This is the second part of our cost of living series. Part one concerned food, clothing, drink, property, business costs, education etc and can be read here.
Updated October 2024.
Sport, fun and leisure
Copy of the Oxford Journal newspaper which covered Marlow news, 1767 = "2 pence halfpenny"
One pound of tobacco from Charles Susan's shop, High Street 1840 = 10 pence.
Cost of the best front seats at the performance of W.S Woodin the famed impersonator at the Town Hall, 1860 = 3 shillings.
Cost of a ticket to the Ball in Marlow Town Hall 1865 = 8 shillings. Not bad as it was the same price as admission to Race Ball at same venue back in 1844 though that was including refreshments.
Cost of a ticket to a grand Christmas Concert at the Town Hall, 1862 = 1 shilling to 4 shillings.
Having your fortune told at a Marlow Regatta sideshow, 1885 = 1 penny.
The most expensive cigar sold from the bar-parlour at the Compleat Angler, 1888 = 1s 6d each.
Entry to the final of the Berks and Bucks Cup featuring Marlow F.C and Windsor (held at Maidenhead) 1890 = 3d standing, 6d otherwise.
Copy of the South Bucks Standard newspaper 1891 = 1 penny (or 6s 6d per annum to receive it by post).
Entry to open day at Captain Marshalls Menagerie off Gossmore, 1893 = 3 pence.
Double breech loader gun, from gunsmith Frederick Clisby of Victoria Road (later of Chapel Street / Cromwell Gardens) 1893 = from 39 shillings.
Entry to a lecture on electricity with demonstrations at the Institute 1894, for non members = 1 shilling, members sixpence.
Annual subscription to Marlow Cycling Club 1895 = 2s 6d.
Cycling lesson, from Jasper Collins, 1896 "ladies a speciality" = 1s 3d inclusive, payable in advance
Entry to talk given by 5 Salvation Army members at their Marefield barracks (Crown Road) about their 9 days in jail for refusing to pay a fine related to street singing, 1897 = 1d.
Copy of the Marlow Almanac and Directory, produced by Charles Page Dye (The Marlow Printing Works, High Street) 1899 = 2d.
Entry to Marlow Horticultural Show 1899 = 1 shilling or free if you have paid 6d to enter an exhibit into any class.
Hire of a magic lantern and slides from Thomas Timberlake & Co, High Street 1902, per evening = from 5s 6d.
Subscription to Marlow Choral Society per season for singing members, 1903 = 5s
Gramophone from T Timberlake, High Street, 1904 = from 50s. Records 1s or 2s 6d.
6 pack comic postcards from Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 2 pence.
Entry to a garden fete at Gyldernscroft, Henley Road in aid of church funds 1910= 6d adults, 3d children.
Model steam train from C J Bateman, West Street, 1910 (a cycle store)= from 6d to 10 shillings.
And a toy aeroplane from same 1909 = from 6d.
Brown cake tobacco, per oz, from John Ford, tobacconist, confectioner (only place locally to get Clarinco sweets) and newsagent, Market Square, 1913 = 4 and 1/2d. John was also a wholesale tobacconist supplying local pubs and retailers. He claimed to stock over 150 different types of tobacco, cigarettes and cigars, some exclusive to him locally.
Admission to military sports day at Hooks Farm. Open to competitors from armed forces stationed locally with some events for local tradesman too, August 1915 = 1 shilling (Admission free to soldiers in uniform)
200 Players cigarettes from Coster's tobacconist in the High Street 1930 [this is possibly wholesale price] = 8 shillings 3 pence.
Cost of a round at one of the 18 hole putting courses at Higginson Park, including scoring card, 1931 - 6d
An hour on one of the hard tennis courts at Higginson Park, 1931 - 2 shillings
16ft punt with camping cover, cost £25 new, offered by private seller for £10, 1935.
Travel:
Maximum price for carriage by barge for a chaldron of coal from London to Marlow or Mill End, as set by Thames Commissioners 1773 = 8 shillings
Maximum carriage fee by barge as above, for flour from Marlow to London 1773 = 6 shillings
Outside seat on the coach from London to the Greyhound, Marlow 1819 = 7 shillings (one way, 5 hour journey).
Inside seat as above = 12 shillings
Price of horse drawn travel from Bourne End Railway Station to the Crown Marlow before the opening of Marlow's own station = 1 shilling (one way).
One bay mare, 15 and a half hands high, warranted sound and capable of carrying 12 stone. Age 6, 1835 = 40 guineas.
One nearly new phaeton, for one or two horses, 1835 = 50 guineas.
Average cost of a good 2 year old colt bought at Marlow Fair 1859 = £30
Return boat journey by Marlow built pleasure barge "Star of the Thames" from Marlow Road Station (Bourne End) to Harleyford for the temperance societies rural fete 1865 = 1s 6d
Two new tires on your brougham carriage (fitted) from Cox in Oxford Road 1874 = 30 shillings
A second hand Hansom Cab, late the property of gentleman, recently repainted, new lamps. 1881. From Warner and Dryes Carriage Works = £30.
Pair of matching carriage horses bought from Spinfield House 1885 = 150 guineas.
Special reduced price excursion train ticket return, to Marlow from Paddington 1880, 3rd Class = 3s 6d. (Seasonal, no booking in advance allowed).
Train fare Single, to Paddington 1889 = 1st Class 6s, 2nd class 4/6, 3rd 2/7+1/2d
Boat travel from Caversham Bridge to Marlow on the steam launch service of Mr E Cawston, return, 1892 = 3 shillings. (Thursdays only, throughout the late spring and summer).
Bicycle hire from Jasper Collins, 1896 = from 6d an hour, 2s 6d a day, 7s 6d a week. See also below.
Return Thames steamer travel from the Victoria Boat House of Meakes & Redknapp, Bisham to Henley for regatta there, 1896 and 1898 = 5s.
New inner tube and valve for a bicycle, from Jasper Collins & Co bicycle warehouse, Chapel Street 1898 = 4s 6d.
Hire of a "three wheeler" gentleman's bicycle or rather tricycle, from Jasper Collins as above 1900 = 9d an hour.
Train fare, single, second class, High Wycombe to Marlow 1902 = 8 pence.
Cost of a conveyance between Marlow train station and Mill End Farm, return, 1901 = 2s (to bring buyers to a sheep sale there)
New no 3 Timberlake Cycle with "back pedal brake" & Dunlop tyres. Timberlake's Cycle Depot 1902 "Machines made and sold with the intention of giving entire satisfaction" = 10 guineas
Bicycle bell from Mathews cycle agent, Station Road 1904 = 9d.
Cab fare from Marlow to the Abbey Hotel, Medmenham 1905 = 5 shillings.
Overhaul of an old bike, including re enamelling and tin plating, by Timberlake's Cycle Depot, High Street 1908 = from 25 shillings.
Cost of secondhand gentleman's bicycle from Hitchings, in West Street 1909 = From 30 shillings.
New "Marlow" bicycle, from C J Bateman, built in the town and with 5 year guarantee 1909 = from £4
Gas powered cycle lamp from above 1909 = 2 shillings.
Bicycle for a tall lady from Matthews Cycle Agents in Station Road 1910 = 10 shillings.
Communication:
Telegram, sent within U.K, 1907 = 6d for the first 12 words (including the address it was going to) and halfpenny for every word thereafter. Numerical figures are counted as the first 5 figures are equivalent to one word.
To find out how much your ancestor had to spend, take a look at the Marlow wages post here
© Marlow Ancestors
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