High Street Drapers

John Meadows was originally of Walcott Lincolnshire but he was a draper in Marlow by the year 1829 when he married Elizabeth Oxlade a daughter of the Oxlade family of Widmere Farm in Marlow. A, to me, slightly complicated marriage settlement between the two of them is referenced in Elizabeth's later will. 

John's premises by 1833 (if not already in 1829) were in the High Street Marlow on the West side. He also owned the property next door. The white building in the photo above shows what would have been the two together. In 1833 his properties consisted of:

Dwelling house and garden, stable with a loft above and a barn. Plus the other dwelling house and shops. The annual value of them all was assessed as £23 10 shillings. 

John retired from being a draper in 1839. He was only in his early 40s at the time he quit. He and Elizabeth moved to Chapel Street. This wasn't a complete retirement for John as he continued to work as an agent for a fire insurance company until at least 1843 something which he had previously been combining with his drapery and he also let out houses for profit. 

Living with the Meadows long term was Elizabeth's widowed sister Ann Palmer. There was also always a live-in servant to attend to them.

In 1832 Elizabeth, Ann and John (as heirs to Elizabeth's and Ann's father Thomas Oxlade) sold 2 cottages in Chisbridge Cross near Marlow. This was following the death of the women's mother Elizabeth who had had them for her life.

John himself died in 1861. Elizabeth's will was proved in 1857 though she looks to have died in 1854.

It was Edward Hewitt (Hewett) who took over the business when John retired. He's described then as a linen and wool draper, silk mercer, hosier, haberdasher and hatter etc. Edward tried to keep up with the times. In 1860 he made an arrangement with London Gentleman outfitters Nicholls of Regent Street and Cornhill to stock some of their "celebrated" clothing in his establishment. Marlow residents could then enjoy shopping for London fashions without having to travel out out of town. Edward promised to charge the same price as you would have paid if you had gone to London, the inference being that provincial prices were regarded as higher in general. His new selection of coats and overcoats would be first rate he said. 

Edward Hewett was one of Marlow's contributors to the Royal Patriotic Fund in 1854. He gave a little over a pound. This fund was established by Queen Victoria and headed by Prince Albert. The aim was to give relief to the widows and orphans of the soldiers who fell in the Crimean War.

Edward was also a churchwarden in Marlow from 1862 to at least 1867. He married twice, firstly to Mary, and then to Ellen Ralfs who lived with her family next door to his home and business.

In 1864 Edward's new assistant George Higgins aged 14 was found hanging from a beam in the hayloft above the stable out the back of the shop. The jury at the Coroner's inquest at the Chequers Inn opposite decided he had had an accident while carrying a chain up to the hay loft for his master. 

Ellen died in 1874, Edward in 1880.

The premises later became those of Alfred Davis the draper. Alfred had moved from elsewhere in the High Street. Alfred's original premises had been tiny. The Davis drapery shop would later move on again.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day with additional research by Kathryn. Photo by Kathryn Day. Taken March 2021.

Sources:

GRO Marriage Certificate.

1841-81 censuses transcribed by me from microfilm.

Will of Elizabeth Meadows, transcribed by me from a PCC will held at the National Archives, Kew.

Property records held by my family.

Bucks Herald 11th November 1854.[Hewitt and patriotic fund]. Copy at the British Library Archives and available via the BNA.

Stamford Mercury 28th August 1829 [Oxlade, Meadows marriage notice]. As above.

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