Updated by Charlotte June 2026
1859 - To let having undergone some renovations. Was probably less than a decade old. On the site of two much older, shabby shops that were pulled down. Previous occupants included the William Cock(s) shoemakers and grocers, and William Henry Brown, also a grocer (and baker / confectioner, later moved to other side of High Street). The stone casing around the windows in the image above was added later when it became the Capital and Counties Bank (1900) Fullers of Maidenhead the brewery.
1860 - Thomas Rackstraw. Fined 10 shillings for having his premises open after 11pm.
1861-66 Thomas Rackstraw (also cordwainer) In 1866 he is fined 10s plus 9s costs for selling beer after 11pm on a Saturday. This was followed by a 40s fine for selling beer during prohibited hours on a Sunday later that year!
1869-70 William George Marks. Also a boot and shoe maker, fishmonger and tobacco dealer! William went bankrupt.
1870 - Daniel Walker. Also cabinet maker. He was the son of carpenter and parish constable Thomas Walker. See the role of Thomas in the 1847 riots here.
1875 - Daniel Walker has died at The Hope aged just 44. His widow Sarah takes over.
1877- Sarah Walker
1881 - Sarah Walker (born Norfolk according to this year's census)
1884 - 1. Mrs Sarah Walker 2. William Cannon (holdover but subsequent permanent transfer to him refused by authorities due to a conviction for allowing drunkeness on the premises) 3. J.H Simpole / Simple. John was a former member of the police on the Great Western Railway but most recently had been working as an insurance agent in Shrewsbury.
1885 - John Horatio Simpole.
1886 - John Simpole. Sold business. 2. Alpheus Taylor. Alpheus had apparently been selling beer out of the premises illegally prior to gaining a licence. It seems the bench accepted an initial plea of confusion over paperwork but did not grant him more than a hold over in the end. Alpheus was also a carpenter. He had previously ran the Herne's Oak pub in Chinnor and later went to the White Hart in Money Row Green, Holyport, Berkshire.
1887 -1. A Taylor 2. James Tarrant
1888 - 1. James Tarrant. 2. Thomas Parker
1890 - Thomas Parker W. Harry Rockell? 3.Harry Roberts
1891 - Harry Roberts (born Kempsford, Glos) "The Hope Beerhouse"
1892 - 1. John Roberts who transfers to Henry Thomas. 2. Henry Thomas transfers premises on holdover to Thomas Richards. 3. Thomas J Richards transfers to Edward J Briggs. In August, the local press reported that puzzled drinkers had found the beer house was locked up and apparently unoccupied when they arrived on a Tuesday evening. This was when the holdover had been granted to Thomas Richards. A week later "no solution to the mystery is as yet forthcoming." It seems that there was trouble finding a permanent landlord acceptable to both the brewery and the magistrates who grant the premises licence.
1896 - E J Briggs 2. George Hall
1897 George Hall transferred to George Howe/Howall/Howell. We know that the names of Hall and Howe / Howall but they are not the same person,this was a definite transfer. [George Hewett & William H Moore also tried unsuccessfully to get the licence] 2. Later in the year licence transferred as a holdover to Charles Lewis Gomm. A full transfer of the licence to Gomm was allowed the following year.
1900 - Frederick Barber gave way to Charles Leopold Smith in January. It was noted at the annual licensing hearings in August that no application had been made to renew the licence of these premises. Instead the building was to be converted into the Capital and Counties Bank, after extensive remodelling.
For similar posts see Pub Related on the menu.
SOURCES INCLUDED
Berkshire Chronicle - 01 December 1884, held at the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA
South Bucks Standard August 9 1892, 18 December 1896 as above
Bucks Herald, 01 September 1888, as above
Maidenhead Advertiser - 24 December 1884.
Marlow Guide & Directory 1891
Marlow Guide 1905
Marlow "Almanack" 1907
Census records 1861,1881,1891
Kellys Directory 1864, 1877,1883, 1911
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