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
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