Note that it has usually been stated that the Queen's Head began as the King's Head but changed name when Victoria ascended to the throne. However, there was a pub called the Queen's Head in Little Marlow some years before Victoria became queen and a pub called the King's Head continued to exist. I have heard that the two pubs agreed to swap names, but certain details don't quite match up, and it looks very much like the landlords around the time of the coronation were at odds with each other rather than co-operative. Below I simply give landlords and events listed at "The Queen's Head" on the understanding that these probably do not all refer to the same physical premises.
Gaps in dates are gaps in our knowledge.
1826 - pub "The Queen's Head" existed in Little Marlow.
1830 - 32 - Joshua Phillips landlord. He moved to the King's Head.
Until 1870 there is no further mention that we have found YET of the Queen's Head however James Twitchen who had the Queen's Head in 1872 had been a beer seller in the village from 1843 in premises that never seem to be given a name and it is probable for several reasons that he was in fact at the Queen's Head all the while. He opened his premises in 1842 after two cottages were knocked together to form a single property of sufficient rateable value to qualify as a licensed premises. He had been trying to get a licence for the property for a while but complained that his Liberal politics meant that he was deliberately rated under true value to thwart his business plans. Politics in Marlow were very corrupt and sometimes violent in this era so his claims of political persecution are very believable. Other cases are known. After he managed to open James said that a prosecution for him remaining open later than allowed was politically motivated. The case was dismissed in court. The property he was using having been two domestic cottages up to that point, can't be the old Queen's Head pub unless having fallen out of use it had been converted into two cottages and James wanted to convert back. More likely it was simply a new site for a new pub. More research will hopefully bring some charity to this confusing situation. In particular we need certainty that James Twitchen's pub did indeed bear the name the Queen's Head before 1872. Joshua Phillips who was at the King's Head opposed Twitchen opening his pub as it would of course represent competition for him. The premises which James opened in 1843 were next door to the shop of Henry Hussey. In 1863 James Twitchen of Little Marlow beer seller was also a job master. There was a younger James Twitchen, also a Liberal, and a publican in Great Marlow in this era.
1872 - 78 James Twitchen as the Queens Head, but probably there years earlier, see above. In 1878 his son Henry took over.
1878 - 91 Henry Twitchen, son of James above. In 1878 he was accused of opening during forbidden hours. In 1885 he opened a little grocery shop next door as an additional to his business.
1891 - Moses Tranter took over.
1895 - beerhouse to let with immediate possession. Includes the little grocery shop too.
1896 - Henry Hester to Thomas Hughes failed transfer. 2 . Henry Hester to Joseph Pope, briefly, then successful transfer this time to Thomas Hughes.
1897 - Thomas Hughes to George Taylor
1899 - up for sale.
1900- 07 George Taylor
1907 - George Taylor transferred licence to Henry Owen Alma Harris.
1908 - Henry Owen Alma Harris transferred licence Fred Patterson (but note Pattenden given as his name later)
1910 - Fred Pattenden - (Patterson?) to William Foster, a proposed transfer of the licence to Arthur Turner having been refused.
1920- possibly William Foster
1929 - T.R Whiting took over the licence.
1934- 1952 at least Frederick Hobbs and wife Bertha. They were previously at Crown skirmett. In the early 1950s the pub had a Thrift Club and Slate Clubs for both men and women. There were nearly 100 members to the Thrift Club alone in 1951.
1955 - Victor Woolmore.
Written by Charlotte Day. Researched by both Charlotte and Kathryn Day.
© Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.
Sources Included:
1863 Dutton's Directory of Buckinghamshire etc
Bucks Free Press Nov 7th 1952, Bucks Free Press Archives.
England and Wales census 1851,61,71, 81, 91 transcribed from microfilm by Charlotte Day.
Bucks Gazette September 3rd 1842, British Library collection via the British Newspaper Archive.
Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News October 14th 1843, as above
South Bucks Standard 11th October 1895 and 25th August 1899. British Library collection, London.
Personal Interview.
