I have been cross referencing wills, photos, property surveys, censuses, sale adverts and more in order to identify Victorian occupiers for many a property in West Street. In some cases occupancy further back in time can be ascertained too. It is an ongoing project of mine. I'll be uploading more as and when I have time. There are other posts already on the blog in this line. Search "West Street".
This building was the home of Surgeon William Hickman from at least 1832 to his death in 1850 aged 93. William was originally from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire but was in Marlow by 1782 when he married Ann Wethered. It is possible he was already in these premises back then but I cannot yet be certain.
In 1791 William was listed as a surgeon apothecary and "man midwife". In most later references he is styled simply "surgeon".
Either he or his son of the same name was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Royal Military College further down West Street in 1810. This is now the house Remnantz. At least four of William and Ann's sons became surgeons! William the father had had a violent confrontation with some of the teenage cadets a few years earlier which makes the appointment something surprising. More on this confrontation here
The Hickmans sold a variety of patent medicines to their patients. For example, in 1831 they are listed as a supplier for Shepherds Camphor Lozenges. These were just the thing for "putrid throats" and for refreshing flagging spirits after attending a fashionable assemblage or rout - or so they said. A few years later Hickman and Brinsden could supply Schweppes "celebrated soda water" for digestive purposes. (Thomas Evans Brinsden)
Ann died in 1809 so that was a very long time as a widower for him.
In his will written 1848, he asked to be buried beside Ann and other members of his family in Marlow churchyard. He made an "earnest request" to be buried in the same [quiet] manner as his son Francis who had died in his parent's house in 1831. Both Francis and one of William's other sons died when only in their 30s, their mother was only 50 at her own death.
William's will left a silver quart tankard to his son George (a surgeon of the High Street) and to Owen Wethered a pint silver drinking vessel that had belonged to an Ann Wethered.
This Owen also received a History Of England in 2 volumes. William certainly liked a good read. When his household effects were sold off at auction in 1851 the sales listing mentions 500 volumes including "valuable works on medicine, surgery, physiology, chemistry and miscellaneous literature". He also had mahogany furniture, "fine old china", mahogany four post beds, engravings and paintings. It was a plush life for him in West Street! But he deserved it as he was definitely still actively working as a surgeon in 1845 at the age of 88. He may well actually have worked until his death. No wonder an obituary called him "universally respected". The same obituary in the Medical Directory of Scotland called him a pupil of " the immortal Hunter". Presumably this was the famous Scottish surgeon John Hunter, one of the most eminent of his day. Hunter worked with Edward Jenner the smallpox vaccine pioneer among others.
Williams's long life lead him to be considered an authority on the Marlow of days gone by. So when journalists and writers researching the life of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wished to know about the celebrity's short time in Marlow, it was often to Hickman they were directed. He told one that while he remembered Shelley, and indeed had treated him for an unspecified ailment, he found the poet unsociable as he did not keep company with the townspeople in general.
I am not sure who was in these exact premises immediately after William died. From 1877 ( at the latest) until his bankruptcy and disappearance in 1888, Richard Coster the grocer, provision merchant, rent collector and land agent was based here however.
Richard ran away from his financial troubles, being seen once in Chester in a distressed state then apparently no more. His concerned near neighbour in West Street James Roberts the draper was one of those who tried unsuccessfully to find him again. Richard was a widower without children. Described as "timid" he seems to have been well liked. Some twelve years later a man was found lying unconscious in the road at Hungerford. He was taken to the workhouse there, and it was then established that he was the long missing Richard Coster of Marlow. Richard expressed a wish to go to Saunderton Workhouse which was the one responsible for the Marlow area. I suppose it was the closest he'd thought he'd make to going home. He was bought there but died a few days later.
From at least 1891 Albert Fleet operated here as a grocer first then as Colonial Meat Stores with a grocery sideline (from circa 1892+). A Colonial Meat Stores was also in Spittal Street under different proprietors 1891-99. Both businesses specialised as the name suggests in foreign meat. Albert remained in these premises until at least 1919. A Mr Turnham was managing the West Street shop in 1912, whether this was for Albert or on his own account I am unsure.
Researched and written by Charlotte Day with additional research by Kathryn Day. Photographed 2020.
Sources:
1833 Parochial Assessment Great Marlow. Original handwritten copy held by my family and transcribed by me.
1791 & 1794 Universal British Directory.
Will of William Hickman. Copy obtained from the National Archives and transcribed by me.
London Gazette Part One, 1810. Digitized by Google. Accessed March 2021.
The Medical Directory of Scotland, 1852 by John Churchill. As above.
1841, 81 and 91 censuses transcribed from microfilm by Jane Pullinger.
Great Marlow church registers.
Bucks Herald 18th January 1851 and 28th April 1888, Bucks Gazette 9th April 1831, Banff Journal 23rd March 1847. Copies held in the British Library Archives and accessed by me via the BNA March 2021.
A list of persons who have obtained certificates of their fitness and qualification to practice as apothecaries, from 1815 to 1840 ; Royal College of Physicians London (Gilbert and Rivington 1840)
Robson's Commercial Directory 1839.
©Marlow Ancestors.
