Updated July 2024
Historic cost of living in Marlow (up to 1940) Part One. Part two concerns the historic cost of fun, leisure and transport in Marlow here. We have gathered these from many period sources- adverts, court cases, letters, auction information etc all specific to Marlow. To put these costs into context see Charlotte's post on wages in Marlow history here.
Homes:
Rent of Widmere Manor, per year 1518 = £12.
Rent of a 2 bedroom cottage with garret, wash house, wood house and garden in St Peters Street 1785 = £6 per annum.
Rent of Albion House West Street 1817, per year = £63.
Annual rent of a 2 bed cottage and garden Dean Street 1829 = £3 10 shillings
Weekly rent of a small cottage West Street, 1862 = 2 sh 6d.
Annual rent for The Parsonage, St Peters Street 1865 = £50
Weekly rent of a 5 room cottage with a garden in West Street 1872 = 2 shillings 6d.
Annual rent of a six bed house with walled garden 1879 =£45
Combined sale price for two 2 bed houses in Station Road 1891 = £250 for the two.
Annual rent of Court Garden estate, (17 room house, and 33 and a half acre grounds including lodge entrance, stabling, kitchen gardens, vineries, peach houses, boat house and creek to river) 1891 = £225. By 1898 this had risen to £300
Danesfield Estate 1896 [mansion, gardens, park, farm etc] sale price = £36,000
Freehold house Weir Cottage sale price 1896 = £1,930
Building plots in the newly laid out Seymour Park Road suitable for bungalows or small villas 1899 = £40-50
Yearly rent of a bungalow in Newtown Road early 1900s = £25.
Down payment required to secure one of several building plots on Newtown Road 1904 (cash only, no credit) = £25
Weekly rent of semi detached cottage Wycombe Road 1905 = 6 shillings 2 pence
Rent for a semi detached villa in Little Marlow Road 1905 = 9 shillings a week
Rent of Quarry Wood House 1908 = £55 a year
Rent of a 2 up 2 down cottage Dean Street with yard and outbuildings 1909 = £13 a year.
Rent of a brick cottage with two bedrooms, kitchen, scullery, store room and pantry (no living room), at Highfields on the outskirts of Marlow 1913 = £18 4 shillings a year.
Rent of 3 bed, 2 downstairs rooms house Marlow 1914 = from 5 shillings 6 pence a week.
And to furnish or maintain your home / garden:
Print showing the cavalry of the Bucks Yeomanry, bought from an artist selling out of the Crown, Market Square 1829 = 1 guinea.
Print of "North West View of Great Marlow Church" by Thomas Rumble, 1835 = 1 shilling 6 pence.
Cheapest clock available from Mr Stradling, "practical clock and watchmaker", High Street, 1862 = 7s 6d.
Pair of solid silver salt cellars and spoons in a case from Rowes the jewellers in High Street, 1894 = 13 shillings 6 pence
Oil table lamp, from Jasper Collins of Chapel Street, 1895 = From 9 and a half pence.
Smokeless kerosene oil for lamps from the above 1896 = 7d a gallon.
Expected cost of hiring a cart from the Marlow Urban District Council to empty your cesspit (you providing the horse to pull it and the labour to actually do the emptying) 1897 = 3 shillings 6d plus 5 shillings refundable deposit to ensure you returned cart in good condition.
Bed quilt, from J Morgan & Sons, 1901 = from 2 to 30 shillings
Cost of hiring the most basic small gas cooking stove from the Marlow Gas Co, per quarter 1901 = 2 shillings (includes repairs but not the cost of the gas itself or the rental of the gas meter)
Dust proof alarm clock from Rowes jewellers in the High Street 1904 = 4 shillings.
"Jewel" Anthracite stove (the latest tech with smokeless operation and little maintenance required they say) from Eddowes ironmongers 1909 = from £2 17 shillings.
1 pound in weight tin of paint for your walls, many colours to choose from, Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 3 shillings.
Plate glass mirror with oak frame, from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 6 and 1/2 pence
Occasional table from Cudes in the High Street 1909 = from 5 shillings 6d.
Complete bedroom suite from G H Cude as above, 1909 = £2 17s 6d Note this didn't include a bed. It comprised dressing chest, wash stand, chair and towel stand, enamelled in any colour.
1 broom from Newman & Chalk, High Street, 1910 = 1s 9d
1 dozen daffodils, picked while you wait, from Millhouse Farm, Marlow Common, 1939 = 2d
For the garden:
Gravel from Mr Allum / Allam Bovingdon Green 1874, per load = 5 pence
Flower seeds from Elliott's in the High street 1882, per packet = 3d
Cauliflower seeds from Elliott's in High Street 1882, per packet = 3d
Broccoli seeds as above = 6d
Lettuce seeds as above = 3d
1lb of raffia grass for tying in garden plants, from Newman & Chalk, High Street 1898 = 6d
Food and drink / preparing it:
A half peck loaf of bread, price as fixed by MP William Burt Esq during severe winter of 1767/8 = 6d [a half peck loaf was the typical loaf size at this period, weighing 8lbs 11oz. Remember that poor ate bread for every meal, and sometimes only bread for a meal]
A pot of beer [equivalent to half a pint], regulation price in town 1846 = 4 pence. Went up to 5 pence in 1847.
"Large" loaf of bread Little Marlow 1847 = 4 pence.
3lb beef from Rachel Hall's butcher's shop West Street 1850 = 1 shilling.
2lb bread from Charlotte Sawyer baker of West Street 1851 = 2 pence.
Cost of one pigs foot (yum!) in Marlow 1859 = 2 pence.
Pint milk from Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1860, delivered in Marlow = 1 and a half pence.
A quart of soup from the town soup kitchen in the winter of 1862 = 1 penny.
Tea (food and drink) served at the Temperance Societies rural fete at Harleyford 1865 = 9d.
A pound of pure unadulterated China tea from George Cannon, High Street 1861 = from 3s 6d.
1 quart of soup, from the town soup kitchen, cost subsidised by subscribers, 1862 = 1 penny. (Available only to any poor with a ticket, twice per week over winter.)
One orange from Walter Lovegrove the grocer in the High Street 1878 = 1 penny
Tin of biscuits from Joseph Dorsett's grocery shop 1881 = 4 shillings
Jar of marmalade or glass tumbler of blackberry jam from Robert and Sarah Ann Loosemoore's Spittal Street grocers 1885 = 4 and a half pence.
Cost of hiring one of the new parish allotments Berwick Road 1886 = 6 pence [6d] a pole. Foxes Piece allotments 1908 = 10 pence per pole.
1 pint of gin, served in a jug with two glasses - Hare and Hounds, Red Pits, Henley Road, 1886 = 2 shillings.
Pot of lemon curd, from confectioner William Kempster, High Street 1888 = 1 shilling (Confectioners didn't just sell sweets but all kinds of sweet treats e.g pastries too. Many were also bakers).
A cup of coffee from the Mission Rooms, Dean Street 1891 = 1 penny. This was subsidised in the hope it would divert the locals from alcohol!
1lb tin of biscuits from Death & Sons 1894, "suitable for gifting" = 9 pence
1 egg from Wymer's Farm 1895 = 1 penny.
Bottle of Spey Royal Whiskey, from Smith & Co, High Street, 1895 = 4d plus 1d deposit on the bottle.
1lb "Special" Ginger Nuts from Death & Sons Bakers 1895 = 4d
Bottle of whiskey from Smith and co, High Street 1896 = 4 shillings plus 1 shilling returnable deposit for the bottle.
Fancy box of dates, part of Christmas range, from Walter Lovegrove grocer of the High Street 1896 = 9 pence.
A dozen bottles of Jacob's Pilsner Beer from Walter Lovegrove grocer, 1896 = 5 shillings.
14 mince pies for Christmas from Death and Sons bakers 1897 = 1 shilling, a pound of mincemeat for Christmas from Browns in the High Street 1909 = 6 and a half pence, a pound of Christmas "New Marlovian Shortbread" from the same 1909 = 8 pence.
Wholemeal loaf from Death's Bakery 1899 = 1 and a half pence small, 3 pence large. (Weight not given)
Grapes from A E Howard, grocer High Street 1900 = 6d a pound.
York ham from A E Howard, High Street 1900 = 1 shilling 2 pence per pound.
Half gallon of ale or stout from High Street grocer A E Howard 1901 = 8 pence.
A pint of beer at the bar of the Crown Hotel 1901 = 4 pence. A glass of beer cost 2d in the bar or 3d in the coffee room of the Crown.
1lb of finest Ceylon tea, 1902, from Frank Overs Stores, High Street = 1s 6d (Frank took over A E Howard's premises in 1902). Alternatively 1lb of special blend tea from another High Street grocer Alfred Illsley would cost from 1s 4d per lb in the same year.
Demerara sugar per lb, Frank Over's Stores, High Street 1903 = 2 pence.
3 pint tin teapot from Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 6 and a half pence.
4 pint iron gas kettle, from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 6 and half pence
1 cup and saucer, from Barnard's, 1909 = 1 pence
Fancy pastry cutters from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 1 and half pence
7 lb (yes 7) jar mixed fruit jam, Barnard's as above, 1909 = 1s 4d plus 3d extra for the jar
Large tin pineapple chunks, from Barnard's, 1909 = 4 and half pence.
Hindquarter of best Canterbury lamb, from E Hogg butcher of Market Square 1910 = 7 and a half pence per lb.
Medical and Health Costs:
Tincture for scurvy, per bottle from Mr Hubbard, 1768 = 1s 6d
Cure for bladder / kidney stones from John Howe, patent medicine supplier (and stationer and bookseller) High Street 1784 = 2 shillings a bottle.
Box of "Pectoral Lozenges of Tolu", for hoarseness, asthma, coughs etc, from John Howe as above, 1785 = 1 shilling.
Dr Waites Celebrated Worm Medicine in the form of gingerbread flavour "nuts", per 13, from Miss Hawes, 1792= 1 shilling 1&1/2d.
Cure for itching and "skin eruptions" from the shop of Miss Hawes, per bottle 1815 = 2 shillings 9 pence.
A "cure" in a bottle for cholera from Little Marlow quack medicine supplier 1851 = 1 shilling.
Trowbridge Pills Of Life And Beauty" (actually indigestion pills for women!) from Footitts chemist, 1860 = 1 shilling 1 and a half pence per packet
A pair of "patent pantheoscopic" glasses for all types of vision difficulties from Stradling's the jewellers in the High Street, 1862 = 5 shillings.
Woodcock's wind pills from Foottit's chemists in the High Street 1862 = from 1sh 6d a box.
Complete set of artificial teeth, upper and lower, as made by "legally qualified surgical and mechanical dentist" William Gregory of Maidenhead. Sold through Banbury's Chemist Marlow, every other Tuesday. 1875 = £3 3s. Liberal discounts for mechanics and servants. Consultation free.
A bottle of "invigorating" health saline from Charles Dye's Pharmacy in the High Street 1896= from 1 shilling.
Tube of Burnolia cooling cream for sunburnt skin, especially marketed at boaters, tennis players and cyclists, from W Baxters chemist High Street 1896 = 6 pennies.
Oleatum Japanese rheumatism remedy from Baxters chemist 1896 = from 1 shilling a bottle.
Bottle of the "best nerve and brain tonic" Sulphurized Quinine and Iron, from W Baxter as above, 1897 = 1 shilling 9 pence.
Bottle of a cure for neuralgia from Snow's Chemist in the High Street 1909 = 1 shilling.
Snow's exclusive bronchial balsam from Snow's chemist High Street 1912 = from 1 shilling.
Education:
Yearly fee for a pupil Mrs Trash's boarding school for young ladies 1799 = 30 guineas.
Cost of attending the Royal Military Academy, West Street if you did not have a father in the military 1802 = £100 a year (boarding). A discount of between 50 and 90 per cent was available to sons of army men. Orphans in those circumstances paid nothing. The pricing structure changed over the years.
Yearly fee for attending Prospect House Academy boarding school for boys 1849 = 22 to 25 guineas.
Annual fee for boarders aged 5-8 attending the Misses Westbrooks prep school for boys and girls in Chapel Street 1850 = 18 Guineas. Daily pupils 4 guineas. Laundry 2 guineas extra.
Mail order school books written by Joseph Guy the former geography teacher at the Royal Military College Marlow 1852, each = 1 shilling to 9 shillings.
Day pupil cost for a quarter at the Misses Winter's Preparatory School For Young Gentleman, West Street Marlow (there was a separate s hool for girls), 1865 = 12 shillings 6d. This did not include optional music, singing and drawing classes.
Annual fee for boarding pupil at Marlow Place School for boys 1870 = 70 guineas. Some subjects cost extra.
Annual fee for scholars at Borlase who did not have a Foundation scholarship, 1882 = £1
Cost of painting class for ladies, per term, as organised by the Marlow centre of the Technical Education Committee, and held at the Institute, 1903 = 10s 6d. (A two hour class a week). General classes in French, shorthand, chemistry, woodcarving and maths cost 2s 6d per term with sessions lasting between 90 minutes and 2 hours a week at the Institute.
Annual boarding fee at Borlase 1906 = £54.
Clothing and Footwear:
Printed cotton for dress making, per yard, from Messrs Wilkinson and Burrough, 1789 = from 10d to 4s 6d (These gentleman were selling the items at a reduced price as they have bought up the discounted stock of a London draper who was giving up his business)
A petticoat, Marlow 1850 = 2 shillings.
Pair trousers from John Morgan's drapers and outfitters shop in the High Street 1859 = 7 shillings.
Man's coat from John Collins Clark tailor 1861 = £2 12 shillings 6 pence
Cheapest silver watch available from Mr A Stradling, watch and clockmaker, High Street 1862 = 15 shillings.
Pair of boots (probably top quality) from Charles Phillips bootmaker, 1864 = £1 1 shilling.
Gold wedding ring, from Stradlings, High Street, 1865 = from 7s 6d
Cost of hiring a Britannia sewing machine as hairdresser Robert Pearse of Marlow did in 1876, per week = 2 shillings.
Good quality overcoat and trousers from Richard Barnes, tailor of Spittal Street 1885 = £3 10s
Ladies watch, solid silver, guaranteed 10 years from Rowe's the watchmaker / jewellers, High Street 1894 = £25
Beaver overcoat for a gentleman, with velvet collar and tweed lining from Morgan's 1895 = 21s
"Suitings" (men's suits) from James Gray, tailor, High Street 1895. Made to any shape = from 45 shillings.
"Special Quality" made to measure flannel trousers James Morgan & Sons 1897 = 12 shillings 6 pence. Other qualities from 10 shillings 6 pence.
Special Quality made to measure tweed suit James Morgan & Sons 1897 = 35 shillings. Other qualities from 27 shillings 6 pence.
"Ironside" brand tweed and serge suits, to measure, from A E Sutton General Clothing and Boot Store, West Street. "Fit, style and wear guaranteed" 1897 = from 2 guineas.
Shoes from West Street Post Office (which was also Suttons clothes and shoe shop at this point ) 1899 = from 2 shillings 6 pence a pair.
Men's overcoats from Sutton's as above, 1897= from 3 shillings 6d.
Flannelette for making underclothing, from Morgans as above, 1901 = from 2 and three quarter pence to 8 pence per yard.
"Lotus" thick soled laced ladies shoes from Langston's Boot and Shoe Warehouse, High Street 1905= 12 shillings 9 pence a pair.
Tin of black or brown shoe polish from Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 1 shilling.
Business and farming costs:
Annual rent of a butcher's shop in Lane End (then part of Great Marlow parish) 1757 = £6.
Annual rent of Wethered's brewery premises in the High Street which they had on a repairing lease 1795 = £15.
Annual Rent of Seymour Court Farm 1833 = £172 18 shillings.
1 lamb in Marlow or Little Marlow 1837 = 1 shilling
Annual rent of Fountain Head beer house in High Street with the carpentry workshop attached 1838 = £12 12 shillings.
Team of 3 farm horses sold by Mr Eeles of Lane End, 1843 = 16 guineas.
An ewe sheep, Little Marlow 1849 = 30 shillings.
Rent of land in Great Marlow Common Field per acre 1849 = between £2 15s and £3 .Note that this land was what would be soon known as Wycombe Road Farm, and was subject to some common rights still although this portion was privately rented. The following year the rent was doubled.
Forty pounds in weight of good meadow hay, from Little Marlow, 1852 = 3 shillings.
Rent Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1860 per annum = £500.
Annual rent of a combined house and baker's shop with a stable West Street, 1862 = £16.
Cost for a licensed victualler of getting a licence to sell alcohol at a one off event like a fete or cricket match 1862 (a new requirement this year) = 5 shillings.
Annual rent Hope Beer House, High Street 1865 (a small but newish, purpose built premises) = £15.
Rent Wymers Farm 1876, per annum = £68.
Rent of Dog and Badger Medmenham 1895 = £30 10 shillings per annum.
Ton of coke from Marlow Gas Company 1909 = £1. Delivery fee 3 pence per ton.
Stable lantern, from Barnard's stores 1909 = 6 and a half pence
Sale price of Holmers Farm (123 acres) Marlow 1910 = £2,150.
Cost of buying Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1917 = £5,450.
Nanny goat juvenile from Field House Farm 1917 = £1.
Personal Care
Exotic scented perfume from Little Marlow supplier W Brown 1844 = from 2 shillings sixpence.
Mail order tablet of high quality soap sent from London to Marlow 1855 = 6 pence [6d].
Butler's Rosemary Hair Cleaner from Footitt chemist High Street (invigorates hair and removes dandruff), per packet 1860= 6 pence [6d]
Marlow Bouquet - a perfume from Baxters chemist in the High Street 1896 = from 1 shilling 6 pence [1s 6d]
Antiseptic tooth powder "cleansing and refreshing", from Walter Duplock chemist, High Street 1906 = from 1 shilling.
Vaseline from Barnard's Stores 1909 = 1 penny a tin.
Tin of tooth powder (for cleaning teeth) from Barnard's 1909 = 1 penny a tin.
Other:
Dutton and Allen and Co Commercial Directory for Bucks with map 1863 = 21 shillings if you were not a subscriber.
Complied by Charlotte and Kathryn Day.
Sources too numerous to fully list but included:
South Bucks Standard 28 December & 27 March 1908, 15 January, 23 July, 26 November 1909 - Copies from the British Library and accessed via the BNA. August 2020.
Dickens Dictionary of the Thames (Dickens, 1889)
Dickens Dictionary of Thames from Oxford to the Nore (1880 edition, issue 2)
Marlow Guide 1903 & 1905
Information from Kathleen Day, Jane Pullinger and Jean Martin.
Slough Eton and Windsor Observer October 24 & 31 October 1885; Slough Library
The Victoria County History of Buckinghamshire, 1908. Edited by William Page.
Maidenhead Advertiser 13th January 1875.
Adverts, receipts, bills, account books, and letters etc.
To find out more about everyday life in old Marlow see the post listing here
©Marlow Ancestors.
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