THE TWO BREWERS
This building is still in existence and still trading as a pub.
1770 - John Ireland
1776 - Passing mention in the Oxford Journal, it is hosting an auction.
1795 - William Carter or Widow Carter. Building has arched cellar, walled garden, and spacious stabling. Premises up for sale in this year. It's "extremely commanding and advantageous situation" at the foot of Marlow Bridge is emphasized. Owner was the late deceased maltster Henry Smith who had had a malt house in the High Street.
1823 - G. Hawkins. Other source say John.
1824 - John and Mary Hawkins.
1826 - John Hawkins who died of Smallpox that year.
1831 - Mary Hawkins, John's widow (nee Hewett).
1833 - Richard Bye. Marries Mary Hawkins who is widowed. Widow of John Hawkins. More on this couple in a post here.
1837 - William Bavin. Previously a chairmaker. Went to first incarnation of Carpenters Arms c1843. See also The Clayton Arms.
1839 - Samuel Hobbs See his grave here In the 1833 Parish Assessment a Samuel Hobbs is listed as an occupier of a cottage elsewhere in St Peters Street. Samuel seems to have come from High Wycombe originally.
1844 - Samuel Hobbs "Duck Lane"
1852 - Elizabeth Hobbs. Widow of Samuel above. See her grave here
1853 - Elizabeth Hobbs
1854 - William Truss (also a sexton)
1862 - bottle of gin and 10s stolen from till while Mrs Truss away from it.
1869 - William Truss
1871 - John C Truss
1883 - John Clark Truss
1894 - John Clark Truss
1896 - J C Truss 2. William Truss
1899 - E. S. Truss
1902-1910 - final stop for many motoring clubs on their regular "runs".
1903 - Miss Emily Sophia Truss
1907 - John Clark Truss - bellringer too.
1911 - John Clark Truss (Junior)
1914 - John Clark Truss is also a boat proprietor.
1915 - John Clark Truss. In this year severe floods mean the pub can for a while only be accessed via a raised plank walkway.
1918 - "late J C Truss". He had retired not died!
1925 - John C Truss. Died 1939 at Weir Cottage after retiring from the Two Brewers just over a decade before. After retirement he became a traveller for the Wethered's Brewery.
1939 - Thomas Alfred (Neale?)
THE FISHERMAN'S RETREAT HOTEL
This was opened by William Spark(e)s in 1873 after his former premises The Barge Pole in Church Passage was due for demolition. Originally described as "first class boarding house". It was a converted house. William also spent time in charge of the Black Boy in Church Passage. ( You can read a post about the Spark(e)s family here ) Referred to as Fisherman's Arms in the 1877 Post Office Directory. Housing is now on the site. It was very close to the Two Brewers. Some evidence points to the fact that it was commonly if not officially known as The Barge Pole for the first couple of years. It was also frequently recorded as The FishermEns Retreat, a name which appeared above the door but FishermAns Retreat is the form which almost invariably appears in advertising and at licensing hearings. (The owners probably gave up correcting this!) Despite becoming increasingly up market, it was still used as a "local" drinking hole by working class residents in the first 15 years or so. This is pointed to by the names and occupations of people drinking there who are mentioned in passing during court hearings, news reports, inquests etc. They include labourers and others who also lived in St Peters Street for example. (E.g "jobbing man" of St Peters Street John Lloyd in 1880)
1873 - William Sparkes (Read a detailed post on him here)
1875 - William Sparkes dies, widow Maria takes over. See his grave here
1877 - Maria Sparkes, widow. In this year the retreat hosts the inquest relating to death of young labourer Timothy Young at Marlow Place. He was killed when the 10ft high brick and flint garden wall he was employed to help demolish collapses upon him. He was trapped from running away by some shrubs planted nearby. Other workers were also injured. This is during improvement works at Marlow Place when it is converted back to a house after spending much time as a school.
1878 - described by The Field as an economic and comfortable place to stay, especially for anglers.
1879 - "As cosy a retreat from the cares of the world as a man may desire" - Bells Life in London and Sporting Chronicle.
1880 - Albert D Symes. Still described as a "public house" during court case this year.
1881 - John Hoddinott (Born Balcombe, Somerset) John is a keen angler himself.
1882 - John is assaulted by John Neighbour and Walter Bowles who are reluctant to pay for the beer, mineral water and cigars that they have consumed. Neighbour is convicted of pushing John and spitting in his face while Bowles breaks a window at the Retreat. Both are fined with the threat of 14 days imprisonment if the fine is unpaid. After the window is broken, the police are called and Neighbour and Bowles decide to pay but the damage has been done.
1885 - John and Elizabeth Hoddinott cater for 40 guests each day at breakfast during a busy August weekend.
1887 - hosts Fire Brigade dinner, one of many such events.
1880's - frequently used as retreat after racing for regatta crews as well as visiting societies and clubs on their annual river outings.
1891 - John Hoddinott ( John died in the 1890's Flu pandemic. For more on the outbreak, see my post Here ) Described as one of the most comfortable hostelry on the river (Evening News, May 1891)
1895 - Has collection box on the premises for Marlow Cottage Hospital. Both the Hoddinotts were frequent in their own financial and practical donations to the hospital. "Fishermen's Retreat Hotel"
1903 - Mrs Elizabeth Hoddinott, John's widow.
1907 - Mrs Elizabeth Hodinott qv
1911 - Elizabeth Hoddinott
1915 - Recommended for closure without compensation as fully licensed premises, by Renewal Authorities of County Licensing Committee, continues as hotel
1920 - the Misses Hoddinott
1927 - described as "residential hotel". Does also take shorter term guests however.
1939 - Mrs Dorothy Herbert. Private Hotel.
Researched by Kathryn Day
This post is updated as new information emerges. All listings are as noted in original sources, including alternative spellings. Where multiple sources list an individual's name, only the first and last mention are listed here unless there is any alteration in how they are recorded, for example when an additional occupation is noted. Note that some listings may in fact refer to fathers and sons sharing the same given name so be sure to double check this.
Many Marlow landlords changed premises and there can be other family members running other establishments. Some places changed how they described themselves - or how they were viewed - and so licensed premises listings here take in not just beer houses, pubs and inns but common lodging houses and hotels too. We mainly focus on pre WW1 listings but sometimes list later names if it ties in with research we are helping with. To find every mention of an individual here, use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. There's 3,000 people listed there currently!
SOURCES -
1853 Mussons and Cravens Commercial Directory, (compiled 1852).
Kelly's Post Office Directory- 1859,1864,1869,1877,1899,1903, 1907,1911,1915,1920. Published by Kelly's Directories Limited.
Dickens Dictionary of the Thames from Oxford to the Nore (1880 Edition, issue 2)
Census 1881,1891. Transcribed from microfilm by Jane Pullinger.
Historic newspapers, held at the British Library and accessed via the BNA March 2021:
Bucks Herald - 13 May 1837, 9 Jan 1915, as above.
Reading Mercury - 6 & 20 July 1795, as above.
Oxford Journal - 24th June 1826, as above
Maidenhead Advertiser 14 April 1877, 26 August 1885, as above
Robson's Directory 1839, 1844. Via University of Leicester Archives.
South Bucks Standard 7 June 1895, as above
Sunday Mirror 26 June 1927.
Morning Post 18 June 1909
Pigots Directory 1823
Weekly Dispatch London 26 June 1927.
©Marlow Ancestors.
