More Where in Marlow was..Part 5

If you can't find the place you are looking for here, take a look at our other "Where in Marlow was..?" posts - part one here, part two here, no 3 here and part 4 here.

Abercynon - house, Little Marlow Road.

Aberystwyth - house, Claremont Road.

Alfred House now Cromwell House, High Street. Historic occupiers here

Andover - house, Oak Tree Road.

Applegarth - house, Dedmere Rise.

Arthur Villa - Claremont Road.

Ashcroft- Address given also as "Claremont Lodge", Claremont Road area. 

Ash, The - house, Little Marlow Road.

Ashtead - Claremont Road. 

Beechwood - house, off Henley Road. Demolished. Built circa 1883 in grounds of Beech Lodge.  Had been rebuilt 1925. 

Beech Lodge - Wadham Wyndham's residence from at least 1819. Aka Red Pits/Red Pits Lodge. About the Wyndhams here.

Bob Moore's Lane= now Bobmore Lane 

Bohemia- house, adjacent Marlow Bridge. On Berks side of river. 

Bokpara - house, Little Marlow Road.

Broomhurst - house, Cromwell Gardens.

Burnham Villa - Glade Road. 

Caldwell Lodge - Station Road, still carries this name.

Claremont House - Claremont Road. 

Cleeveville - house, New Town Road. 

Clynview- (also Clyn View-) House, Glade Road.

Coop, The - house, Little Marlow Road.

Crendon Cottages - Crown Road. Presumably still there but not obviously marked.

Croft Cottage - Pound Lane. Not The Croft, which is now Gyldernscroft .

Daintree aka Daintree Cottage - house, "Claremont Estate" now Claremont Gardens. 

Darfield - Glade Road.

Dedmere House - see Field House below.

East View Villas - Glade Road.

Effra - house, Beaumont Rise. 

Ellerslie - house, used as apartments for a while, Institute Road.

Elmcroft  -  house, Little Marlow Road.

Ennismore - house, Little Marlow Road.

Euonymus - Little Marlow Road.

Evergreen - house, Glade Road. 

Fairlawn - house, Riverwoods Drive.

Field House-  off modern Field House Lane / Dedmere Road. Address historically given as Dedmere, Marlow. Also called Dedmere House. Field House Farm off New Town Road had 30 acres in 1916, 20 acres in 1881. History post here.

Forthar - house, Little Marlow Road.

Frankfield (Sometimes Frank Field) - house, Spinfield Lane.

Gables, The - Institute Road.

Glade, The - now The Cedars, Glade Historic resident Charlotte Cocks here

Glade Nook  - 1.) house, Glade Road. 2. house Claremont Estate (Claremont Road area). Could be same house in fact due to consistent confused use of addresses in this part of Marlow in the early days of development.

Glenesk - Cromwell Gardens. 

Glenfield - house, Little Marlow Road

Glenlyn - house, Station Road .

Glenside - house, Claremont Road.

Godyers / Goodyers / Goodyears /Goodiers - the name Thames Bank House bore early in its life. Probably an earlier building too. 

Gos(s)emore House - the name adopted by Artist Percy Wild for The Eyrie in 1899. Often rendered as Gossmore House. Off Gossmore/Lock Road, with grounds that originally ran to towpath. Address may be given as "Marlow Fields" (1897, 1899) For history of The Eyrie when it was a menagerie see here

Hartfield - house, Little Marlow Road

Haven, The - house, Claremont Road. 

Highfield(s) - off Henley Road. Demolished. 

Highwell Cottage - Station Road. 

Holmelea - Henley Rd, Edwardian. 

Holmesley, Homesley house, Station Road.

Ingledean  / Ingledene - house, Claremont Road. 

Ingleneux /Ingleneuk - house, Claremont Road.

Kendal Cottage - Glade Road.

Kiama - house, Little Marlow Road.

Kia-Ora - house, Claremont Road.

Kinclaven - house, Little Marlow Road.

Lammas Lane - lane bordering Rookery Park and leading from Chapel End to what is now the cemetery area. Aka Arzees Lane, Hawes Lane and Rookery Lane. 

Laurels, The - Beaumont Rise.

Lymbrook - (occasionally Lynbrook but see below) - name used for Thames Bank house (now known as Thames Lawn) from at least 1869-1939, however many people continued to use old name of Thames Bank during  this time, as they also continued to use it when the name changed again to Thames Lawn. Note also that Thames Lawn existed as separate house nearer lock prior to Thames Bank using the name. And a separate house in St Peters Street was known as Limbrook(e) in the 1820s, while Limbrook Wharf there existed 1850's and was sometimes used as a trading address. There is also a modern house called Lymbrook at Marlow Common. Confused yet? 

Lynton - Glade Road. 

Lynwood - house, Cromwell Gardens. Extant. The property Alfred Davis (who gave his name to the Marlow FC ground) was living in at his death in 1927.  Also a property at Marlow Common.

Maida Vale - house, Claremont Estate,  later described as located in Claremont Gardens. 

Maisonette - a house in fact. In  "New Town" - modern New Town Road area. 

Maldah - house, Institute Road. Exists with name intact. Post about early residents here.

Manse, The - Chapel Street.

Marlow Villas - Claremont Road 1909. Pair of houses. Still named. 

Marlow Lodge - Station Road.  

Merolla - house, Station Road. 

Mitching Dean - house, Glade Road.

Myrtle House - Claremont Road. 

Naseby - house. Claremont Road. Extant and still named. 

Nesscliffe - house, Glade Road. 

Orchard Cottage - Mill Road.

Ready Money Row - colloquial name for Dean Street, as was "The City" and "Packmans Puzzle"

Pendennis - house, Glade Road.

Pleasaunce, The aka The Plesance - House, Beaumont Rise (no.1, still so named) 

Rest, The - house, Glade Road. 

Rosecroft - Glade Road. 

Rosenan - house, Beaumont Rise.

Rose Villa - "Institute Road", but probably actually Beaumont Rise. Also earlier Rose Villas (plural), in uncertain location.

Roy Glen - house, Claremont Road. Also a house was called Royston in New Town. 

Ruby Villa - Berwick Road, no longer named. 

Seaton - house, Beaumont Rise, exists still with this name. 

Shamrock Cottage - Glade Road. Early residents of the property ( number 7) here. No longer bears the name.

Spinneys, The - house, West Street. 

St. Clare - let as apartments, Station Road. 

St. Georges Cottage - Beaumont Rise. 

St. Margarets - house, Wycombe Road

St. Marys - house, Claremont Road. 

St. Mawes - house, "Newtown". New Town Road area.

St. Ronans - house, Cromwell Gardens .

Suffolk Lodge - off what is now Station Road & Lock Road. Gardens bordered South Place and Station Road. Later Marlow Lodge (there was also a Marlow Lodge in Little Marlow village, and at Fingest)

Surmoor - property Queens Road. 

Swallows, The  - Little Marlow Road (Previously known as Prospect House, possibly one of two properties to be called that) Demolished. 

Swilley Cottage - Little Marlow Road. Swilley Villa, which appears to be in the same area, may be the same place or in the adjacent Wycombe Rd. 

Thistle Cottage - Glade Road. 

Thornwood - house, Cromwell Gardens.

Valley View- house, Little Marlow Road. Used for many purposes over the years. 

Victoria Cottages - pair, 1872, Victoria Road. Extant.

Wellingrove - house, Station Road. (Occasionally Welling Grove). 

Western House - house, West Street (Henley Road end). Still extant. 

West View - 1.) Cromwell Gardens 2. "New Town" (Newtown Road area).

Westwood  house, Institute Road

Wiggintons Row- Dean Street, cottages. Colloquial name.

Woodland Cottage - Gossmore Road, ( now Lane).

Woodlands- a house,  Claremont Gardens.

Woodside -1.)  Riverwoods Drive. 2.) Little Marlow Road.

Remember that homes listed as located within "Glade Road" in the past may actually be in the streets nearby. Glade Road was developed first and for a lack of specific address for themselves some new homes in the nearby area built in what was fields or down as yet unamed roads used "Glade Road" as a postal address as it was their nearest named location. Similarly homes given historically as in "New Town" will be in the general area of but not necessarily actually in what is now New Town Road. The same applies to homes formerly described as being in "The Claremont Estate" or "Claremont Garden Estate" - they may have been in what is now Claremont Road or Claremont Gardens or in nearby streets.

 Compiled by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day.

A Very Unsuccessful Thief - John Neighbour of Great Marlow

 This is a post continuing a series of features about some of Great Marlow's past residents who found themselves transported to Australia for committing a crime. The crime was nearly always theft of one kind or another or recieving stolen goods. And one person really not very good at thieving was John Neighbour born circa 1804 - 1806. (Note there were a number of John Neighbours in Marlow and nearby at this time. A post about John Neighbour of Potland's /West Street is available here)

John was a brick maker by trade. I hope for the residents of Marlow he was more successful at that than in his criminal career. 

His first brush was the law was an assumed attempt to commit a burglary of sorts at the Barge Pole Inn, in Church Passage off St. Peter's Street (now demolished) in 1830. His method here was potentially quite cunning. He went inside to have a drink but instead of leaving at closing time he had hid himself within. At some point he had hit upon the chimney as a good place to conceal himself and so up he went. It can't have been a particularly comfortable experience! How long he was up there isn't clear. The Sparkes family who were the then landlords went to bed unaware of their uninvited guest. John then made his move to free himself but unfortunately it was not a noiseless activity. The sound travelled through the house and he was discovered. And kicked out quite literally into the street. 

John could have gone home but decided to have another go at housebreaking. He arrived in the High Street, and decided the then uninhabited house of Mr Hone would be the ideal target. It does not seem John was blessed with the gift of stealth and he made enough noise to attract the attention of John Moss who lived nearly opposite (in the building occupied by Mathers now). John had just gone to bed but roused himself smartly and when he then heard a window break, he dashed across the street to see John attempt to get through the window. John was no match for the outraged Mr Hone who seized him and fetched the parish constable. John would now get some time in gaol - 3 months. 

Two years later John had committed another theft. The victim of this was butcher Charles "Shock" East who would himself be transported to Australia! (See here for the details of that) He stole 6lbs of mutton valued at 2/6, but was observed during the crime and so arrest followed with inevitable speed. John was now in serious trouble as a second conviction for a theft was treated severely. He also had a minor prior conviction for vagrancy. So before the Bucks Quarter sessions he went. His sentence was transportation to Australia for 7 years. 

Initially transferred from prison to a prison hulk to await passage, John finally left England on the 19th November 1832. He was aboard the convict ship the Surrey/Surry. The journey took 3 and a half months. For all of the uncertainty of what awaited him, it must have been a relief to land in Van Diemens Land in March 1833 after so long at sea. A detailed record of what John looked like was made by the authorities to identify him from the other prisoners and of course to enable a description to be accurately circulated should he try to abscond. In this we are told John sports small red whiskers (a number of others are clean shaven so the men were obviously allowed to shave during their journey or before being assessed), brown eyes and eyebrows, an aquiline nose, small mouth and low forehead. 

The convicts were sentenced to do varying amounts of hard labour in chain gangs, and otherwise might be assigned to an approved person to perform unpaid labour. John was in the road gangs for some time. This time was extended as John took part in mutiny of sorts with 20 others who refused to work. Later he was in trouble for absenting himself from his work party and using "disgraceful and disgusting language". And of course he was found out when involved as an accessory to a "system of pilfering". As not one of the prime movers in the last, he just got a severe reprimand for his trouble. He had moved into forced private service but was removed from this to see out his sentence working in some brickfields. No doubt this was partly because of his previous experience in this trade. I see no evidence that John received the unconditional pardon that would have allowed him in theory to return home. I suspect therefore he remained in Australia. He was unmarried in England and hopefully was able to make something of himself down under. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day, additional research by Charlotte Day. 

Related Posts

Crime and disorder in old Marlow here

Another Neighbour transported: here

Everyday life in John's Great Marlow and general crime related posts: here

All posts about an individual or family here can be found within the top drop down menu. 

SOURCES:

Reading Mercury 8 February 1830

Berkshire Chronicle 13 February 1830

1820/30s residential directory by Charlotte. 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/38941373-db4e-46f3-996c-2ec1170cef78

Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 463 (232). Linc, Description List CON18/1/20 Page 425 and Conduct Record CON31/1/33

http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON31-1-33,152,41,L,56

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON27-1-6P32

©MarlowAncestors

Servants at Remnantz 1871

 On the 1871 census 62 year old Anne Wethered had 8 other members of her family living with her at Remnantz and 9 live in servants.

The head gardener had his own cottage so isn't included in the household. Under gardeners likely came in on a daily basis. There are no grooms listed. There were rooms above the stables, which if occupied by any such might have constituted a different household to the census taker or perhaps any grooms employed did not live in.  The only male servant censused at Remnantz other than the butler was 18 year old William Saunder Brook. He might have taken on a groom's role amongst other household duties. He is simply listed as "general servant." By the time of the next census William had married an Elizabeth and become a French polisher. He was recorded as having been born in nearby Hurley, Berkshire, which indeed he was.

The only servant censused as born in Great Marlow itself was 19 year old general servant Mary E Maine, who I struggled to find any later trace of.

Coming from the furthest distance away was Aberdeen born general servant 50 year old Elizabeth Polson.

Elizabeth appeared on the next census on the Isle of Wight with her widowed niece before returning to West Street Marlow on the 1891 census. In both instances she lived on her own income/ annuities so somebody left her something or gave her a pension or she made some good investments herself.

One of the two domestic nurses in the household, Louise Davis, was said to have been born in Dieppe, France. French nurses were a fashion for a time. 

The other domestic nurse present was Elizabeth Coombes, a 22 year old Oxfordshire girl. There were 3 grandchildren in Anne Wethered's household ranging in age from a baby less than a year old up to a 10 year old. The term domestic nurse on a census isn't always easy to interpret. Both nurses may have been nursemaids caring for the children, or one may have been providing care for an infirm or unwell household member. On the 1881 census Anne Wethered's married daughter Sophia Fenwick* had Remnantz and still employed a live in "domestic nurse" despite there being no children in the household. 

Elizabeth Coombes returned to Oxfordshire. Never marrying, she was eventually a housekeeper.

The only two 1871 servants still at Remnantz in 1881 were Mary Tyler aged 64 in 1871 and Caroline Bridgeman whose age varies a lot between censuses. Both had been working there 1861 too when Anne Wethered still had her husband Owen with her (he died the next year). Mary Tyler was said to be a nurse 1861, general servant 1871 and a nurse and housekeeper 1881. Caroline went from housemaid to general servant to upper housemaid across the censuses.

The most senior servant censused 1871 was the butler Alfred Crockford from Chertsey in Surrey, born 1836. He was on the 1851 census as a page boy, perfect butler training! After Remnantz he could be found living in Holborn London working as a meat carver. The precise and neat carving of meat would be a requirement of a butler so his old skills were still being put to use. Alfred married in middle age, his wife Emily.

The final servant to be mentioned 1871 is another general servant Mary A Turner originally from Norfolk but whose family moved to near Sandhurst, Berkshire when she was a little girl.

Remnantz Related Posts: 

Biography of Stephen Remnant, early occupier here

Life for the young cadets at the military college- here

Photos of items once dug up at Remnantz and adjacent properties -here

Use for a cricket match here

The barge that came over the wall (!) here

*Sophia Fenwick nee Wethered had married Lieut Col Percival Fenwick in 1861. Her father was Owen Wethered. 

Sources:

Census:

Great Marlow censuses my transcription from microfilm.

GRO Death Index.

Hurley parish registers.

Great Marlow Parish Registers, my old transcription from the original.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this material for family or local history research purposes providing you credit this blog and link here to make sure my sources remain credited for information provided.

Fun In Gossmore With The Rifle Volunteers

  If you had been strolling around Gossmore between Marlow and Little Marlow in the summer of 1861 you may have seen what looked like some kind of fete going on. Donkey racing, a brass band, refreshment tent, crowds of visitors, and novelty boat races were all in evidence. The day ended with a tremendous bonfire and a fireworks display. What you were actually witnessing was the open day of the Bucks Volunteer Rifles encampment at Marlow. The Volunteer camps were a big social event in town so they featured a lot in the life of those who both did and did not actually serve in the Marlow branch of the Volunteers. So in today's post we will describe what it was like to be go to camp, as either a Volunteer or a visitor, in the first couple of decades of their existence. 

A meeting was held in the boys schoolroom in the Causeway in June 1859 to "consider the propriety of forming a Volunteer Rifle Corps in the town and neighborhood". The response was positive and so the Volunteers began shortly afterwards. This provided military training to those not joining the regular army, so they would be ready to come to the countries aid if needed. So the Volunteers had a serious purpose, and being a member involved regular committment to drill and shooting practice. A large number of Marlow families had a member in the volunteers at some point - some of whom would go onto serve in the South African wars and First World War. The annual camps were supposed to create an immersive intense training period to create "good and efficient soldiers, ready for any emergency." But they also involved a certain amount of fun and frolics as we shall see! 

The first camp at Marlow

The Marlow company were joined by various other groups within the Bucks Volunteer Rifles at different times. The camp was first held at Marlow itself in 1861. It would use what would become a favourite site - the riverside Gossmore meadows. This had long been in use as a recreation ground and it was formalised as such when Marlow recieved her Enclosure Act in the early 1850s.  Permission for the Volunteers to use this space was granted by the inhabitants at a parish vestry meeting. The weather was terrible - something that does seem to be a regular feature of the encampments. For all the merriment, the actual living conditions in canvas tents can not have been especially pleasant after "very heavy" rain. It was felt that the gravel beneath the surface at Gossmore and sandy soil would help to ensure the ground quickly dried out relatively speaking although it was also noted that should there be a summer flood, the spot was subject to going underwater! The point was to replicate a "real" military encampment so a bit of mud probably added to the experience. To the same end there was only one lavatory provided. 

For this first camp, the men were housed in tents which had been borrowed from the army stores "at the Tower" (of London). There were 9 rows of 8 big sleeping tents which were put up on the Saturday before the camp officially began. By 1865, the camp at Marlow boasted 79 tents in all, including one dedicated to storing ammunition. Generally though the Volunteers were not required to attend until the Monday.  The privates naturally shared their tents. (Each tent was issued with a lantern, leather bucket, camp kettle and two basins.) I'm not sure what bedding was provided in this first year but later each man would receive a straw mattress and two blankets. 

On the east side of the camp stood more spacious tents for the officers to sleep in as well as the officers mess, officers stores and a hospital tent. Although there was no enemy facing the Volunteers, there were still occasional accidents related to the shooting practice and competitions. Surrounding the site were sentry boxes which were constructed from "hurdles inlaid with straw". A nice rustic touch! The sentry duty was taken seriously as if an enemy was really nigh. There was also the point of guarding the camp equipment and guns against opportunistic thieves. A detachment of police from Aylesbury also attended during the open days at the end of the week. 

Catering arrangements

Catering arrangements varied a little year on year. In 1861, on the north side of the camp was a canteen managed on the Volunteers behalf by Jesse Ward of the King's Head in Aylesbury. (A Mr Dunkin of High Wycombe actually provided the rations) This was equipped with stoves. There was some debate as to whether it was the right thing to do to involve outside caterers. It was a less authentic experience it was argued. In later times, the camp kitchen was managed by the Volunteers themselves. They were actually charged for their rations at first, at a set rate of 2s a day, regardless of what was on the menu. This was generally it seems considered a good deal as Mr Ward's catering was highly praised. The fee covered  breakfast, dinner and supper as well as 1 pint of beer a day.  The meals were served in a large tent used as a dining room, next to the canteen. Each man was supposed to bring along his own tin plate, and pint mug plus a knife, fork and spoon. Water came from a specially dug well on the north side, which aroused some interest on the camp open days. 

Jesse was still doing the cooking at the 1864 camp also held at Gossmore, but now we are told there are no cooking facilities in the camp itself. Instead ready roast beef and mutton was supplied on alternate days "smoking hot" for the dinners. Jesse presumably borrowed a kitchen somewhere close by. However he managed it, he did a good job as the men spoke of the meals "in the highest terms" according to a reporter from the Reading Mercury who attended. 

Visitors could also enjoy an exhibition tent in which there were displays of  the trophies and other prizes already won by the Volunteers in shooting competitions. Marlow's Sergeant Alfred Stradling (otherwise a clock and watch maker of the High Street) had earned many of these in 1861. There you could also see equipment for cleaning and repairing the rifles. 

On Sunday, day 2, the camp was not quite finished but that didn't stop scores of visitors from Marlow, Little Marlow and Bourne End heading along the tow path to gaze at the scene. They were allowed in during the day more or less officially as the main group of men had not yet set up home. Whether their presence really helped putting the finishing touches in place must be debatable! A group of  local gentry usually chose the Sunday evening for their inspection of the camp too. 

Daily life in camp in the 1860's

The camp routine didn't change much each year in the 1860's so the below outline of the 1861 camp is a typical routine for the whole decade. 

On Monday, the Volunteers arrived en masse and things were put on a more military footing. Marlow were of course the nearest company to the camp and so they marched in first under Lieutenant Owen Peel Wethered. They did not as yet have use of The Armoury building in Institute Road*. The Marlow men also formed the first guard of the site. The other local companies joining in travelled by train to what was then known as the Marlow Road Station (soon to become Bourne End) and walked the rest of the way. They were joined by members of the Royal Bucks Yeomanry as some of the shooting prizes were open to them. All of the men were entitled to send one small bag of luggage in advance if they wished. They were strongly encouraged to do so to avoid carting a bag on their march into camp. Too much pack carrying was thought created a less splendid appearance to the company so it was said. Those coming via Bourne End had been told to send on their coats for the same reason. The result was the poor fellows got thoroughly drenched on their incoming march and not all had a full change of clothes with them. (The men were recommended to bring a coat, flannel shirt, waistcoat, trousers, a pair of socks - and only one - and their brush and comb.) The same thing happened on at least two other occasions in the 1860s. The weather likes to rain on our Volunteers! 

And so camp life began, with reveille at 5am, breakfast at 7.30am, morning parade at 9.30am and another at 7.30 in the evening, plus drill sessions throughout the day. Roll call was at 9pm. If you did not know the Volunteer camp was taking place (unlikely given the excitement felt in Marlow in the weeks before!), you would probably have heard them before too long. A bugler announced the parades 30 minutes before they were due to take place, as well as the time to get up, lights out (10pm) and roll call etc. (Marlow Volunteers were presented with a silver bugle by "the ladies of Marlow" in 1860) What took up most of the time was shooting practice and competitions of which more below. This also attracted criticism as it was considered not enough time was spent on general drill compared to the more glamorous rifle work. 

As time went on camps got lengthier but in 1861 the minimum stay was just 2 days out of 5. It was expected you would stay longer and indeed the whole time if you could. You could not just go home if you had had enough. Permission to leave the camp, whether for good or just a few hours, had to be obtained from an officer. Failure to turn up on parade or role call could result in your dismissal from the Volunteers. As the men all had day jobs, co operation was sought from their employers to release the men long enough. 

Another feature of the day was a short religious service each morning at 8.30am. This was one of the few aspects of camp life that wasn't compulsory. The services were conducted by the vicar of Marlow - the Rev Robert Millman in this period. He was the Brigades Honorary Chaplain. The service was always choral and so the choir in their surplices tramped along the river every morning to attend camp. 

One of the reasons that Marlow scored the camp was because they possessed "one of the most magnificent firing ranges ever seen" at the base of Bisham Woods - later moved further away when Quarry Wood Road was laid down. This had been originally provided by Mr Vansittart of Bisham Abbey. (George Henry Vansittart was promoted to Captain of the 1st Bucks Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1863, with Owen Peel Wethered promoted to Lieutenant in his place) A ferry was set up to allow easy communication between the Berks and Bucks shores. To the usual Marlow range was added 4 additional targets on a temporary basis.  Each member of the Volunteers was required to fire so many rounds at the butts. The competition shooting was held on "ranges at 200, 300, 500, 600 yards, 5 rounds at each range" Those that did best won a prize. Doing this took up most of Monday and Tuesday, with the finals held on the Thursday. Those who had attended camp for less than two days couldn't compete and those who hadn't attended a minimum number of drill sessions were barred from some events. Consistently the camps come with rules and guidelines to deal with not showing up at parade or drill, which suggests the early threats of dismissal if you missed any were not enough! 

The shooting prizes were for either cash or a cup or a medal. Marlow's men tended to do well and in 1864 Sergeant Stradling mentioned above scored the 2nd prize overall. Another cup for him to display. In the same year Corporal Newman came 4th winning £4 in cash, and Private Lunnon 6th overall. (£2 prize)

Wednesday is party day

Tuesday evening saw the party spirit begin. A brass band attended the camp to lead the men to drill. On Wednesday a large bonfire was constructed. Considering the awful weather which seems to accompany 90% of the 1860s camps, someone must have had the foresight to keep a large quantity of wood in the dry.  That would be lit in the evening, where it could be seen for miles around. The public was now formally allowed to enter the camp in the afternoon, rather than gather outside. Someone made a "large copper of punch" which was apparently available along with other alcohol indiscriminately to all. The officers also had some champagne which they raised in toast to the camps success. The brass band may have gone but someone bought along a harmonium in 1861. The Volunteers were fortunate to have Private Ringrose amongst their number. He was then the organist and choir master at All Saints. So he took charge of the harmonium and the singing and dancing began. In 1864 it was "Lord Orkneys band" that provided the Wednesday music. The Volunteers were still subject to lights out so eventually the camp was cleared and the men went back to their tents and a well deserved rest.  

Thursday was reserved for sports although some had also taken place on the Wednesday. It was said that these events were encouraging stamina and fitness, two qualities needed by their ideal soldier. The public were invited and a good number came along to watch. There were straightforward running races as well as donkey races and swimming ones at the first Marlow camp. Succeeding camps saw the sports programme get longer and more novelty races creep in such as "jumping in sacks" and pushing Volunteers in barrows. After all this the only thing left to do was more parade and a Thursday evening prize giving before the camp officially broke up on the Friday. The prize giving ended with a communal singing of the National Anthem that could be heard 2 miles away. 

At Danesfield 

Danesfield was another venue used by the Volunteers for their camp. For example in 1873 they set up on the banks of the river, with the officers mess tent in front of the entrance to the old Medmenham Abbey. This time the camp ran from Saturday to Wednesday. Dinner was provided at 1s a day, charged separately from the other meals. It was noted that many had chosen to bring their own food. Presumably the excellent chef Jesse Ward was no longer providing the catering.

The entertainment element was still there - as was Ringrose and his harmonium and the Marlow Choir. The choir were not thankfully walking all the way to Danesfield each day but did join in an outdoor service on one occasion. Entertainment day was Monday this time around. A band played for two hours in the officers mess for the officers and their invited guests. The following day all the men were invited in turn into the mess after the sports for a "punch party". The camp ended with the officers ball hosted by Robert Scott Murray of Danesfield, with the band of the First Life Guards in attendance. By this time the other men were well on their way home..and for once it didn't rain on them!

NB. 

The 1st Marlow corps were joined by those from High Wycombe (the 2nd), Buckingham and Winslow (the 3rd), Aylesbury (the 4th) and Slough (the 5th). 

Some of those attending the 1861 campvas members of the 1st Marlow include:

Private R Blackwell 

Private H Smith

Private W Lunnon

Private William Ringrose

Private J Curtis 

Private J Cox 

Private Wyatt

Private Hobbs

Private McMillan 

Private Fletcher.

Private Endall

Quartermaster Sergeant T? Lunnon qv

Corporal Brown

Corporal Newman

Corporal Hackshaw

Bugler Batting

Sergeant Alfred Stradling 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts

*The joy and tragedy of the Armoury's first year - here

South African Wars memorial includes many Volunteer names - here

General index of posts related to Marlow and  military history: here

Other posts related to Danesfield: here

Sources include:

Berkshire Chronicle 18 June 1859 - British Library Archive. 

Reading Mercury 11 July 1860, as above. 

Reading Mercury  1865, thanks to Jane Pullinger for her copy. 

Beckett, Ian. Call To Arms - Buckinghamshire's Citizen Soldiers. (Barracuda Books 1985)

The London Gazette, 1 September 1863 - digitised by Google. 

Orders for Volunteer Encampments - 1865, Wilson & Son. 

© MarlowAncestors 

    

  

Will Summary and Research Notes Sarah Winter of Great Marlow 1755

 I ordered a digital copy of this will from the National Archives, Kew. This wasn't of great contrast. Nevertheless here's a summary of what I was able to transcribe. 

SARAH WINTER WIDOW OF GREAT MARLOW. PROVED 1755.

Says she of sound mind.

To be decently buried at executor's discretion.

Cousin David Beckford the house ["?that is his"??] with the part John Cox now occupies with all its appurtenances. He must pay his sister Ann S*ing? £10 and his sister Hester Beckford £10.

Cousin John Lointer? of Berkhampstead in Berkshire a house in Great Marlow. He must pay to testator's cousins Ann Webb and Elizabeth Webb £10 each.

The cousins John Lointer? and David Beckford above mentioned are the executors and get all testator's household goods.

Legible witness= Buckle Hawes. Two other witness William .... And John C...

Notes: Sarah was the widow of Richard Winter. She inherited these West Street properties from her dad Richard Beckford. Her birth family look to have been non conformist Christians. Read her dad's will here

©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction permitted with credit.

Tilbury Grave Hurley

 Hurley churchyard.

Archie Tilbury. Died Jan 7th 1903.

Elsie Tilbury. Died Dec 6th 1903.

Photographed March 2021.

Post by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this content for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.

To find all mention of a family or individual here, use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

Posts related to Hurley and nearby can be found indexed here

Grave/Memorial index here

The Garrison

 Updated and corrected May 2023.

The Garrison was a military building and then "gentleman's house" which existed in Gun Lane (now Trinity Road) in Marlow. It and it's grounds were on the site of the new church erected in the 1850s and the Police Station which was erected in Gun Lane 1857-8. Architecture expert Nicholas Pevsner in his county history series considered that the Police Station was a conversion of an attractive Georgian house, (which should have been the Garrison as there were otherwise only tiny cottages in Gun Lane). However early 1900s sources suggest that the Garrison house was knocked down in order to provide land for the new Holy Trinity Church further up Gun Lane in 1851, while an 1870s source said that it was a brick and timber building owned by William Clayton and also stood on the site of the later church. Yet the placing of the Garrison main house in the 1830s suggests it was nearer the site of the later police station and not on the site of the church. The demolished property which gave way to the church may have been in fact an outbuilding or stable belonging to the Garrison rather than the main house. 

Very soon after being built the Police Station was considered overly cramped inside with a heating system not fit for purpose of heating the police station. This would make sense if it was not a specially built building. So it may be that the outbuildings belonging to the house (of which there were apparently several) were what was demolished for the church while the main house was converted into the Police Station  or vice versa but it is hard to be certain as contemporary sources just don't agree on all points. If the Garrison was brick and flint, it can't have been the house converted into the police station as this was not a brick and timber building. It's a puzzle.

What we do know is that The Garrison began as a military garrison building, with its last known use as such in 1777 when the 45th Regiment of Foot stayed there. The name Gun Lane dates from at least the 1600s, so long predates the building of that Garrison House. It also appears as Gunne Lane and Goune Lane in early records. There is a possibility that the name comes from the land having a relationship to a family of the name Gunne / Goune of which I have found a few mentions of in relation to 1600s Marlow and is thus a coincidence.

My next earliest reference to the building comes from 1786 when the gentleman who resided in the Garrison as one single house decided to leave for London and his household possessions were put up for auction. This was perfectly normal at the time. Safely carting your household goods even a short distance was very difficult and expensive. Taking just a few sentimental pieces with you and selling off the rest often made more sense.

The unnamed gentleman lived well with mahogany furniture and feather beds to dispose of.

He may well have been the only person to have lived in the house as one whole entity. During the time of the Royal Military College junior department's residency in Marlow (1800- August 1812) the house (or perhaps outbuilding thereof) was used as a laundry for the cadet's clothes and linen.

By 1833 the house was subdivided and provided home for 5 poor households. Presumably within the grounds of the house, 5 very small "cottages" were additionally listed as being part of the "Garrison" as was the Three Horseshoes beer house (of which more here). These cottages could have been purpose built cottages in the former Garrison grounds or have been converted outbuildings that once serviced the main house.

The main building was occupied by households headed by:

Charles Bowles [prob born c 1781-86. Still there 1841, likely the only family left in the Garrison main building. Gun Lane 1851. Wife Mary].

James Bowles [poss born circa 1801-04. In 1841 Gun Lane wife Charlotte. Still there in Gun Lane 1851. In both cases though seemingly not in the Garrison]

William Jackson [prob born 1781. Lodging with the Hoares at Three Horseshoes 1851. Not listed in Gun Lane 1841  that I could see].

James Rackstraw [widow, could be Ann born c 1781 who was living with the White family Gun Lane 1841]

James Battin(g) [one of this name in Marlow 1841, not Gun Lane but Hayes Place. Born circa 1791]

By 1841 only Charles Bowles and his household appears to have remained in the divided Garrison house. The reason was most probably that the state of the building made much of it uninhabitable. Seven years later the fact that this fine house which should have been home to a small genteel family was instead nearly derelict was decried. Why was this house so seemingly unattractive to the type of family it was built for you might ask. Well, it wasn't. The fact was Marlow has a very fraught and shady political history- it was notorious for electoral fraud and corruption. Candidates spent huge amounts on bribing the voters and had a keen interest therefore in reducing the number of eligible voters to as few as possible. In those days ability to vote was tied to a man's occupation of sufficient property. Marlow landlords allied to one political faction or another were willing to keep empty houses whose tenants would by their occupation of them gain a vote (in return for favours / compensation). This reduced the number of voters in need of bribery / coercion every election time. The Garrison was identified as one such house left empty for political reasons. The earlier partial occupation through sub division would not have counted for voting purposes, each tenant occupying far too small a portion individually.

For more on the police station and adjacent slightly later police court with a picture of the buildings today see this post.

I will do all I can to shed light on the origin of the Garrison house and who actually owned it early on. Stay tuned!

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

Other Sources:

1833 Parochial Assessments, surveyors working notebooks transcribed by me from original notebooks held by my family.

Reading Mercury 27th March 1786. British Library Archives.

The Daily News 30th November 1848, copy held British Library Archive. Accessed by me March 2021 via the BNA.

1841 and 1851 censuses. Transcription from microfilm by me. Census information remains Crown Copyright.

National Archives.

Trouble At The Toll House - William and Sarah Neighbour

Great Marlow seems to have had some trouble attracting fair and diligent turnpike road toll house keepers. Several of the ads for taking over the lease of these came with wording along the lines of "the current occupiers did not reapply". Complaints ranged from failing to pay the rent, collecting tolls from those who were entitled to go through free of charge, letting others through who were supposed to pay, or using the toll houses to sell alcohol without a licence. In 1842, the toll house keepers of what was known as the Well End Gate (Dean Street, not Well End Little Marlow) or Seymour Court Gate were William and Sarah Neighbour. The powers that be might have felt the place was now in safe hands. William was on the surface a respectable butcher, or rather had been prior to taking on his latest role. The couple were clearly living there from the evidence that follows, so they were not one of the many absentee collectors paying someone else to do the job. (They did not own the lease, they had been paid to do the everyday collecting by the person that did). Unfortunately for those in authority, while William may not have had any criminal convictions, the rumour on the street was that this was more as a result of luck than angelic conduct!

William was age 38-49 depending on the source you look at. His wife Sarah nee Cres(s)well was the daughter of respectable Chapel /Spittal street baker James. They had married in 1823 and had a number of young children.

In 1841, William was seen leaving the town in the company of Samuel Smith*, a 20 year old groom who had also worked as a general labourer. The pair headed in the direction of Tetsworth. A few miles from that destination, the pair parted and Samuel continued into Tetsworth itself. He was seen browsing in the grocers shop of George Shrimpton. Perhaps something about Samuels behaviour aroused suspicion as his presence was remembered afterwards. When poor George came downstairs the following morning he discovered that had been a victim of a substantial theft. A plated pair of candlesticks, a cruet stand, and a large quantity of tea, coffee and tobacco was amongst ''divers articles" lifted from the shop. Some reports gave the value of the theft at 150 to 200 pounds worth of goods. That was a large sum. His mind went back to the visitors in his shop earlier that day who may have looked a little suspicious with hindsight. He recalled Samuel but as the suspect was a stranger, there were no immediate chance to interrogate him. 

A month later London peddler Meyer Horwitz, a German, bumped into William Neighbour in Marlow. William knew the peddler was a man likely to be interested in buying a variety of objects. He mentioned he had a few things to sell and invited the peddler back to the turnpike house. Inside Sarah welcomed her visitor and left her husband to his business. Samuel Smith was already there along with friend James Bowles, a carpenter. The goods were not actually in the toll house said William but a short distance away. He left with Samuel who returned carrying a large red handkerchief, and once the door was safely closed, he revealed the silver cruet inside. The candlesticks were then bought out. Meyer must have had his doubts about the provenance of such items. He claimed to not be very interested in them as they were not quite his usual line. He might be willing to swap them for some jewellery he suggested but no, William said only cash would do. After a bit of haggling, Meyer said he bought the items in innocent good faith for half the initial suggested price. Hmm. 

A little later Meyer said he was working near Tetsworth when he heard news of the grocer shop theft and in particular the description of the stolen candlesticks and cruet. He still had them it seems and subsequently felt he must come forward. It's likely that whether he really was not suspicious when first buying the items or not, he now realised the items were likely to be too hot to handle and the best he could hope to get out of the business was a reward for the conviction of the criminals. He said he was motivated by a wish to see justice done too. He went to Tetsworth and saw Mr Shrimpton. As a result the two returned to Marlow. Meyer was clearly a clever man as he decided to get as much incriminating information as possible out of Neighbour before going to the police. He went alone to the tollhouse where William Neighbour could be found. William expressed surprise at seeing Meyer again - "Holloa, young man, what? Are you here again!"-  but relaxed a little when the pedlar said he had sold the last batch of items for a good profit and was hoping that the sellers would have something else to trade. William asked who Meyer had sold the goods to but Meyer replied that he need not be concerned, a good sale had been done. As a result of the information gleaned, all three Marlow men plus Sarah were arrested. The constable doing so heard Samuel accuse William Neighbour of being the one who had set up the burglary, to which William made no reply. 

William and Sarah found themselves indicted on the charge of recieving stolen goods. William was at this time described as popularly known as a "notorious fence". If this was the case, the rumour had clearly not reached those responsible for appointing him to his position. They stood trial at the Oxford Assizes in 1842 alongside James Bowles and Samuel Smith who were charged with the actual theft. 

It was quickly decided that there was no real evidence of Sarah's involvement and that any action she took would be under her husbands direction as it was considered at the time. What relief she must have felt as recieving stolen goods was a crime often treated as seriously as the theft itself. But the relief was short-lived. Because husband William Neighbour was convicted and sentenced to 14 years transportation. Both Samuel Smith and James Bowles had previous convictions for a felony so this pair were sentenced to  transportation for life. It was the difference between having a previous conviction or not that was the stated reason for the difference in the men's sentences, rather than the different crimes they were sentenced for. 

James Bowles admitted to his presence during the haggling over the stolen goods but said he had no part in it or the theft. It made no difference. Meyer had testified that once he had paid Neighbour, Neighbour had handed the money to Bowles. 

Sarah may not have been transported but to loose her husband was also to loose her breadwinner. It was a sentence also very hard on her children. She did what many wives did in her situation, and moved back in with her family. In this case with her mother Mary Cresswell in Spittal Street. She worked as a laundress for some of the time. 

William left Sheerness on the convict ship the Duchess of Northumberland with Samuel Smith - see below for the sailing dates. Once he arrived he was assigned various jobs, but even while in "service" to others rather than a chain gang, treatment could be strict. He spent 10 days in solitary confinement as punishment for being out after restricted hours and for being drunk. Other punishments include lashings for more drunkenness as well as using bad language. I believe he recieved his freedom in 1852 after which he worked for himself but under what trade I do not know.  

 

Aftermath

Samuel's previous offence was to steal three shirt collars valued at 1s 6d from the property of Marlow surgeon Robert Colborne in 1840. For this he had spent 1 month in Aylesbury gaol.

He left England on convict ship the Duchess of Northumberland on 1st October 1842, arriving in Van Diemens Land 18th January 1843. He would survive less than 3 years, dying at the Cascades Probation station in October 1845. 

James Bowles, age 33, was transported on The Triton on August 4th 1842, arriving at Van Diemens Land 19th December that year. He left behind a wife and child. Recommended for a ticket of leave 1857 and recieved a pardon later the same year. Prior to that James caused the authorities in Australia no end of trouble before he decided to knuckle down and get his freedom. Several stints in solitary confinement cames the way of James for using indecent language, neglecting to do his work and drunkenness on different occasions. More seriously he was marked as absent from muster in 1852 and had indeed absconded. He was found  and sentenced to 18 months hard labour in a chain gang.  

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

**There were more than one Samuel Smith in Marlow at this time. I believe this Samuel's parents were Samuel and Elizabeth. The Samuel here is also not of the West Street family of that name. Lastly a Samuel Smith alias Zachariah Lee a man of gypsy heritage who was often resident in Marlow is a different person. He also had a 1 month stint in Aylesbury gaol for stealing (1842) but this was stealing wood from ash trees belonging to Mr Atkinson of the Rookery. 

Related Posts:

Crime and disorder in old Marlow: here

The Marlow Turnpike toll gates: here

Every day life in old Great Marlow: here also the place to find other convicts/crime related posts. 

To find every mention of an individual or family here see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 4,400 people are listed and counting. 

Sources:

1841,51 census transcripts from microfilm by Jane Pullinger.  

Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette 08 January 1842. 

Oxford Journal 5 March 1842

Oxford University and City Herald 5 March 1842

Reading Mercury 5 March 1842

Bucks Gazette 26 June 1841

Windsor and Eton Express 22 January 1842. 

 Australian Joint Copying Project - Microfilm Roll 91, Class and piece no HO11/13, page 218. 

Australian Joint Copying Project - Microfilm Roll 91, Class and piece no HO11/13, page 161 (82)

Convict record James Bowles Tasmanian Libraries here 

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-36$init=CON33-1-36p183

https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/tas/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fARCHIVES_DIGITISED$002f0$002fARCHIVES_DIG_DIX:CON69-1-1/one

© MarlowAncestors

Rimell/Blewitt grave, Holy Trinity, Great Marlow

 

In Loving memory of William Rimell second son of the late James Rimell who fell asleep July 9 1906 May he rest in Peace

AND 

also Mary Ann Blewitt eldest daughter of the late James Rimell who fell asleep Sept. 16 1906 age 30 years- Her End Was Peace.

To find all mentions of a family or individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Grave/memorial image index here

Post on the Rim(m)ells of The Ship here

© MarlowAncestors

Beaumont Rise, Marlow History 1886+

Artists Frances and Hamlet Bannerman were some of the first residents of Beaumont Rise. They moved in soon after their 1886 marriage. Frances was a Canadian by birth, the first Canadian artist to exhibit at the Paris Salon. Her work shows some Impressionist characteristics, unsurprisingly as she studied in France. She also featured in Royal Academy exhibitions in London. One of her best known paintings is "Marlow Regatta Course" which was painted in 1890. Nee Jones, she married her English husband in 1886. He was a member of the British Society of Artists and his work featured scenes of Marlow and Bisham. Hamlet, like his wife, was also a published poet. He also found time to play for Marlow Cricket Club on occasion. Sadly Hamlet died at Beaumont Rise in 1895 while still in his prime. Frances eventually moved away from the town.

The Bannermans weren't the only link between the arts and Beaumont Rise. Edwardian resident Samuel Bath was a professor of music and organist. He was also one of the witnesses for the prosecution in the 1920 Kate Bailey murder trial.

Though only a residential street today, Beaumont Rise had its own (small) general shop in the 1900s and 1910s operated by Mrs Ellen Osborne. 

In the 1910s the street was finally, after years of pleading by concerned parties, paved, drained, lit with lamps and possessed of a pavement. In the late 1800s none of the above was the case and the road conditions there were described as so bad that it was a disgrace to the town. The South Bucks Standard (whose then Marlow agent George Kendall lived at number 4) said in 1902 that to walk down that street after rain was to wade through "lakes" of water. This is probably why it was an accident blackspot felling early cyclists, the fly that carried passengers from the Crown to the nearby station, commercial vehicles and other users. 

The proximity of Beaumont Rise to the station led to several Marlow station masters living in Soho Terrace which is part of the Street. See here for more on them and Soho Terrace.

Throughout the 1890s (if not longer) there was a plant nursery, called Beaumont Nursery off the Rise ran by Mr Taplin. Taplin's 7 room home theee was also known as The Nurseries. It contained forcing pits and green houses in the large gardens as you would expect. In the early 1880s part of the land in the Rise was also planted with a crop of fruit trees but this land was soon sold off for building plots.

Other humble pursuits of Beaumont Rise's residents included dressmaking (Miss Elizabeth Bradshaw at number 1 in 1901 and 1902 and Miss Hammerton a little later) and bar work - a trade Miss E Hearne announced she wanted a new job in via a 1903 ad in the Reading Mercury. She was, she stressed, experienced and "tall" with good references. The Miss Hammerton was obviously a successful dressmaker as she was able to afford to advertise for a general servant in 1910.

Twenty one year old Ernest Hood advertised for work as a chauffeur in 1905. He obviously wished to make a new start elsewhere as his ad was in the Kent and Sussex Courier [20th Jan 1905. British Library Archives via the BNA]. Ernest reassured perspective employers that he could do all repairs to the vehicle. This was a pretty standard requirement for chauffeurs in those days. The young man ended up as a domestic chauffeur in South Kensington London in fact.

For more on Young James Lovell the Marlow builder who died at his Beaumont Rise home "Seaton" in 1912 see this biographical post. He sold the building plots mentioned above and may have built some of the buildings in the street as he did in nearby Station Road, Claremont Rd and Institute Road.

Other posts on specific Marlow streets, houses, shops etc can be found listed on this index.

Beaumont Rise in the 1887 Jubilee features here

All mentions of any individual in this blog can be found on the Person Index in the top drop down menu

NB In its early years residents of Beaumont Rise can be referred to as living in Glade Rd (adjacent, developed long before) or Junction Road (although this name was also used for nearby Claremont Rd, Station Rise and Claremont Gardens at times in their early development too)

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use my research with credit to this blog.

Some Sources:

400 Years In 365 Days: A Calendar Of Nova Scotia History. By Leo J Deveau. Formac Publishing Company. 2017.

Victorian Painters: The Text. By Christopher Wood, Christopher Newall, and Margaret Richardson. Published by Antique Collectors Club. 1995. Via Google Books.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Bannerman

Kelly's Directory Of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxon 1911 by Kelly's Directory Limited.

South Bucks Standard 28th June 1895. Reading Mercury 19th September 1903 and 16th December 1911. British Library Archives via the BNA.

Census transcriptions 1891, 1901 from microfilm by Charlotte.

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWL6-T3N : 16 May 2019), Ernest Percival Hood, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Slough Eton and Windsor Observer, June 1889, Slough Libraries.