John and Mary Lattimer (also written Lattemore) were brewers. Their son was baptised in 1726, probably born 1725, making him 15 in 1740.
At All Saints Parish Church
©Marlow Ancestors. You may use this material for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.
To find all mentions of a family or individual here use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu.
Grave index: here
Will Proved 1834
Lydia Beenham, widow of John Beenham "late of New Windsor" in Berkshire.
Asks to be buried at Clewer, Bucks without any unnecessary pomp or expense.
All her stocks, securities, household furniture, goods chattels and effects to be equally divided between Thomas Burton of Clewer victualer, his wife Mary Ann who is the testator's sister, and his daughter Maria.
Executor Thomas Beenham.
She signed with a mark.
Witnessed by [T.S?] Francis, William [Beaver?] who made his mark only and Thomas Beenham.
NOTES:
Lydia appears on the 1833 Great Marlow parochial assessment of which I have the original assessor's working notebooks. She occupied a house, "shop" (typically this meant a separate workshop in the assessment not a retail shop) in Church Passage near the river. The property was valued at £5 a year.
Will summary produced from my transcription of a will held at the National Archives, Kew.
To find every mention of a family or individual here see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu.
Graves index: here
Wills index:here
©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this will transcription summary or research for family history purposes with credit to this blog.
The estate at Danesfield, near Medmenham was regarded by our Victorian forebears as blessed with a special kind of romantic beauty. "To few gentleman's estates has nature been so lavishly kind as to Danesfield". There was the natural beauty of its hillside spot and riverside setting, and the created cultivated attraction of it's more formal gardens. And the latter was largely the work of unsung hero and Head Gardener Edward Croker and his large team of assistants. Edward was in charge of Danesfield for 40 years, and the garden changed hugely during this time.
Born in Kent, Edward arrived at Danesfield in 1860 when he was around 28-30 years old. Shortly afterwards he married estate laundry maid Arabella Turrall, who had been born in Warwickshire. Their daughter Cecilia would also work at Danesfield as a young women (in the position of domestic nurse.) At the time many advertisements for head gardeners indicated a preference or even requirement for the applicant to be married as it was considered it made for a "steadier" man. Sometimes it was also because the head gardener tended to be supplied with his own self contained accomodation. The wife so housed might fulfil a role at the "big house" and would not then need to be found separate accomodation. On the other hand, it was often preferred that the younger junior gardeners would be unmarried so they could share lodgings all together or live with another servant. It was Edwards employee Charles Robert Scott Murray who had organised construction of a dedicated gardeners residence in the grounds.
Danesfield was a large estate consisting of many acres of parkland, meadow and wooded areas. There were also several attached farms under the care of a bailiff or farm steward. Edward worked for the majority of his time at the estate for the Catholic Scott Murray family. Charles Robert Scott Murray was a Catholic convert and adding a private chapel to Danesfield house was one of his many religion inspired construction projects. He also built a Catholic school at Medmenham, and the Roman Catholic church, small convent and school at Marlow. He engaged in significant work to the estate itself, so Edwards life in the early years must have been one of constant change and upheaval. A public road passing through the estate was diverted to make it pass further from the house, and changes were made to the parkland to tweak it to the latest taste. Most significantly for Edward, the kitchen gardens (where fruit and vegetables were grown) were modernised. This meant fully enclosing them for the first time. This wasn't just to shut the more practical features of a working garden out of sight. Walled gardens enabled a more scientific approach to crop production. Walls and boundaries provided shelter, frost protection and more easily controlled micro climates. Edward was probably delighted at the money invested to make his growing space as practical as possible, as competitive growing of produce was taken quite seriously by most head gardeners of the time! He would have 6 acres of space in the kitchen gardens to work his magic. Some of this was an extension of the previous growing space, made in virgin ground. While engaging in digging out this new area, Edward found some ancient pottery which were described as two very large flat dishes made of burnt clay. I do not know what happened to these or the other smaller finds made by the gardeners over the years. No doubt we would find them very interesting! Edward also inherited new glasshouses provided by Scott Murray. Getting the job at Danesfield was going to a place both historic and one provided with the best growing facilities.
In the first decade of Edwards time at Danesfield in particular, garden shows were being revived or started around the Marlow area. Edward was an enthusiastic participant. He scored many prizes for his fruit and flowers. In 1865, Edward acted as a judge at the horticultural show held at Court Garden, as gentleman's gardeners and nurseryman were temporarily barred from entering classes. This was because show funds were tight and there was not enough in the budget to offer the sort of cash prizes a professional gardener would accept for his efforts. But most of the local estates sent in examples of their gardeners work purely for display (and bragging) purposes. It was no small affair, with society in attendance along with the humbler cottagers the show was supposed to inspire. Two years later, Danesfield itself hosted an horticultural show and "rural fete". Gentleman's gardeners were allowed back in and Edward secured a number of awards. I don't have the full prize list but to give an idea of award amounts, I can say that Edward's 3rd prize for fuchsias was 3s. Attendance was around 1,000. Horticultural shows were really a big attraction to our Victorian ancestors - especially when they also came with a chance to peruse a gentleman's gardens that were otherwise off limits. It was decided that the formal flower beds at Danesfield showed that the "greatest attention" had been shown in their care. Edward probably puffed his chest out a bit more after reading those words! He was also an experienced bee keeper and was often called upon to hive a swarm.
The Scott Murray's sold up in the 1895 after the heir chose to live elsewhere after a few years. Edward was kept on, although prior to the eventual sale much of the garden equipment was sold off. As were the vast number of plants Edward and the team had raised from seeds and cuttings to provide colourful bedding through the year (5000 altogether) and the lovingly tended collections of hot house and conservatory plants. It was a way to raise everything possible from the estate before it was sold. The Catholic chapel had also been removed. Edward was probably philosophical about such upheaval as he probably suspected the new owners the Hudsons would want to put their own stamp on the gardens as the Scott Murray's had done. He was right, and no doubt relieved that the Hudsons wished him to remain in charge and supervise the re modelling. Edward and Arabella were resident in a lodge at Danesfield, so loosing their job also meant loosing a home. The younger gardeners either lodged with other estate workers or used the bothy. The Hudsons actual plan turned out to involve demolishing the old house and building a new, rebuilding most of the estate cottages and yes, garden improvements. A polo ground would also be added, a popular spot for cricket matches later on. A large team of workers from near and far would come to Danesfield to work on the mansion and grounds - 60 workman were present in 1897 for example. It must have seemed a busy period of time but Edward did not live to see it's absolute completion as he sadly died in October 1901. He was survived by wife Arabella. I believe Arabella went eventually to live with her married son John in Surrey.
A visitor from The Gardening World Magazine (not the same as the similarly named modern magazine!) in 1895 remarked at the long period over which Edward had been in charge. They noted that despite his "advancing years" (he was in his mid 60s then), Edward remained personally interested in all aspects "pertaining to the gardening profession". They remarked too on the profusion of wildflowers such as primroses, bluebells, and violets that seemed to carpet the ground around the gardens. It must have made a beautiful sight at its height.
Written and researched by Kathryn Day.
Further information:
Other posts relating to Danesfield/Medmenham/ Hambledon : here
List of gardeners at the principle houses and estates around Marlow: here
Other posts related to gardeners, allotments etc are within the index here: here
To find every mention of an individual on the blog use the A-Z person index in the drop down menu.
Sources:
Census 1851, 1881,1891 from the transcripts from original by Jane Pullinger.
Gardening World Magazine, 31 May 1895.
Weekly Register and Catholic Standard, 30 November 1861.
The World (journal) February 1903.
South Bucks Standard May 31st 1895, British Library, accessed via the BNA.
Reading Mercury 20 July 1867, 13 Feb 1903. As above.
"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DJ5-3Z1 : 13 December 2014), Edward Croker, 1861; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1861, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 647, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
Parishes: Medmenham', in A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London, 1925), pp. 84-89. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp84-89 [accessed 7 February 2022].
If you were a bike-less Edwardian lady resident of Marlow you may have stared at the confident young woman gliding around town on their bicycles with a touch of envy. While attitudes to cycling, and lady cyclists in particular, were not always supportive, it was also recognised by many as a healthy form of exercise. There were no shortage of cycle agents in Marlow and you could buy a model actually built within workshops in the town. Learning to ride the "machine" was a little more difficult for ladies however, especially as they were hampered by skirts. You might hope that a relative could assist you to perfect your technique on some quiet road away from the prying eyes of laughing boys. But what if you had no one to guide you? You might consider finding a tutor to give you a formal lesson or two. Of course these lessons might sometimes be a "hands on" experience until your balance was perfect. So any tutor would have to be unquestionably professional and respectable. Fortunately, there was a upright businessman in Marlow who were offer just such tuition. Step forward the young and - apparently - impeccably respectable Mr Arthur Barnard of Spittal Street's Barnard's Stores. Arthur was a church (or rather chapel) going man and the bandmaster for the local Christian youth group the Boys Life Brigade. Unfortunately Arthur's reputation would eventually come down with something of a crash but more of that later!
King of the road
Arthur was naturally a keen cyclist and as such he belonged to the Marlow Cycle Club, eventually acting as it's president or "Captain" from the late 1890s. This comes across as a sometimes eccentric group who could work a bicycle or tricycle into almost any event if they tried! (You can read about it in more detail here ) But their Bicycle Gymkhanas were big attractions at the time and the members, in club colours were part of all kinds of processions and parades. Arthur's group decorated their cycles with flowers, flags and ribbons for these events. Arthur and wife Harriett (married 1888) had a tandem bicycle, usually the only one in parade, and so were often singled out for particular notice. The pair won several prizes for the best decorated bike and a silver medal in 1899 for the best illuminated bike in a regatta related lantern parade.
During this time Arthur also extensively advertises his "Cycle Stores and Ladies [cycle] Riding School" in Chapel Street. He stated that he had taught a number of fashionable ladies and leading inhabitants to ride their bicycles and so he could be trusted to offer a professional and discreet service. "Personal tuition in every case." He would travel to you if you wished your first wobbly efforts to happen within your private garden. He only offered tuition to children and ladies, which is not unusual as men were often supposed to be able to learn the hard way "on the go". He continued to sell both new and used bicycles into the 20th century.
I can get you anything...
Arthur was born in Essex in the 1860s, but as a teenager he was living with his parents and siblings in High Wycombe. His father was an ironmonger of Totteridge Rd and the young Arthur worked as an errand boy. In the late 1880s Arthur moved to Marlow to set up as a grocer in Chapel Street with wife Harriett.
Mr Barnard comes across as one of the most energetic and enterprising of Marlow's late Victorian and Edwardian businessman. His cycling tuition service was only one of the many strands in his commercial bow. His main business was his Cash Stores in Chapel Street - a high class provision store according to Arthur - and later one in Spittal Street which offered more hardware. But Arthur's motto was that he could supply you with anything and everything at the lowest price compatible with good quality. You have the feeling if someone wanted a kangaroo from Australia he'd probably have found a way to supply it! The "cash" part of the business name, not always used in advertising, reflected the fact Arthur did not offer credit. You could not put your shopping "on account" or "on the books". This means he would not have been a regular shopping stop for the poorer of Marlow residents who relied on credit to get by, at least until they had run out of those willing to offer it. (Some so called cash stores did in fact offer credit to wealthier customers!) It seems Arthur may also have been part of a co-operative group/buying society for a time. He also earned money by performing as a musician and offering tuition in this.
You could purchase a gramophone at both his stores. (I've noted that almost every cycle seller in Marlow had a sideline in gramophones or the like. Timberlake's in the High Street specialised in both for example.)
There were plenty of rival grocers in town but Arthur had his specialities including Wiltshire and home cured hams and "marvellous" tea. But it was the more "under the counter" items that Arthur offered that would most interest the authorities.
Plain clothes sting!
In 1906, Arthur was arrested after a plain clothes police operation at Barnard's stores. His offence? Selling indecent photographs and prints. (Postcards would appear to be included). Arthur plead guilty but given that he had sold them directly to a policeman it's hard to see how he could do otherwise! He admitted buying a few of the cards from a passing traveller, with the intention only of showing them to his friends. He claimed these friends had encouraged him to buy more and weak willed he had agreed to do so. But the police must have had some tip off that such images were generally available to purchase. Much was made at trial of Arthur's position of trust within the boys brigade and also within the PSA (Pleasant Sunday Afternoon, a chapel social club which operated from several Marlow places of worship). He was fined £50 and the images were destroyed. It's difficult for us to read between the lines of carefully worded reports. The images might not have struck us as indecent by our standards but this is not the case with all such Victorian images by any means. They were not all as prudish as we sometimes imagine!
Arthur had traded partially on his unimpeachable good character. He had involved himself in many Christian and charitable endeavours (such as donating food to the Marlow Cottage Hospital and a box of cigarettes to every volunteer returning from the South African wars in 1901). No doubt many would have been astonished that he had found himself in court for anything, let alone his particular offence.
The events must have lost Arthur some business and caused much embarrassment to his family.
Arthur's Chapel Street premises above. The "cash stores".
On a lighter note..
The instrument that Arthur is usually recorded as playing was the flute. He did so at the Primitive Methodist Chapel for fundraising events and teas. The Primitive Methodists were fortunate to have many skilled musicians amongst their congregation and supporters and so Arthur performed alongside those playing violas, violins, cellos and the chapel's harmonium (often played by Charlie Plumridge).
He was one of those that set up the Marlow Drum and Fife Band (there has been more than one - some comprising members of the Rifle Volunteers or church groups for example). Arthur was Band Leader and quite literally lead them through the streets of Marlow on many town occasions, wearing a smart uniform. On some occasions the band performed in the streets on Christmas Day itself, in friendly rivalry with the Marlow Salvation Army Band, and others. In December 1892 we are told that the members were "blowing their whistles and banging their drums with irrepressible energy". Buying and maintaining the instruments and uniforms had a cost, and it seems the band was frequently short of cash and sometimes members. Reports of their AGMs show Arthur tried to stay optimistic nevertheless. In fact if you saw a Drum and Fife Band performing anywhere locally, there is a high chance Arthur would be there. He had the monopoly of local band leaderships, also acting as the head or instructor of the Medmenham, Frieth and Little Marlow Drum and Fife bands in the 1890s. But still he advertised his willingness to take on yet more roles in this field "distance no object".
Then in 1903 the Boys Life Brigade* was formed in Marlow. A lot of it's activities were focused around life saving in a literal sense - first aid, stretcher bearing exercises etc. But it is probably mostly remembered for having a Trumpet and Fife band under bandmaster ..you guessed it ..Arthur Barnard. The BLB was a uniform wearing non denominational youth group that was intended as an alternative for the Church of England's Church Lads Brigade which was not open to Christian boys who did not attend the parish church and Sunday school. As there was a good number of non conformist and Catholic families in Marlow, the new brigade was instantly popular. Arthur's own son was a member, and he played a drum. The Brigade band marched through the town on one or two Sundays a month and then "fell out" to allow the children to attend their respective Sunday Schools. You might think that a rush of young men to join a religious group would please Victorian parents. Well it did please some, but the Vicar of All Saints was not one of those. Arthur and he engaged in an angry exchange of letters in the local press. Those connected with the Parish Church were upset that some boys from their church had chosen to join the new Brigade rather than their own group. Also when the BLB Sunday parades broke up, some C of E boys were joining their chapel going friends at rival Sunday Schools. The vicar accused Arthur and other adults of failing to prevent them doing so. Arthur protested that while the Vicar had forced some of his own young parishioners to give up belonging to the non denominational BLB band, Arthur himself welcomed all boys as members to their group. He said it was natural that the children would sometimes wish to stay together and join their friends at a different Sunday school to do so. Arthur's group was serious in their non denominational focus. The band performed at a 1909 fete held at Gyldernscroft in aid of the chancel improvement fund of the parish church for example. They held their annual grand concert in the Music Room in St Peters Street.
Arthur's involvement with the Brigade ended around the time of his conviction. He had put a lot of his own money into the group, and this is presumably the origin of the "Barnard Debt Fund" that the Brigade were paying back for several years afterwards.
Harriet died in 1918, and Arthur in 1924. He was only 59 years old. You can see their grave at Marlow here.
*The BLB met in the former Salvation Army drill hall in Oxford Rd from 1907/8. Wednesday afternoons were band practice days. Other activities included running football and cricket teams, athletics meetings, a weekly gymnastics class in winter, a small members library and all round "healthy amusement and recreation". In 1908 there were 50 members, including the band. Club nights were twice a week. They also had a swimming hut near the Complete Angler. A list of known members and officials will follow as requested as soon as time allows! The Brigades band was renamed the Marlow Town Band in 1911 and made available to hire by general public.
To find all mentions of an individual or family here, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. It contains over 4,000 individuals and counting.
General Marlow history - here
Other Spittal Street and Chapel Street shops and shopkeepers - here
Sources include:
Marlow Guide 1903 & 1905.
1891 census transcript from microfilm by Jane Pullinger.
South Bucks Standard May & December 1892, August 1894, April 1897, June 1901, March, May & June 1903, November 1909.
Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1920. (Kelly's Directories 1920)
Reports on the Boys Life Brigade in England, 1907. (Courtesy of Andrew Grahame)
Buckinghamshire Examiner 06 Apr 1906. This copy via the BNA partnership with the British Library Archive.
Today's post is dedicated to the wonderfully named Victorian resident of Marlow, Henry Wildsmith Badger. If you have done any amount of research regarding Marlow's past residents, you will certainly be familiar with the work of Henry Wildsmith and his family, even if the name doesn't immediately mean anything to you. For it was the Badgers that were responsible for conducting the census in Great Marlow Parish for a period of around 100 years.
Henry was born in the early 1830s and grew up with his fairly comfortably off family in Quoiting Place, Marlow. (Now more commonly known as Quoitings Square. Henry's boyhood home has sadly been demolished.) His father, also Henry and known as Harry, and mother Jane nee Johnson, were school teachers at the Oxford Rd National school adjacent to their home. Later they would take over the parochial school in Bisham. Young Henry Wildsmith would grow up to be known for his dedication to his duty, intelligence and unwavering punctuality. You might consider this would be the result of growing up the son of two strict teachers. But Henry's parents first took up their role at the Marlow school as a direct result of the dismissal of a previous teacher whose harsh regime shocked even the Victorian parents who expected the rod to rule in the classroom. Henry senior was regarded as the polar opposite of such an educator. He was remembered as a genial man with a kindly face and patient demeanor. Mother Jane was likewise praised for her warm nature and dedication to her pupils. It is no wonder that young Henry Wildsmith thrived at his own studies. His sister Annie would also later serve as a schoolmistress at the National School in Oxford Rd in the 1860s. In Annie's time the school was housed in the afterwards extended building now occupied by the Marlow Language Centre.
Henry was initially apprenticed to a cabinet maker, of whom there were several "high class" ones in Marlow. But he is best known for his role as Parish Clerk - a role in which he followed in the footsteps of several previous generations of his family. He kept this job for some 50 years, starting in 1855! It was Henry Wildsmiths's great grandfather and fellow Parish Clerk Wildsmith Badger* who conducted the very first official if fairly basic census in Marlow, held in 1801. This was not necessarily an easy task given the people were unfamiliar with the idea and suspicious of such information sought by officials. The number of questions would only grow over time! (Population in 1801 was given as 3236) The role of census enumerator passed down through the Badger family and it's not hard to see why Henry Wildsmith was given the responsibility in turn. As Parish Clerk there can have been few families he did not know to some degree. He was someone who was known to be conscientious and thorough in his parish work so he would be unlikely to miss any household or visitor. We do not know how difficult Henry found it to persuade the reluctant to fill in their household returns. We do know the difficulties other enumerators could have on occasion though. Some of these were simply practical - leaving an early census return at an illiterate household that possessed no pen and ink to fill it in was useless for example. In all Henry Wildsmith conducted the Great Marlow parish Census between 1860 - 1901. It's hard to remember that amongst all this parish activity, Henry did actually have a day job - that of confectioner.
Henry's hardworking personality and honest reputation saw him co opted to act as secretary and committee member for many local fund raising efforts. As Parish Clerk he oversaw the distribution of the Parish Charities, some of which were the results of ancient bequests. During the extremely hard winters of 1890-92 Henry was also entrusted to distribute additional relief. In 1891 more than 700 tickets for assistance were given out by him to the poorest families in Marlow. These could be swapped for goods at any grocer in town up to a certain value, others could be swapped for coal or clothing. For his labours as Parish Clerk, Henry's wages were £20 in 1896.
The Badgers were a musical family. Henry's father was also the organist at the parish church for example. Our Henry played several instruments and was a member of the relatively short-lived Marlow Orchestral Society as the pianist, as well as a member of fundraising orchestras formed to raise money for the Literary and Scientific Institute. It's no surprise that bookish Henry was an a supporter of the Institute, and he acted as it's librarian for a period, in between his many other roles. This was a little more difficult a role than it might get seem, as he was responsible for ensuring the material he bought was regarded as morally suitable for a respectable organisation to offer to its members!
In 1905 Henry was now in his 70s and his wife Mary Ann was already dead. He was living with his son William, an organist at Holy Trinity Church in Marlow. His long service in the role of Clerk attracted national attention, and a journalist from the Express was one of the those that travelled to Marlow to interview Henry. Stories about his life and work can therefore be found in regional newspapers from all over England. One of the stories Henry shared with the newsman was the one concerning a drunken would be bride groom whom he and the parish constable had been forced to eject from the church on the intended day of the nuptials. The Vicar has refused to see him married in such a state. The shamefaced groom returned to be successfully wed the following day after making a confession that he had partaken a little too freely in some Dutch courage previously! Henry would also tell the story of how he had accidentally shut a number of sheep in the church when new to the role of locking it up. They belonged to the vicar and habitually grazed in the churchyard. They had sought shelter in the church and lurked unseen by Henry. The scene the following day when Henry returned was quite a sight. The curious and probably hungry animals had taken a bite out of several cushions amongst other things.
The parishioners of Marlow clubbed together to present Henry with a purse of coins and an illuminated address on his retirement. He had overseen 5,600 christenings, 1000 weddings, and 3,400 burials. It was also noted that his role in census taking meant he was in the awkward position of knowing the real age of all the ladies in town! Appointed by the Rev Frederick Bussell, Badger served with a number of vicars and out lasted 57 curates. He had taken just one Sunday off from his role in all those years.
The end came suddenly for 74 year old Henry. He was said to have had what at first seemed a mild attack of bronchitis. But he deteriorated rapidly, and three weeks later he was dead. Heart disease was considered to have contributed to his decline. Almost everyone in Marlow would have seen Henry's face at some important time in their life - a christening, wedding, family funeral, application for emergency relief, or census time. Or just at a church service, shop, concert or library visit. I'm sure many missed him a great deal. And yes, his son succeeded him as both Parish Clerk and confectioner.
* See the grave of Wildsmith and wife Ann - here where you will also see the grave of Henry Wildsmith Badgers young brother William.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
If you are looking for information about the Victorian Catholic family of Badger in Marlow who were beer sellers, boot makers and fancy good shopkeepers see this post here
To find every mention of a family or individual here, look at the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu.
For posts about everyday life in the Marlow of Henry Wildsmith Badger lived in, see the index Here
SOURCES INCLUDE:
Cocks, A H - The Church Bells Of Buckinghamshire (Jarrod 1897)
Information from Anthony Wethered.
1841,51,61,71,81,91 census from the transcripts from original by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day.
Harrods Directory 1876 (J G Harrods and Co 1876)
Slaters Royal and Commercial Directory 1850 & 1852.
Kelly's Post Office Directory of Buckinghamshire, 1850. (Kelly's Directories 1850)
Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer May 21 1887.
South Bucks Standard 11 December 1896, 4 August 1905, 31 January 1908 accessed via the BNA.
Henley Advertiser 18 February 1905, as above.
Bucks Herald - August 1891, as above.
Great Marlow Guide 1903.
Daily Express cutting, 1908.
Written and researched by Kathryn Day.
© MarlowAncestors.
The home and business premises of John Way in Marlow High Street are today a toy shop. John was baptised at Marlow in 1809 to Richard and Re...
