Steadman Camden

Shoemaker and clothier Steadman Camden ran his business here in Marlow High Street (modern Oxfam) by 1833 until his death in 1880. This property was owned by the Wethered family.

Steadman bought the Roebuck Inn in the Causeway in 1835 and renamed it the George Inn, which morphed into the George and Dragon we know today. The current pub building is the result of expansion and multiple refurbishments after two fires and general wear and tear so looks quite different to the building Steadman bought. He rented it out to others. (An overview of the history of the George & Dragon can be found here)

His own business premises as shown above consisted in 1833 of a house, shop and lofts worth £12 a year. There was also then a malthouse and lofts in his yard which Wethered's brewery used. The brewery at the the time had bits of property all about the High Street on other peoples premises as well as the main brewery site.

According to the census Steadman was born in Wantage Berkshire circa 1802 while his wife Catherine was from Medmenham near Marlow. Steadman is obviously related to the other Camdens in Marlow who use the name Steadman in their family too but I haven't found Steadman's baptism.

As well as the shop and the pub rent, Steadman and Catherine earned money by taking in lodgers (biography of one of them retired baker Eliza Brighton is on the blog here).

In 1842 Steadman was sworn in as a Hurley Borough constable parish only to be almost immediately replaced for unknown reasons. A few weeks later he was successfully elected as a petty constable for Great Marlow instead. Probably the need was greater here. 

In 1845 two pairs of shoes were stolen from his premises during a mini crime wave affecting the town.

Catherine died aged 71 in 1879, a year before Steadman.

Post researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Index of other posts about historic High Street traders and residents here.

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©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this content for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link hear.

Sources:

Property records held by my family.

Post Office Directory of Bucks etc 1847, by Kelly's Directories Limited.

Windsor and Eton Express 2st Jan 1842. Copy held British Library and accessed via their partnership with the BNA.

Great Marlow Parish registers. 

Censuses transcription by me from microfilm.