This post is updated as new information emerges. All listings are as noted in original sources, including alternative spellings.
For similar content see the Pub Related option on the menu.
THE BARGE POLE / BARGEPOLE
Address given variously as Church Passage, Church Lane, St. Peters Street, Old Bridge Lane and Old Duck Lane in contemporary records. River side. Belonged to the 17thc Brinkhurst charity.
1823 - George Dell
1824 - George Dell
1831 - George Dell
1833 - William Sparks (For his son of the same name see below and also The Black Boy and Fishermen's Retreat).
1838 - Thomas Sparks. Brother of William above, who had died. Wife Ann. Their daughter Catherine married Henry Neighbour below.
1839 - Thomas Sparks
1847 - Thomas Sparks
1852 - JW Brown / John Brown
1853 - John Brown
1859 - Jn Brown
1861 - Elizabeth Brown (Her niece and nephew living with her have the surname Sparkes)
1869 - William Sparks (also coal merchant and barge owner). Son of William above, nephew of Thomas above.
1872 William is listed in Taunts New Map of The Thames as someone who both hires and houses boats.
1873 - William Sparks. Pub scheduled for demolition so licence transferred in October to The Fishermen's Retreat, St Peter's Street, a converted house.
THE WATERMAN / WATERMAN'S ARMS
Address given as "the Thames Bank" and St Peter's Street at various times. Was right on river front. Note, as a smaller beer house, it's not always listed by name, and it's likely that some beersellers mentioned in other sources in Church Passage without a premises name traded under this sign. The Neighbours primary business is often connected to the Limbrook wharf. Premises usually sold as part of property bundle that included the malthouse leased to the Gibbons maltsters/brewers and the related wharf. AKA The Water Man
1851 - Henry Neighbour. Also a cordwainer. Wife Catherine, daughter of Thomas and Ann Sparks above. See a detailed post on Catherine here. Henry was fined for allowing card playing on his premises. However it was noted that Henry and the two others convicted of the same offence were all supporters of the opposite political party to the arresting constables and the stings may have been unfairly focused on them.
1853 - Henry Neighbour
1854 - Henry Neighbour (also boot and shoe maker) "Limbrook Wharf" Moved to the Bear, Chapel Street 1855 and was there still 1861.
NB - Henry Neighbour is listed as a beer seller of Church Passage in 1864 by Kelly's Directory but no premises name is given, as is often the case at this time so he or a relative with a similar name may have returned to this part of Marlow once more to sell beer. However the Waterman was demolished soon after.
BLACK BOY
Note - there was also a Black Boy at Moor Common and Hurley which may come up in searches of the wider Great Marlow area.
Location 1. High Street.
1601 - William Fecye
1602 - Widow Marjory Fecye
1625- West side High Street. James Goodalle and John Hill.
1673 - West side of High Street
1735 "formerly occupied by Ralph Harman". Has by now been converted into a malt house by George Bruere and Samuel Manning in the recent occupation of Lattemore (also occurs as Lattimer)
2. Church Passage.
1823 - William Sparkes
1830 - William Sparks (see also the Barge Pole!)
1831 - William Sparks
1839 - Thomas Fletcher "Duck Lane"
1853 - William Sparkes (See also The Bargepole)
1854 William Sparks - also barge master
1861 - William Sparks - also barge master and coal dealer
1862 - Charles Truss (See also The Two Brewers for other Truss licencees) 2. Henry Cresswell (See The Cross Keys)
1863 - William Sparks ? 2. James Heath
1864 - James Heath (also shopkeeper)
1865 - Robert Plumridge (short lived time at helm) transfers to William Plumridge.
1869 - William Harwood
1872 - William Harwood (last landlord)
1873 - looses it spirit licence in exchange for new Railway Hotel under Walter Porter gaining one.
Demolished 1873 -1875.
BEER RETAILERS IN CHURCH PASSAGE NOT ALLOCATED SPECIFIC PREMISES IN RECORD:
1863 - Henry Creswell. (See also the Black Boy above and The Cross Keys)
OLD INN/BEER HOUSE (PRE 1832) LOCATED IN OLD BRIDGE HOUSE OF FORMER MARLOW BRIDGE IS CURRENTLY BEING RESEARCHED
To read about Marlow Bargemen, many of whom frequented these premises see a post here
SOURCES
1853 & 1863 Mussons and Cravens Commercial Directory
Taunt, Henry - A New Map of The River Thames from Oxford-London (Taunt, 1872)
1833 Parish Assessment. Original notebooks held by my family. Transcribed by Charlotte.
Kelly's Post Office Directory 1854, 1863,1864, 1869. Published by Kelly's Directory's Limited.
Robson's Directory 1839
1861, 1871 Census
Pigots Directory 1823,1830,1844
Bucks Herald 22 February 1862, 28 October 1865,11 Oct 1873 held at the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA September 2020.
Reading Mercury - 13 September 1873, as above
Slaters Royal, National and Commercial Directory 1852 (Isaac Slater, 1852)
©Marlow Ancestors. Reuse this content for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here to ensure sources remain attached to the information they provided.
