Knight (hold over)
1891 - James Deverill, 2. Thomas B Robbins who moved to the Clayton Arms Chalfont St Peter. Sued next tenant Edwin Funnell for value items left behind for that tenant's use which he said he was supposed to be compensated for.
1892 -E R Funnell
1893 - Transfer from Edwin Richard Funnel to George William Beale
1894 - G W H Beale to William James Knight (hold over - see also 1890 above)
1895 - Transfer from James Deverall Junior and his wife who had become insolvent to James A Young. In some records James Herbert Young not James A Young. See SBS 1896 holding.
1896 - William E Young transfers to Henry Charles Gillett
1898 - Henry Gillett
1901- Herbert Alfred Mills transferred to John Richard Field. (Wife Sophia) Premises known then as The Arms. Herbert lived at Dukes Place in 1902 when he was accused of abandoning his wife and family. He made several further appearances over the next couple of years on the same charge and his wife applied for a separation order in 1904.
1901-1915 John Richard Field. Still sometimes known just as the Arms until 1910 when it is firmly back to Verney Arms. Attempted then to get a spirit licence. Uncertain if accepted. John Field probably still at the pub in 1920. He had a popular billiards table there and hosted the occasional tournament.
1939 - Sophia Field, widow.
Closed in 1940 - Closed for good by the powers that be who were trying to reduce the number of licensed premises in town. Last landlady Sophia Ann Field.
To look for similar posts see the Pub Related option on the menu and to find all mentions of any individual person use the Person Index option on the top menu. More Dean Street related content can be found indexed here
Additional research by Charlotte.
SOURCES INCLUDE
1871,1881,1891 Census transcribed from microfilm by Charlotte.
South Bucks Standard 6th January 1893, 22 May 1896, 25 Jan 1912 . Bucks Herald 28th August 1875 and 10th Jan 1880. Reading Mercury 23rd October 1869. All held at British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA, September 2020 and May 2022.
Bucks Herald 22 August 1874, as above.
Court Cases, trade directories, property transactions and adverts also consulted.
©Marlow Ancestors.
