©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction of my photos freely allowed for local and family history purposes with credit to this blog.
Today's post is an overdue one on one of the families that would without question have been known by any Victorian resident of Marlow. Indeed those living here in much more recent times have shared their fond memories of the Battings hardware store in West Street with us. It was replaced by Waitrose and then Sainsbury's supermarkets.
We will start with Alfred and Ann (d 1892) Batting. Alfred records on his census entries that he was born in Oxford in 1812 but we believe he came to Marlow when quite young. He was a tin man and brazier working and living in West Street. The Batting's shop and advertising used to bear the legend that the business was established in 1820 and that certainly seems to fit with the records. I can not say that he was definitely in his early life working at one of the premises later associated with his family but he does appear to have rented a yard at least at The Hayes. This is currently known as Hayes Place, adjacent to what is now Platts (petrol pump and car sales part) in Quoiting Square. And this Platts building was of course later used by one of Alfred's sons as a pawnbrokers and furniture depot, more of which below. He also rented some garden ground further up West Street at West End, where he was a victim of one of the prolific cabbage rustlers that plagued the area in the 1850s (70 were lifted in one night on one occasion). Alfred was also the victim of a theft by long standing Marlow criminal Sarah Bowles, of whom more in Charlotte's post here
By the time of his death, Alfred owned a number of properties in Marlow. This included several shops and cottages as well as cottages at Bovingdon Green and Cookham. Alfred clearly worked himself up to run a very successful business which was inherited by his sons William (b.1846) and Charles (b.1850) who ran it as an "ironmongers etc". The etcetera is very appropriate as ironmongery barely touches the surface of the very many strands of the business the brothers would eventually manage.
Above the grave marker of Alfred and Ann as well as other members of the Batting family.
For example, they had an early interest in producing agricultural machinery. It looks like Charles and William were acting as agents and possibly manufacturers of this at least at the time of their inheriting the business from their father upon his death in 1873. I'm trying to trace an early business partnership they had in this area around that time. What is certain is that in 1883, Charles and William bought the Maidenhead agricultural implements business of William Bulstrode. Separately they also bought out Bulstrode's share of Bulstrode and Rogers brass and iron founders business also of Maidenhead. Henceforth the foundry was known as Rogers and Batting (or more generally the Maidenhead Ironworks) until Edwin Rogers retired 2 years later. They now ran a large concern between Maidenhead and Marlow, incorporating the foundry, ironmongers and agricultural engineering business.
Unsurprisingly the pair decided to split the business up between them in 1893. No doubt this would make it easier to manage. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. Charles would manage the Maidenhead Ironworks while William remained in Marlow to superintend the ironmongery. They continued in a co operative relationship however.
Charles Batting
Charles, like his brothers, had attended Marlow Place school - a day and boarding school for "young gentleman", offering both a technical and classical education. The fees of this school were not cheap, and another indication that their father the tin man Alfred had flourished in his business. He then served an apprenticeship in London with Messrs Beenham, engineers and founders. He had returned home on his father's death to manage the business, as mentioned above, before moving to Maidenhead to be close to the works that were his focus. He remained there until his death in his late 50s in 1910, less than a year after the death of his wife. During his life Charles won the contracts to put gas in large establishments all over the south east, such a large coastal hotels. He was known for investing in machinery and technology that enabled him to advertise his works as one of the most modern in the country. The original premises leased by Charles was described as occupying a site on West Street/ High Street Maidenhead but apparently he had to give it up due to a road widening scheme. So he took on a nearby plot and built the extensive premises there. In 1911 it was described as comprising a foundry, motor works, and electrical and ironmongery department store and show room.
William Batting
William in Marlow could describe his business in the 1890s (still known as Batting and Sons) as ironmongers, engineers, plumbers, millwrights, smiths, machinists, tin workers, coppersmiths, gas and hit water fitters fitters, agricultural and horticultural implement agents, sanitary engineers, electric and crank bell hangers, and cycle sellers/hirers. They sold everything from nails, varnish, kitchen ranges, "lawn mowing machines" and cattle troughs to ploughs, fishing rods and shot guns. William had helped his father manage the Marlow concern before the latters death so it made sense for him to take on this side of the partnership. He employed quite a number of workers, including mechanics that could travel to local farms to carry out spot repairs and servicing should a fault develop on your threshing machine or hay baler. William also offered repairs to smaller tools and machinery as well as tool sharpening on the premises.
He supplied the gates and fencing for the new Marlow Cemetery in 1910 and those for Cookham cemetery in 1906. (The chapel of the latter was designed by Marlow's James H Deacon.) In fact you would have been able to see all kinds of Batting supplied articles all over Victorian Marlow. Among these were gas lamp posts and lanterns, and the Baker's Sanitary Cart purchased by the local council for sewage disposal!
William had another significant role in Marlow's history. He was present at the meeting in 1874 which resulted in a subscription formed to establish a volunteer fire brigade. He was immediately elected to the committee to organise this essential endeavour. Later he'd serve as their engineer, deputy captain and shortly before his retirement in 1890, as their captain. He unsurprisingly earned long service medals and clasps for his hard work. Even after retirement, William sat on the fire brigade commitee and Batting and Sons were responsible for several repairs to the engine itself. (The engine was stored in the arches under the Crown hotel nearby. AE actually owned the approach to this and so the fire brigade had to pay him a small "rent" for this part for many years.)
Space prevents me from listing all the many committees and organisations William had a role in but I'll mention two evocative ones - the dinner and tea committees of the 1897 Coronation celebrations, and for the parade at the end of South African wars in 1902 - they also supplied vehicles to run in the latter.
The ironmongers was later taken on by William's nephew Reginald Batting who had lived with him for some time (Son of Walter Batting, see below.)
A E Batting : pawnbroker and furniture dealer
Now to a third son of Alfred and Ann Batting, Alfred Edward, generally known as A E Batting. I'll call him AE to avoid confusion. He also ran a shop but a quite different kind. AE started out in the building we know as Platts in Quoiting Square, as a pawnbroker with a side line in furniture dealing and as a clothier. This had been a pawnbrokers for some time before. He was at first in partnership with Joseph Evans*, until 1864. In 1880 he moved to West Street / Market Square, the premises until recently occupied by M&Co. The furniture dealing (generally second hand items) became more of the business focus. To read more about Ann Barney, one of the desperate customers who used his pawnbroking business see Charlotte's post here. AE declined to renew his pawnbroking licence in 1898, much to the surprise of everyone it seems. It was the first time anyone could remember a time that Marlow had not had such a business. However, this line of trade did arrive back at this Battings a few years down the line.
AE died in 1915 at the age of 77, still continuing in his work. Among the interesting facts about AE given on his death was the information that he had been a member of the church choir for some 61 years! Generally though the Battings were associated with the Congregational Church in Quoiting Square. His son Rupert took over the furniture shop and ran it for decades.
Walter, Christian and James Batting
I'd just like to gives quick mention to a some other sons of Alfred and Ann Batting, brothers to William and Charles. Firstly, James was a successful solicitor in Marlow. He served his articles under another familiar Marlow name, William Lakin Ward. James then acted as solicitor for many local organisations. This includes the Marlow Railway Co responsible for bringing the rail into Marlow itself (resigned 1878), Marlow Gas Company and for the Marlow based Buckinghamshire Chair Co**. He was also an insurance agent. Shortly after the establishment of Marlow's volunteer fire brigade in the 1870s, he secured a large donation to them from one of the fire insurance companies he represented. Married to the daughter of an Italian count, James is in interesting subject in his own right and I'm sorry space means he doesn't get a longer entry. We will try to do more on him in a separate post in the future.
Another son Christan b 1840 became a draper while Walter pursued a career as a architect and surveyor, working mainly in London. Walter had been articled to Marlow surveyor Charles Carter. Walter died at the sadly young age of 47. Described then as a man of "fine physique and genial manners", there would have been many in Marlow with find memories of Walter rowing at the regatta and other events as a young man. (He is buried in Wandsworth cemetery alongside married sister Emma Hallett. The youngest daughter of Alfred and Ann, she died in Balham 2 years after Walter.)
Above, Christian Batting on the Batting grave marker at All Saints.
Written by Kathryn Day, researched by Kathryn and Charlotte.
More Information:
*More info on the Evans /Batting pawnbrokers shop in Charlotte's post here
** More info on the Bucks Chair co here
Index of posts about other shops/business etc here
To find all references to a family or individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu.
Sources:
Bradshaw's Railway Almanac and Directory (Bradshaw's 1843)
Hastings, Charles William - Gas and Water Companies Directory, 1884.
Kelly's directories for Buckinghamshire and Berkshire 1847, 1883, 1896, 1911, 1915, 1920, 1939.
Kelly's Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers. (Kelly's 1907)
Marlow Guide 1903 & 1905
Robson's Directory 1839
Royal County Directory Buckinghamshire, (J G Harrod & Co, 1876)
Census entries ; transcripts from the originals by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day
1833 Parish Assessment as owned by my family, and related letters and workings.
Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News 29 August, 14 November 1874, 16 August 1879. British Library.
Bucks Herald May 15 1875 & 12 Jan 1878, these from British Library Archive, via the BNA
South Bucks Standard 16 April 1897, 3 June 1898, 22 June 1906, 4th March 1910, 13 June 1912. As above.
© MarlowAncestors
There are posts on this blog about individual families associated with certain pubs, as well as on individual pubs themselves so have a look at the Pub Related index here & don't forget the A-Z Person Index for all mentions of someone on this blog. Find it on the top drop down menu. Thousands of people get a mention on this blog.
List of proprietors of the Greyhound here
Greyhound as a coaching Inn, and other stagecoach services here
Posts about historic residents and businesses in Spittal Street and neighbouring streets here
More beer sellers than bakers -Temperance in Marlow here
Lists of posts about everyday life in old Great Marlow here
Will of widow Jesse Collins of Great Marlow. Will written 1838, proved 1843.
Says she of sound mind and understanding.
Executor to pay any debts, funeral expenses and probate costs she has.
To the sons of her niece Mary Brown - Henry, James, Robert and William £5 each.
To Mary Jane Blackwell and Sarah daughters of her niece Mary .... £5 each.
To Robert, Mary and Jesse [Jesse is female] children of her late nephew Robert Harper £5 each.
Jane, Rebecca, Robert and Stephen children of her nephew William Harper £5 each.
James, William, Rebecca, Robert and Jane children of her niece Jesse Bavin £5 each. And to Jesse Bavin herself £5 too plus a chest of drawers, brass warming pan, a ... pot and all her wearing apparel.
To Charlotte Carter, widow of her nephew Robert Carter £10 and to Charlotte's children Jane and Robert £5.
To Robert son of her niece Mary Carter £10, a plain oak chest,a pair of blankets, a pair of sheets, one quilt.
To widow Elizabeth Walters of Little Marlow £5.
To widow Catherine Butler late Catherine Carr daughter of George Collins £5.
Her silver watch to William Collins son of John Collins. This watch was previously owned by that John Collins.
All residual property to Jesse Bavin daughter of her late sister Jane Carter [presumably the same Jesse Bavin niece of testator mentioned above].
Executor Robert Harper son of her nephew Robert Harper appointed executor.
Witnessed by Henry Beckett carpenter of Great Marlow and W.L Ward solicitor of Great Marlow.
Notes:
Jesse was born Jesse Harper. She married Robert Collins in 1789 when aged about 32. Robert was a publican whose precise premises are unknown. He died in 1826 aged 73. Jesse was one of the executors of his will and inherited half his possession with other relatives getting the rest. Jesse lived in a medium sized cottage with garden at Marlow Common in 1833.
Jesse Bavin was the wife of turner / chair maker and publican William Bavin. More on him here.
Will transcribed by Charlotte Day and then summarised here by her from a will held at the National Archives, Kew. Research also by Charlotte Day.
While we still have some woods about us, our Marlow ancestors would have been shocked at how denuded of trees the surrounding landscape appears today in comparison to how it was when they knew it. The Gentleman's Magazine wrote in 1752 that Marlow seemed encircled by trees. Others echoed that sentiment over the years, even observing that you could rather suddenly find yourself in the town, so hidden was it by woodland on its approaches.
The London Journal of 1859 described Marlow as "lying silently amidst the trees". In 1849 a visitor found at Marlow "red and green forests thick with trees and underwood extending many miles... solemn as any poet could wish for". He noted gigantic juniper trees here and some ancient what he called "whitehorn" trees (probably whitebeams which are common in the town). Even the visitors of the 1800s would have seen nothing like the tree cover in the landscape as previous generations did. At the time of the Domesday book Marlow's forests could support 1000 swine foraging for beech mast or tree nuts.
A fair few historic residents of Great Marlow found themselves in serious trouble because of trees. Most wealthy local landowners and farmers grew at least some trees as a timber crop and they guarded all pieces of their timber jealously. The poor folk of the town, desperate for fire wood or something to sell took a great risk even in breaking off a single twig.
Anyone who went further and gathered themselves an armful of wood faced potentially months of jail time if caught. William Foster for instance got 6 months hard labour for taking some beech wood, the property of Isaac Walker, in 1843 and a John Carter 3 years later was given 3 months hard labour for taking boughs from the fir plantation at Sir George Nugent's house at Little Marlow. His offence was recorded in December court sessions and was probably related to the cutting down of evergreen boughs for Christmas decorations. The average person was at that time years away from having a Christmas tree in their home but boughs of fir decorated the tops of picture frames, shelves and mantel pieces and were used to create swags and garlands in homes, churches and public institutions every Christmas. Each Yuletide season the act of cutting holly from the wild would land several locals in trouble. Sentences for the theft of holly could involve jail time but the offence was more commonly dealt with by way of a fine as holly was not considered very important a crop.
The damage caused to hedgerows by the skewer making industry in Marlow is covered in my skewer making history post here.
One forgotten crop that was very valuable to Marlow farmers was walnuts. Victorians could not get enough of this tree nut - pickled green ones garnished salads or were eaten as snacks, others were made into ketchups, sauces and cakes in great quantities. Walnuts grow very well in and around the town so many local farms had at least one tree planted for the purpose of profit. These nuts were also used gilded as Christmas decorations.
In the days before workplace safety measures those gathering nuts or other tree crops took their lives into their hands. We have in our research efforts come across multiple occurrences of Marlow men who suffered serious injury or death by falling out of trees or off ladders while gathering nuts or fruit for their employers. Older men seemed especially likely to be employed to gather fruit even if obviously unfit to go up a ladder. Despite being "crippled" with rheumatism and gout 71 year old Alfred Lane from Beaconsfield was allowed to harvest cherries at Well End near Little Marlow in 1898. The combination of his infirmity and the defective ladder supplied by his employer inevitably led to tragedy and Alfred died after falling and breaking his neck.
Orchards in the immediate Marlow area were usually cherry orchards (apple orchards supplying more than the grower's own family not being common). In the 1600s there was a cherry orchard in Oxford Road, and probably also one near Munday Dean. In the early 1800s there was a small one behind buildings at the beginning of Dean Street. Nearby Flackwell Heath was well known for its cherry crops in the past too. Wild cherries grow well locally and, despite their tiny size, were used by some Marlow families to make jam or pies even into the 1960s.
It wasn't only farm labourers whose work with trees was hazardous. Domestic gardeners could utilise a frightening amount of dangerous substances in their battle against tree diseases and bug infestations. Bearing in mind this would typically be without the men wearing masks or eye protection and often without gloves on their hands either. Mr Gillett gardener at Court Garden in 1884 used just linseed oil to deal with aphids on his apple trees but other gardeners attacked the problem by the application of caustic lime, sulfur or ammoniacal liquid from gas works (!). Gardeners were nothing if not imaginative when it came to their war on pests. Materials as different as grease from railway engines, treacle, soap, snuff and chalk were all used on trees to cure various problems.
Our ancestors were much closer to nature than we are today and both individual trees or groups of them might be featured in travel guides as tourist attractions in their own right. Those who had the luxury of sufficient leisure time in the 1700s and 1800s would take a day trip to a village or country spot with the sole intention of seeing a particularly old tree or one with some local legend attached to it.
Visitors who came to Marlow were always recommended to visit the relatively near Burnham Beeches wood and Quarry Woods across the river at Bisham. Less advertised to outsiders but enjoyed by local visitors were the woods around Marlow Common. The Reading Mercury in 1840 lamented the loss in a storm of a silver fir tree at Marlow Common "which had long been the admiration of all visitors to that spot". The poet Shelley when resident at Marlow was said to adore walking amongst the trees there.
Also generally admired were the trees that once screened the church from the High Street and Causeway and a row of limes that marked the footpath through the churchyard. The latter were cut down by the then vicar to immense dismay from his parishioners in 1833. Lime flowers would be used to make tea in the past (and by me even today).
Much entertainment was derived by our ancestors from any even slightly unusual happening in the streets. Crowds could gather to see a new family move into a house, or the old one move out, to see scaffolding erected, or a tree felled. An excited crowd gathered to witness woodmen fell a hefty elm tree in Marlow in 1822. One young man, John Ball, got so interested that he insisted on "helping" the woodmen. When the wind pushed the falling tree in an unexpected direction the woodmen got themselves to safety but a flustered and inexperienced John tripped up whilst running for cover and was hit by the tree at full force. Unsurprisingly he died as a result of his injuries.
In 1907 hundreds of Marlow people went to Bisham to see a large old elm that had blown down.
Visitors who got caught in a storm would head for a humble beech tree as there was in the past a firm belief that beeches could not be struck by lightning. Not something to try though reader, beech trees can definitely be struck by lightning!
Beech wood was utilised in the chair industry and beech trees dominate local woodland. Finnemoor Wood and High Heavens Wood, both near the town, were used as commercial timber woods for instance as were woods at Marlow Bottom. At Harleyford trees of beech, walnut, oak, elm, linden, sycamore and larch were all grown for profit.
Spade Oak wharf just along the river was from at least the 1600s a major loading and unloading place for cargoes of locally grown timber, including that bought by the navy for use in ship building.
Grounds studded with trees, especially old ones, were highly desirable for those who had sufficient money to establish them. Court Garden house had a parkland style garden with a screen of sweet chestnut trees next to the Causeway in the later 1800s and an avenue of mixed limes, elms and other trees elsewhere on the estate providing a shady walk for guests to enjoy. I think virtually none of those particular trees (no sweet chestnuts for instance) exist today although there are some other old trees still there. Also long gone is resident Mr Berger's huge glass house at Court Garden which in 1864 housed 144 indoor fruit trees!
Talking of sweet chestnuts, this was used at least sometimes in local building. When James Sawyer's very old bakery building suffered a serious fire in the late 1800s the fact that other buildings were not destroyed in the conflagration was attributed to Sawyer's premises being significantly constructed from chestnut which is known to be slow to burn even when dry. Although terrible damage was done to the West Street premises, this was mostly due to the water used to put out the fire and smoke. More on the Sawyer family and their bakery here.
More general history posts about Marlow here.
All mentions of any individual on this blog can be found on the A-Z Person Index. Thousands of people are mentioned.
Further mentions on this blog of any specific house, street or place such as Harleyford or Court Garden can be found indexed here
Researched and written by Charlotte Day.
©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this information for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.
Sources
Berkshire Chronicle 22nd April 1843 and 26th December 1846. Both British Library Archives via the BNA. South Bucks Standard 15th July 1898, as above.
Morning Advertiser. 4th November 1822. British Library Archives.
The Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman. (1864) by George W Johnson and Robert Hogg.
Garden Receipts. United Kingdom: Ed: Charles William Quinn. Published by C. Lockwood, 1884.
Notes and Queries. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1868.
Cooke, William Bernard., Owen, Samuel. The Thames: Or, Graphic Illustrations of Seats, Villas, Public Buildings and Picturesque Scenery on the Banks of that Noble River. United Kingdom: Vernor, Hood & Sharpe and W.B. Cooke, 1811.