Marlow Ancestors: The History of the Compleat Angler

The Compleat Angler hotel as we now call it has had a long and entertaining history. It gets its current name from the classic anglers guide by Izaak Walton, but it used to be said Izaak himself had stayed at the premises when researching his book. For most of its history it's been usually known as The Anglers or The Anglers Inn. So perhaps that was what it was known by if and when Isaak really stayed there. We have dealt with some of the owners of the Angler in their own posts already, so this one is intended to fill in some blanks and provide an overall timeline for the inn prior to 1900.

Sitting at the foot of the original Marlow bridge on the Bisham side, the inn was in a plum position for passing trade. When longstanding proprietors the Cres(s)wells ran the inn it was described as having been formed originally from a pair of ramshackle cottages, oft repaired. Quite a different premises to the one you see today!

When the first inn was built is uncertain. But it may have had some interesting buildings around it. In 1858, proprietor Hezekiah Parslow died, and his widow Mary Ann (nee Creswell) began some improvement works. A series of brick and timber buildings running between the inn and the Suspension bridge were demolished and the remains sold as building materials at auction. They had been used as stabling, warehousing and for storage. In 1862, workman putting in some trenches under where the buildings had been (and close to the bridge) came across "a quantity of remains of what must have been stone mullioned windows etc" which were considered to belong to an "ecclesiastical edifice". The site had been used as a malthouse around 1800 but there did not seem to be any local tradition of a stone building here. It does not seem the remains were further investigated. The warehouse is likely to be that previously owned by the Rolls family and used in connection with their wharf at Bisham.

The Creswells held the Angler for much of the first half of the 19th century. They are a family with many colourful characters who have made their mark on Marlow history. It was under their ownership that some of the most dramatic events in the Angler occured, including a daring 1831 robbery that made off with mementoes said to have been left by frequent guest the Iron Duke. It was also they that saw the extensive fire that gutted the inn and several neighbouring cottages. The full story of these events and the inn under William and Ann Creswell is in a dedicated post here

At the time of the fire in 1832, the inn had 7 or 8 beds depending on which report you believe. Although it may have had a rustic appearance, it was already attracting guests from far afield who wanted to enjoy the angling opportunities Marlow had to offer. It was "the great resort of fishing parties" and many of the guests were "gentry". A few years later the Creswells received a visit from gentleman George Lander and Waterman Williams who were settling a £100 wager made by Lander relating to how quickly they could row between Westminster and Oxford Bridges. They managed the journey of 114 miles in 18 hours and 42 mins. Marlow was reached at 1.16pm (after a 4am start at Westminster). They were met by William Creswell riverside with some drinks to propel them on, and after 15 mins rest (during which they stayed in the boat) the pair went on their way. They won the £100. Williams had "worked like a horse" and Lander allegedly lost several pounds in weight after his efforts.

In 1850, Marlow timber merchant of West Street Hezekiah Parslow took over the Angler. The Creswells had combined running the inn with running barges and dealing in coal landed at the adjacent wharf. Hezekiah however sold off much of his timber dealing equipment on taking over his new role, although he maintained an interest in the trade. Hezekiah sadly died aged just 42, leaving his widow to take centre stage..the infamous Mrs Parslow. She added to the work of her aunt Ann Creswell in making the Angler famous. Visitors remarked on her kindness and cheerful good nature, as well as her knack at anticipating the needs of her angling guests. The "angler brethren" were described as almost her only customers and given that people would travel long distances to stay there, Mrs Parslow did not need to generate much local trade. But the inn bought a lot of visitors with healthy bank balances to Marlow benefiting other traders, and the inn was also used much in everyday local life. Like many Marlow inns, it saw regular property and goods auctions hosted there. It's other function was to accommodate inquests when someone was pulled dead from the water nearby. These were traditionally held in the nearest public house to where the corpse was recovered, and the body itself was also bought there to be viewed by the coroner's jury and/or identified by relatives. You can read in detail about Hezekiah and Mary Ann, and Mary Ann's daughter Frances Compere here

In 1857, the Angler was described as one of the prettiest and pleasantest on the Thames. And many continued to recall this Parslow era with great affection decades later, remarking on the cleanliness but picturesque rusticity of the inn. But the number of guests were increasing, and improvements and enlargements were made. Ten years later the inn was described as "marvellously altered" to provide more accomodation. The gardens had also been re modelled. A visitor of old would scarcely recognise the place they said. Some thought this a great step forward with all and every requirement for guests to be met with, others felt it a slight loss of the Anglers individual charm.

Guests at the hotel could hire the services of fishermen such as the Creswell brothers, Rosewell & Shaw who would convey them to the best spots at the best times to hook their quarry. It was said by visitor Samuel Carter Hall that the tone of the morning greeting by Rosewell conveyed in a moment the chance of good sport or otherwise.

Improvements to the building continued under landlord Charles Miller Foottit in the 1880's. A post dedicated to this energetic man and former chemist can be found here. In 1884 Charles could offer 18 bedrooms and his especial pride, a dedicated Coffee Room. It was now most often described as a hotel and a "first class" one at that. (Terms strictly moderate of course) He considered further expansion but instead housed excess summer guests at Dial Cottage across the bridge at the Causeway Marlow. (See note 1 below) This may have suited Charles but the guests had to cross the bridge for every meal so perhaps it was not such a convenient solution for them! It would usually accommodate 6 at a time. (Dial Cottage was owned by various members of the Creswell family in the past, and also the Rolls who maintained a wharf in Bisham adjacent to the Angler) The Bucks Herald considered the Angler to be well on the way to becoming one of the most luxurious stops on the Thames, under the "spirited regime" of Charles.

The guests staying at Marlow may at least have been a little further from the sound of the Weir. Described by some as disturbing their sleep at the Compleat Angler in the days before double glazing, others found the sound soothing and sleep inducing. Still others claimed the sound or "Marlow Buzz" made them dizzy and disorientated for a day or two. Perhaps they had enjoyed a little too much of Charles Foottit's wine offerings! Charles was a keen river user himself, and very used to the sound of the weir. He had a yacht, the Osprey, and was much involved in rowing. You can read more in the post linked to above.

In 1888, H Kilby arrived from the Cannon Street Hotel to take on the Compleat Angler. He was a tenant there, unlike the earliest proprietors who had actually owned the buildings. He was ambitious and oversaw an extension of dining provision. During this period the inn was used for a huge number of annual general meetings, public dinners and the like especially by sporting associations so the investment obviously paid off. (The most famous meeting to occur at the Angler was the one that led to the formation of Marlow Football Club in 1870) The success of the Compleat Angler meant that boating parties were told they could not hope to find quarter there without considerable prior notice.

The proximity to the river helped the hotels success but it also caused it a few problems. It flooded on a number of occasions. In 1894 a temporary bar was made in an upstairs bedroom because of flood water below, 3ft deep. The following year the same depth of water was reported inside. Kilby wanted to pull down the old buildings and build a more modern hotel on drier standings. So when the property was put up for sale in April 1895, he put all he had into purchasing the freehold. The premises he bought now included that essential addition for a fashionable premises, a detached billiard room. He is responsible for much of the enlargement into the premises we see today. But the hotel had not forgotten all of its rustic past. A guest in 1898 remarked that on the one hand there was the crisp white tablecloths and waiters dressed in sable coats and white neck ties but on the other the dining room still sported an old fashioned wooden dresser decorated with jugs of flowers. And you can still order simple food like ham and eggs without risking a sneering look from your host! This post will stop there but research into the earliest and Edwardian landlords will be uploaded as time allows.

Researched and written by Kathryn Day.

Marlow Ancestors

Monday, October 18, 2021

The History of the Compleat Angler - Post No.372.