In 1875 widow* Susan West took over the Crown Hotel from short term proprietor Samuel Hill. It was one of the foremost places to stay in Marlow and a big affair to take on. Unfortunately for Susan, things began to go wrong for her almost immediately.
Less than a year after taking charge, the Crown suffered a severe fire. A certain amount of smoke was seen one evening coming from above a stove, but it was quickly put out by Susan and her servant or so they thought. The household then retired to bed. Towards morning, they awoke to find the chimney was a "burning mass of soot" down it's entire length. Their own attempts to put the flames out failed so the fire brigade was summoned. This would only have involved rushing to outside the building and ringing the fire bell of the adjacent Town Hall. The horses that pulled the fire engine were usually kept in the Crown's meadow behind the hotel.
They may have arrived quickly, but the fire brigade faced a formidable task. The old chimney ran a zig zagged course between the bar parlour through the centre of the hotel and out. It was this haphazard path that had allowed "boulders of soot" to form in the corners and these were now alight. Getting to the fire involved knocking holes in the chimney and walls and pouring in a huge amount of water. Only after hours of "unceasing labour" in very difficult conditions was the fire extinguished. The damage from smoke, flame, and water can be imagined. Some furniture was destroyed and Susan was left with holes in the structure of the building. Thankfully she was fully insured. But the loss of trade occasioned by the time needed to set things right may well have been the start of Susan's financial difficulties.
The hotel hosted many big events in the next few years and it seemed outwardly to be doing well. But Susan had spent money on modernising the premises and this had left her in debt. Then came the Election Riots of 1880. The hotel was used as the base for poll winner Owen Williams, and his victory was not a popular one with many, especially the poorer members of society. When the election result was announced outside the Crown at 6pm, boos and hisses turned gradually into a full scale riot, with the Crown it's initial focus. By the time the Riot Act was read at 9pm, every single window of the hotel had been broken. A ladder which had been unfortunately left leaning against the front of the building was used as a sort of battering ram. Initially they may have wanted to use it to gain access to the building, but it was pushed through the window with such force the interior plaster and lathe walls were badly damaged. It was then used to batter the hurriedly closed gates of the hotel, which were barricaded from the inside. Threats were said to have been made to burn down the entire hotel. Every front room was described as damaged. While Susan was able to claim some compensation for the structural damage, time spent putting it right must again have lost Susan much income.
In approximately 1881, Susan suffered an accident when travelling by dog cart. (Horse drawn light vehicle, usually 2 wheeled.) She was thrown from the vehicle and hit her head on a kerb. This left her needing to stay in bed for a month, and even after that she experienced periodic severe headaches.
Enter John Langley, a recent widower, large scale farmer and fruiterer and landlord of The Verney Arms in Dean Street. He began to "court" Susan and offered to buy the the Crown. This he eventually did, making arrangements with her creditors and shortly afterwards discharging her debts. He took on the licence in 1883, and soon afterwards the couple were married by licence in Fulham at the Parish Church. (Marriage 19 June 1883. Susan had family in the Fulham area). Salutes were fired from the back of the Crown throughout the wedding day and the bellfry stood in readiness to welcome the couple home with a peal of bells when they stepped off the train. However the ever modest Langley sent a message that he did not want any special fuss made and so the bells stayed silent. However a crowd of friends and neighbours gathered at the Crown to shake the hand of the newlyweds. John was something of a local hero and you can read about him and his son in a dedicated biographical post here
At the Christmas of 1882, Sarah seemed happy. She bought a large tree and erected it in the town hall next door which she also managed. She covered the branches with sparkling decorations and toys and invited the children of the tradesman of the town to come and pick out a free gift. It's one of many examples of her generous spirit. But there was an underlying sadness that would not go away.
Susan was worried that her new husband would never recoup his investment. He said he told her repeatedly that she need not trouble about this. But she seemed depressed and spoke of guilt at the risk John had taken on. She is said to have developed a restless manner, leaving home every few days for short times away, often visiting a sister in London. After one such visit, Susan never returned home.
She travelled to Bridport Harbour, arriving with a small bag but no luggage or money. (She was born in Somerset although it's believed she was a stranger to Bridport itself.) She asked to hire a room at a boarding house for a few hours, initially to rest after a long journey. She then asked to stay the night and after that extended her stay. She told the landlady of the boarding house that she had no money with her but could have it at a moments notice if she wired to her family. The landlady thought Susan looked respectable if tired and allowed her to stay. She had been told by Susan about her head injury and the lingering pain resulting from it and thought Susan could benefit from a holiday. Her actions seem to have erred on the side of kindness considering she had to take it on trust that Susan would settle her bill and yet allowed her to extend her stay nonetheless. One day Susan went out for a walk and never returned. Her bag was found in her room. A few days later her body was found at the foot of a cliff 300ft high.
The verdict was suicide. There was some delay identifying Susan as she had given her name as West and her body was described as mangled due to the nature of the fall. At her inquest, questions were raised about the lack of money Susan had travelled with. It was suggested perhaps husband John had not allowed her much money but this was disproved. He said he had never allowed her to ask him for money - because he had always ensured she had plenty so she would never need to ask for it. He had given her £10 as she was going to visit her sister and he had also received an affectionate letter from Susan while she was staying there. This was supported by others who said Susan had suffered depression because her husband had spent a lot of money on her behalf, despite his reassurances that he did not seek to recoup his investment. John said the Crown was then trading well and they had no ongoing financial difficulties. He would, he said, readily loose a £1,000 pounds if it could bring his wife back to him. Reports of Susan's age range from 33 to 39 at the time of her death. She gave her age as 30 on the 1881 census however.
This was not unfortunately the last tragedy in the story. Less than 3 years after Susan's death, her husband John was killed in an accident at the Crown. He fell from a ladder while pruning some wall trained fruit trees in the now vanished gardens at the rear of the Hotel. Sadly he could not survive his injuries and died aged 60. The Crown was then put up for sale.
*It was said at her inquest that Susan had been a widow for about 9 years at the time of her marriage to John Langley. She left a son according to the same report but he is not with her on the 1881 census.
For a list of landlords of the Crown Inn/Hotel see here and for other related content and other pubs see the Pub Related option on the top drop down menu. Use the A-Z person index on the top drop down menu to find every mention of your ancestor here.
SOURCES
Census 1871, 1881. From the the transcription from microfilm by Charlotte.
Law Reports Volume 7, Great Britain High Courts of Justice, Queens Bench Division, Council of Law Reporting, 1881.
The Hotels Of Europe. (Henry Herbert & Co 1876)
Maidenhead Advertiser 21 June 1876 - copy from the British Library and accessed via the BNA April 2021.
Bucks Herald 19, 30 June & 11 September 1883, as above.
Reading Mercury 25 December 1875, 11 September 1883, as above
Kelly's Directory 1883, Kelly's Directories Ltd.
Post written and researched by Kathryn Day.
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