Historic Ironmongers Great Marlow

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 Updated June 2022

This West Street building is the one from which Mrs Ann Hobbs was for "many years" trading as an ironmonger before her death in 1787. Things weren't always easy in the business evidently as Ann was in Aylesbury gaol as a debtor in 1774. She was however still trading as an ironmonger at the time of her death.

After her burial at Marlow her stock in trade was auctioned off. The buyer was John Lane who took over the premises too. He was already working as an ironmonger before that. In 1800 the Lane family had as lodger a Mr George Siegmund, professor of drawing, who offered ladies private drawing lessons. He had previously been an enamel painter and was family to the Lanes as he mentions various Lane relatives in his will proved 1819. (See his grave below)

John Lane's daughter Lydia Lane (who was left £5 in George Siegmund's will), born in 1761 took over after his death running the shop until her own demise at an advanced age in the mid 1840s. Richard Way, a carpenter and his wife lived on the premises with Lydia for some years towards the end of her life.

William Almond, who had moved from Beaconsfield, then traded here as an ironmonger (and at times leather seller and furniture broker too) for many years. He was present to at least 1881. Ten years earlier he was charged with having his display of stock extending into the public highway! [Reading Mercury 9th December 1871]. As West Street is the main road in to town from Henley and Reading that was definitely an inconvenience to passing traffic! William and his wife Ann (nee Plumridge of Lane End) moved to Leeds where they both died in 1888.

After William Almond came George Lunnon who managed to be both ironmonger, sewing machine agent and boot maker. 

Above, grave of George Siegmund who died November 10th 1818 age 64 years, "He lived and died an honest man".. And also of Henry Lane who died January 1821 age 51 years. 

To see more posts on historic occupiers of West Street businesses see here.

To see another historic Marlow ironmongers see here.

Historic occupation of properties identified by me from property record, census records, wills, advertisements, court cases and photographs cross referencing.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse this photo, research and identification of the premises with credit to this blog.