This post is about some of the more unusual options for entertainment available to our Edwardian Marlow forebears. You can find links to posts about the more conventional options for fun at the bottom of the page.
I think our first stop may be the Duke Of Cambridge in Queens Rd to see land lord William Plumridge. Nothing unusual about having a pint you might say. But in 1904 William has given us an unusual reason to stop by - his monster apple tree. He is very good at growing fruit but this year his tree of Peasgood Nonsuch is producing individual apples the largest of which weighs over 1lb 1oz. Marlow takes horticulture seriously and the biggest fruit is on display in the High Street at Mr Fields. Strictly not for sale, or not until everyone has come to marvel enough at it. This might strike you as a not very exciting exhibit but Marlow celebrates the victories of her sons and daughters, however minor.
If that exhibit did not satisfy you, perhaps you would like to see something that was a genuine item on display at the 1889 L'exposition Universelle in Paris. The very same that gave us the Eiffel Tower. It won a gold medal no less, the only one in its category. You will never guess what it is. To find out we must go to April 1907 and the Wesleyan Chapel fundraising bazaar. They are trying to pay off the cost of their new Sunday school buildings. The star exhibit is...a piece of blotting paper. But a Paris Exposition prize winning piece of blotting paper! It was made by Messrs Soper at the Kings Mill in Loudwater. Time for a selfie perhaps? Marlow knows about paper making thanks to the mills here so there are probably a few people around who have a professional interest in this sort of thing and who could explain the finer points of just what makes an exceptional piece of blotting paper. On second thoughts, perhaps it's time to leave.
Moving on to June 1908 we can enjoy an up to the minute entertainment. And it definitely doesn't involve either paper or apples. For this we need to go to the boys school room, which is what we call the church hall in The Causeway. This is the venue for the grand gramophone entertainment in aid of the Church Lads Brigade. For this we will take a seat, and enjoy a concert played on the gramophone. It's going down well and several pieces get an encore. It might seem strange to see no musicians but how much more of an occasion it is to go out nicely dressed and listen to music with our friends and neighbours, and with refreshments to hand. If you enjoy it, there's plenty of similar events, and even radio based ones later on.
For a completely different kind of performance we can stroll to the river to enjoy one of the river based dramas that are performed from time to time. We don't mean the constables chasing the "young savages" who like to streak along the river banks after a naked swim. These are proper dramatic endeavours, usually put on or at least hosted by the Marlow Rowing Club. In 1910 their invitation swim-meet ends with a water "pantomime". The following year there is a full on extravaganza or "water drama" called "The attack on the Settlers Camp". Maidenhead String Band are in attendance and provide the accompaniment. No wonder they sometimes need a calming exhibition of blotting paper.
Other quirky sources of fun include the Bicycle Gymkhana, 3 hour long musical and gymnastic performances in the Music Room, and the more unusual obstacle course type races to creep in at the Regatta.
For posts about other sources of fun see:
Marlow Fair (ceased to be held in the streets after 1903) here
Bathing in the Thames - here
Cycling including bicycle gymkhana and bicycle polo - here
Cinemas of silent era: here
And general posts about Marlow life in the past - here
Selected sources:
South Bucks Standard 16 September 1904, June 12 1908 - British Library Archive, Accessed via the BNA.
Bucks Herald 6 April 1907. As above.
© Marlow Ancestors except Paris Exposition photo which is used under a creative commons licence.
