Life in 1950s Marlow Part Three Transport and Childhood

Part One covered sport and leisure, Part two dealt with homes and employment.

Post by Charlotte

Transport 

Car ownership while not uncommon was far from universal in the 1950s so bus services and trains as well as cycling were important to local people trying to get from A to B. Currall's Garage in the High Street offered repairs and sales for those lucky enough to have their own car and of course there was Platts garage too. Platts was a Morris and M.G dealer. The Maple Garage in Little Marlow Road was an Esso and Ford dealership. Unusually for the times it opened for the sale of petrol on a Sunday.  Petrol rationing continued into the 1950s meaning careful thought needed to be made about whether any journey was necessary. A couple of  petrol pumps stood ready outside Comptons cycle shop in West Street for any motorists who pulled up kerbside. Marlow Bottom wasn't to be left out, Witches Barn Garage still operated in the village.

A Mr or Mrs Cook of Marlow had a red upholstered 1953 second hand Austin A30 for sale as advertised in the Reading Mercury 1958 for a bargain £415.

See a pic of the A30 on Wikipedia here.

Daniel Gibbons of 19 York Road had previously operated as a secondhand car and other vehicle dealer but I haven't found any reference to him still doing that in the 1950s. He was definitely still operating as a rag and bone man however, which was previously his sideline.

George Bason of 18 Wycombe Road sold secondhand motorbikes and offered repairs.

Mr Sylvester of 41 West Street was a driving instructor, possibly the only one in town at first. 

Driving could have its hazards then as now. Heavy snows of February and early March 1958 saw buses unable to reach High Wycombe and the roads out of town to Henley and Stokenchurch were blocked for all traffic.

More bizarrely the road at the foot of Bisham Hill was covered in jam for hours following a collision involving a truck carrying several tons of the sweet stuff in 1958. What a sticky situation.

Concerns about the weight of the traffic crossing Marlow Bridge have dogged the structure since the 1800s. Increased weight restrictions on vehicles using the bridge and emergency structural repairs to it were both needed in the 1950s. Thames Valley services from Maidenhead stopped crossing the bridge in 1958 because of new weight restrictions. Instead passengers got on and off in Quarry Wood Road.

Other bus services connected Marlovians to Reading and High Wycombe. The Marlow-Little Marlow-Bourne End service however came to an end in the 1950s because too few people were using it at a time when petrol rationing meant bus companies had to ensure every bus they sent out on a journey had earned it's share of the limited petrol supplies available.

Bicycles were available to buy from C. A Boddy in the High Street. Like quite a few other cycle suppliers in this time period he also supplied prams. Well, they both have wheels, I suppose. The Boddys also sold toys. Another cycle agent was Comptons in West Street, also a motorcycle seller and as mentioned above a petrol supplier 

Marlow still had a full sized railway station in the 1950s.

Childhood 

Schools

The 1958 Marlow Town Guide lists the Girls' school as being in Oxford Road and the Boys' one in Wethered Road as well as Sir William Borlase School (then just for boys and both a boarding and day school) in West Street. They obviously hadn't updated themselves from their previous edition as the schools had in fact been totally reorganised in 1954. A good lesson in treating all historical sources even very official seeming ones with caution. Back to school for the guide authors we say! The boys' school had been transformed into a unisex secondary school known as All Saints Secondary School. The future site of Great Marlow School was purchased by the council in 1957 though it would not be developed into a secondary school for several more years. Bigger premises were sorely needed as All Saints Secondary School was bursting at the seams. Until further schools opened in Stokenchurch and High Wycombe children from Lane End and Cadmore End had to attend the Marlow school. Overcrowding meant that the school was not able to offer the G.C.E exam, as extra classes for the pupils who wished to study for it could not be physically accommodated. Any children who wanted to pursue post 15 education elsewhere would be helped to find avenues to it where possible however. 

Reach for the stars, kids

As well as not having to take exams the pupils of All Saints weren't required to do homework - until the teachers got the unwelcome idea to try it in 1955. At first only some classes fell victim but from September 1956 the whole school was told to expect compulsory homework unless they had a parental letter of exemption. Such exemptions might be because the child helped in the family business, looked after younger siblings or simply because the family did not believe that school work should be allowed to encroach in family together time (this latter was a common sentiment). 

At their speech day in 1956 the speaker was an Air Vice marshall who told the children that they were lucky to be growing up in the Atomic Age as there would be lots of exiting opportunities for them. He predicted interplanetary travel might be an established fact by the late 1980s or early 90s.

In 1958 at the Borlase School speech day the guest speaker was t.v personality and criminologist John Watson who told the boys that in order to be happy men they would need two things- the right job and right wife. He warned them that a "safety first" attitude in life would be dangerous to them (not necessarily in reference to choosing a wife). 

Borlase converted part of the original school building into a flat for the caretaker and a recreation room for the school masters during the 1950s. Mr Hazelton, the Head in 1957 said that in the next year there would be around 350 pupils at his school including 80-90 boys in the Sixth Form. This he felt represented a school that had grown too fast to keep up with itself.

The 1958 Town Guide  also makes no mention of Foxes Piece School which was built between 1954-56, initially just as an infant's school with only three classrooms. The rest of the grounds were used as sports fields for other Marlow schools. Foxes Piece was only meant to be a temporary school at first. However it was extended and became a full junior school for 5-12 year olds in the 1960s. More on the early days of this school and the history of the Foxes Piece area is available in my post here.  

Another point upon which the Town Guide was well out of date on was the fact that the Oxford Road school was then functioning as another infant school. A premises in St Peters Street (which had also previously functioned as the Girls' School) was in 1954 turned into a mixed junior school (middle school). There was a mixed Catholic school in St Peter Street too. At Medmenham children attended the village school. Danesfield was of course yet to exist.

Dial Close, a private school for girls operated from the Causeway.  Another private girls school Wycombe Court was located at Lane End but put on buses to bring in Marlow pupils. It had a unisex kindergarten.

When they weren't being drilled in the three Rs or receiving questionable life advice from a criminologist, there were numerous leisure opportunities for our younger Marlovians.

Hobbies, toys and clubs 

Owning a television was becoming increasingly common in the town. British children with a set might already be watching 2 hours of television every day according to research quoted in the book A Century of Childhood. A t.v show detailing the adventures of American Davy Crockett led to a mass childhood craze of wearing a Davy Crocket style mock fur hat. I haven't been able to find evidence of these on sale in Marlow but Bonners Superstore in High Wycombe certainly offered them and was only a bus ride away.

Model airplanes and games could be bought from Moretons (primarily a bee keeping supplies shop!) in West Street. The children of the secondary school and if the former boys' school kept bees on the premises and produced their own honey so they may actually have enjoyed browsing the bee keeping supplies while they were there. Toys were also available from the Woolworths in Market Square, from the Boddy's BTC toy shop in the High Street and from Jane Ann's in West Street which offered Meccano, Dinky, Triang and Hornby ranges amongst others. The small department store W.J Daniels in Market Square had an upstairs toy department.

The Marlow Sea Cadets , just for boys, formed in 1956 though they did not yet have their own premises and met initially at All Saints Secondary School. A Boys Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides already existed. The latter met in a hut in Quarry Wood Road. 

Higginson Park, Riley Park (usually then called Riley Recreation Ground), Gossmore and Seymour Park were all open spaces available to play in while a children's paddling place was set up in an enclosed section of the River Thames in 1958. This was in addition to the official Bathing Place Marlow then had in the Thames at Quarry Woods for both adults and children.

Not all the outdoor activities of 1950s Marlow children would meet our approval today. Butterfly and bird egg collecting were still quite widely practiced by some children, mostly little boys. I used to have a 1950s children's butterfly book previously owned by a local boy in which the young reader is given detailed instructions as to how to use poison to suffocate a trapped butterfly and warned that sniffing or accidentally consuming the recommended poisons might kill him too. A repurposed soft drinks bottle was recommended as a carrying vessel for such poisons. Fail! Though Mr Watson the safety-last criminologist probably approved.

For sources for this series of posts see Part One. Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

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

Life in 1950s Marlow Part Two Employment and Homes

Employment 

Major employer Wethered Brewery off the High Street, celebrated a bicentenary in 1958 with two garden parties for employees. Other larger employers in the town were the local council, Poppets Beads and the building trade in general. 

Poppets beads were plastic costume jewelry items. The company moved into the former cinema in Spittal Square in 1953. The old projectionist's room was used as the manager's office and the old seating area for production. Many of those employed by the company actually worked from home, only visiting the factory to collect the beads which they then strung into necklaces and other pieces. Both men and women were involved in the bead making. The same company also made aircraft parts as a sideline! In 1955 this division moved into its own Chapel Street premises with only a tiny bit of work still taking place amongst the bead making in the old cinema. Soon the cinema was deemed too small also and Poppets left to take over a nearby disused lamp shade factory. The former cinema was eventually acquired by the local council who intended to demolish it and use the site for housing, though this did not end up happening.

On a smaller scale in terms of employment there was Sunnydene and Quarry laundries, the newer cinema in Station Road, Toy Works Limited a toys, games and sporting goods factory in Court Garden (established 1943), the Victoria Engineering Company in Victoria Road, the Greenwich Saw Mill, the Marlow Coach Building Works in Newtown Road (which mainly built caravans such as the Marlow Tudor), C.C.K Limited at 53 High Street which produced women's scarves etc, Dairymaid Ice Cream Supplies in Crown Lane (commercial supplier, run by S.A Hawken), Mines and Putnam high class furniture makers in Station Road, Arnold's factory in Marlow Bottom which made wooden needlework boxes and automatic bottle wash machines plus possibly furniture, the Westhorpe sand /gravel pits and the various local schools, shops, pubs, cafes / tearooms, hauliers, and farms.

Toy Works as mentioned above proudly stated that though a few parts had to be imported from France or Germany most of their products were made with local labour only. Many of their toys were traditional wooden ones like bagatelle boards. The packers were usually female.

C.C.K Limited had moved to Mill Road Marlow from London because of the Blitz and chose never to return to the city after the war ended. Their products were made of plain or printed silk, rayon and wool. As well as fashion scarves they manufactured practical aprons in plastic or woven materials. I haven't been able to find out if their products were actually stocked by any shop in Marlow itself or whether they were all sent elsewhere.

I am aware that a Louisa Dereford and George Dereford ran "Marlow Mosaics" in this era but whether this was their own artistic enterprise solely or whether it was a business that employed additional mosaic artists I am unable to say at this point.

Employment opportunities in the 1950s could still be much constrained by the gender of the job seeker. It worked both ways of course- no one would employ a male nanny or maid but women had especial difficulties. The local press routinely carried job adverts that specified the gender that the successful candidate would have to be, and for the majority males were what was being sought. Some roles you might not predict did go to women more than men however. The traditional assigning of poultry on farms to the care of women for instance is reflected in the desire expressed by the owners of Bencombe Farm at Marlow Bottom in an advert for a female employee to run the poultry and turkey deep litter system there.

It was not uncommon for it to be specified that a prospective female employee who directly engaged with the public would need to be good looking as well as professionally competent. For example when Mac Fisheries in Marlow High Street wanted a female shop assistant in 1955 their advert in the Bucks Advertiser said that she must have a "good appearance and attractive personality". They do however get marks for specifying that the delivery van driver that they also found wanted at the same time could be male or female. That would have been quite unusual.

Marlow's first female police officer, W.P.C Ellington, arrived in 1954 after she transferred from High Wycombe.

Female workers doing exactly the same job as men were paid less than them. It was reasoned men had families to support so needed more money however this reasoning was of course nonsensical as thanks to the recent war the number of households with a female breadwinner had probably never been higher. Pay rates for those doing the same job also varied by age in many industries. Younger workers on farms, in most shops or in certain Post Office roles for instance whether male of female were paid less than those of the same gender over 21 or over 32 depending on the job. 

Get the right position and you never knew where it might take you. The Reading Mercury of 16th August 1958 reported that  Angela Chalk of Marlow and another former stable girl at Pinches stables in Field House Farm had the previous year won jobs working in the stables of a wealthy countess in France.

Those seeking a new situation either locally or further afield could make use of the I.H.B employment agency at 92 High Street Marlow or the government labour exchange. Under the Notification of Vacancies Order 1952 employers in most categories had to recruit only through scheduled employment agencies or the labour exchange. This was intended to mean the government could prioritize filling jobs in critical industries ahead of any others. Understandably, it was not popular with those employers who were de-prioritized. They could advertise a position in the newspaper but applicants had to go through official channels to make any application and stood a chance of being refused permission to contact the advertiser if it was thought they could be of better use to an essential industry or service. Men over 64 and women over 59 could apply for jobs without restriction as presumably they were considered too "old" for the essential industries. The order was rescinded in 1956.

Though the farming industry was less of an employer than it had been previously, it was still an important part of the national economy. A Young Farmer's Club had been formed in Marlow by 1954. Farm hands worked from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and half days on Saturdays. Increasingly other workers were getting their Saturdays off and a couple of weeks of paid holidays a year too. This coupled with the low agricultural industry pay and the long daily hours involved meant the abandoning of land based jobs by country people. Between 1948 and 1954 the number of female farm workers in the Marlow District fell by three quarters and that of males by over half. Mechanisation could only make up for these losses to a certain degree.

General labour shortages generally meant employers had to think of other ways to attract staff. Fines and Putnam the furniture makers of Station Road advertised that their employees could enjoy music while they worked as well as a canteen. Those wanting domestic staff in Marlow often reassured prospective candidates that they would be included in fun outings as part of their job.

Homes

The 1950s was still a notable era for the building of social housing. The council put out tenders for the building of 14 new council houses at Westhorpe Road for instance in 1954. In 1959 the last 38 older houses remaining in Dean Street were ordered to be demolished as the long standing Marlow slum clearance schemes first stage finally drew to a close. Multiple homes in Queens Road were similarly declared unfit for human habitation and compulsorily purchased for future demolition at around the same time. By the end of the decade the council was the biggest landlord in the town. 

The former Carriers Arms in Wycombe Road (now demolished) was used by the council as a hostel for those who had nowhere else to go in the early and mid 1950s. They took over the premises from the Ministry Of Housing. It is possible that originally evacuees or refugees had been put in the building. There was a critical shortage of even this temporary type of accommodation. There were still families living in metal shacks early in the decade at Beechwoods and in converted wooden sheds at Marlow Bottom (as owners and as tenants). The Marlow Bottom situation incensed Wycombe Rural District Councillor Mrs McKelvie who lambasted her colleagues for dragging their feet on providing new homes, rental or to buy, for those living in such structures. The situation was more complicated than it seems. Planning restrictions from on high meant people who had bought land in the village and had put up a temporary home on it while they raised funds for a more substantial structure were prevented from completing their dream despite having sufficient money to do so. In other words it wasn't only poverty (though it certainly could be) that forced people into living in such structures. Home owners could be ready, willing and able to make their shack a comfortable home but were told such work would contravene new planning regulations curtailing fringe developments. In a hope of exceptions or a governmental change of heart people clung on in their shacks or tried to sneakily extend or improve them without being noticed.

For private buyers in Marlow two estate agencies come auctioneers were available in the shared premises of no 37 High Street, Simmons with Gray and co, at no 84 there was George Kendall estate agent, valuer and auctioneer and at no 3 auctioneer and estate agents Lawrence and Laird. New homes were being thrown up everywhere possible in the Marlow urban area during the 1950s once materials and labour shortages caused by the war had eased, including the Wycombe Road and Oak Tree Road area, at Highfields, Lock Road, Chiltern Road, Riverside Drive, Gypsy Lane and Spinfield Park. While shortages of materials did remain private homes could only be built with a (hard to come by) licence from the council, Under rules set down by the Ministry of Housing priority was to be given to social housing on all potential urban development land.  

Bungalows remained highly desirable homes. A small 4 room bungalow in Wethered Road with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room could be bought in 1954 for £1750. Most homes were in the £2,000 - £4,500 bracket however.

Not every home yet had electricity in the 50s. Some of the older pre-war council houses for instance received electric lights and sockets in 1957 but others remained without it. Certain Chapel Street homes would not install electricity until the 1970s. The Electrics Company (Marlow) Limited in Market Square despite its name sold many calor gas appliances. These were not only stoves but lighting apparatus, gas powered fridges and gas fueled irons too. Many people kept oil lamps in case of winter power failures. Where electricity was present it was not necessarily installed in every room of a house. In any case in the early 1950s winter electricity demand often outstripped supply and Marlow users could expect one, even two, scheduled days a week when their supply would be turned off. These were notified of in advance as colder days drew near. The southern Electricity Board had an office and showroom in the High Street.

Coal and coke for fires were supplied by amongst others G.E Stevens of West Street and George Deane and Co (who had taken over the business and name of old Marlow company W.T Porter). Deanes were also one of the town's removal companies so very useful to have around! Early in the decade coke and coal supplies were not sufficient for the town needs due to nationwide problems. This left families having to severely ration their use of hot water at times.

By no means all Marlow homes had a bathroom in the 1950s, or even an indoor loo. Indeed there were houses without bathrooms in Wycombe Road in the mid 1960s, and in South Place even later, in the 1970s.

Antique furnishings were clearly popular amongst 1950s Marlovians. Bishop Limited in West Street specialised in antique silver, Sheffield plate and fine porcelain and there were at least two further antique shops on the town. There was also Walker's Antiques in the High Street. Secondhand but not antique furniture was sold by Taplins in Oxford Road. Buying secondhand furniture was seen by many as preferable as pre-war items were regarded as better quality. 

New furniture, carpets and other home furnishings could be bought from Norman Heals at 44 High Street as did Alan Hunt's Market Square shop. Mr Hunt's wares could be bought by way of a hire purchase scheme with payments spread over a period of up to two years. He also sold bedding from his second premises in Spittal Street. Hines and Putnam of Station Road were high quality upholsterers early in the decade who proudly made and marketed the "Marlow Suite" of sofa and armchairs. They moved from Marlow later in the decade but seem to have continued to make the Marlow suite. 

Washing machines could be purchased from Platts radio and television shop but there was still laundry services in the town -Quarry Laundry offered a free sock darning service to their customers - and hand washing in tubs wasn't yet quite redundant. Older people thought it superior! 

Pretty much every little usual item for DIY or home maintenance could be bought from the packed Chalk's ironmongers in the High Street, which under different but related families had a long heritage in Marlow. See my post here for the history of this building.

Not every home had a telephone by any means in the 1950s but the public call box provision in the town was expanding. The hamlet of Munday Dean got its first box during the 1950s.

For sources for this series of posts see Part One.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

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

Life in 1950s Marlow Part One Sport and Leisure

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

Sport

Marlow of course is well known for its water sports and summertime regatta. Geoffrey Baker and Michael Spracklen of Marlow not only competed in but won the double skulls gold in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games of 1958. Michael went on to become one of the world's foremost rowing coaches.

On dry land football, cricket, darts, lawn bowls, hockey and lawn tennis continued to be popular. The Rugby Football Club was formed in 1948 but were yet to secure their own premises in the 1950s. For most of this decade they used the Sports Club facilities as they were officially a section of that club but unhappiness with the quality of the pitch they were able to use saw the rugby players eventually leave there. We have seen passing mention of a Rugby team called the Marlow Swans during the 1950s. We are uncertain if this was a nickname for the main Rugby Club team or a second, since lost, rugby side in Marlow.

There were at very least around a 100 racing pigeons in the town in the late 1950s belonging to members of the Marlow and District Racing Pigeon Club. The club existed earlier and later than this but probably had never been more popular than in the 1950s. 

The boys at Borlase School apparently loved basketball. They played in an inter-Borlase league between themselves. This might imply that the sport was not generally so popular as there doesn't seem to be any matches organised with other schools. Borlase basketball club started in 1957, soon after the school had also formed a badminton one. There was no longer a football team at the school, it having been ditched in favour of rugby some years previously, to apparently warm parental approval. This move however sparked criticism from those connected with Marlow F.C who felt they had been cut off from a vital source of future players.

Bisham Abbey Sports Centre across the river was managed by the Central Council For Physical Education. It had a mission to provide residential and non-residential training courses for youth leaders, teachers, young people themselves, budding professional sportspeople, and members of the public in general in the fields of sports, fitness and outdoor recreation. Peak time for the Abbey was the summer when visitors (sometimes whole sports clubs) arrived from all over the country to spend their holidays as residential pupils there. Activities included camping, sailing, canoeing, gymnastics, athletics, netball, tennis and judo. The Bucks County Tennis Championships were held at the Abbey at least once in the 1950s, as were local fencing competitions. Weekly fencing lessons were offered to Marlow people at the centre by 1950 as we're ballroom dancing ones as this activity while not seen as a sport, was recognised as good physical exercise.

Billiards was for a very long time a craze in Marlow. Not to call our Marlow predecessors heathens but the main reason many people visited the Literary and Scientific Institute was to make use of it's billiards table or enter the billiards competitions held there rather than read books or hear lectures. This was the case for decades. Eventually even the income from the billiards tables, and the newer craze for snooker, couldn't keep the Institute going and it folded in 1958. The library now occupies that building.

An Amateur Boxing Club for schoolboys (10 wasn't seen as too young) and adults met at the Drill Hall in Institute Road for training and it's members of all ages had some success in local competitions.

Marlow had a Motor Cycling Club in 1953 which organised road races.

What things used to cost! 1940s-60s cost of living in Marlow

This is a follow on from our previous lists of prices charged for a whole variety of items in Marlow up to 1939. It is compiled from original sources only including receipts, advertising, account books, letters, documents, trade journals and newspaper articles. Information from memories has also been collected and preserved by us. Thanks to those who have shared their information! If you have knowledge of Marlow costs in this period please get in touch - we would be pleased to add more info. It could be anything from the cost of a childhood chocolate bar to that of a house or piece of furniture.

You can read the pre 1940 cost of living posts here and here. And to put them into context see our list of wages in Marlow here

IN DATE ORDER s /sh = shillings d= pence in pre decimal currency.

Accommodation 

Freehold three bed, 2 reception house in Marlow near Station to buy, 1943= £1300.

Two rooms to let in Marlow with use of kitchen, per week, 1944 = 10s.

To let, 4 bedroom house with  large walled garden in central Marlow, per week  1944 = 10 guineas.

For sale wood and asbestos chalet, then in garden at Wycombe Rd. "Rubberoid" roof. 16 ft long, 12 ft wide, and 12ft high at apex, 1945 = £55.

Three bed detached house, with 3 reception rooms, 1 min from river, 2.5 acre garden and two garages, 1946 = £4,500. 

Double decker bus adapted for  accomodation purposes, with 2 rooms and wired for electricity. Ideal for weekend accomodation. For sale in Cookham Dean, 1947 = £130

Two bed 1 reception bungalow in Marlow Bottom with large garden, suitable for using as a smallholding, garage, 1949 = £2,350.

Three bed, two reception room timber and asbestos (!) bungalow with large garden in Marlow 1950 = £2,150.

Four bed house on outskirts of Marlow with greenhouse and large garden 1950= £5,000.

Three bed "detached artistic Semi-Bungalow residence of character" Close to centre of town, station and river. 2 reception rooms & garage, 1951 = £4350, open to offers. 

Two bed pre-fab bungalow with garden, Marlow Bottom, 1952  = £850 (a case of buyer beware here! Such "temporary" style homes which proliferated at Marlow Bottom were under threat of clearance by the council at the time.

4 room cottage with no bathroom, but does have mains gas & electricity, 1953 = £950 freehold. 

6 acre site off Winchbottom Lane, "ideal for a weekend caravan site" 1953 = £600 to buy.

Rent of small furnished cottage Station Rd, 1 bed, 1 reception room, plus kitchen and WC but no bathroom, 1954 = £10 8s a month. 

Bed & Breakfast at the George & Dragon, 1955, with hot and cold running water in all rooms = 7s 6d a night and up. 

Luxury 2 berth residential caravan at High Heavens, Marlow Bottom. Flushing toilet, electric, gas, and fitted carpet. 1955 = 3&1/2 guineas a week. 

Newly built three bed detached house with brick garage, 1 min walk from station, 1956 = £4,150.

2 bed 1 reception room bungalow in Marlow Bottom with 1 acre garden and garage, 1958 = £2,750.

Single furnished room to rent, with use of kitchen and bathroom. Central Marlow, 1958 = 35s a week.

Recently built 3 bed bungalow close to river and with central heating, 1963 = £5,850.

To rent in West Street, bed-sit with use of bathroom and kitchen. Free hot water and clean sheets provided! 1963 = £2 10s a week. 

Detached 2 bed 2 reception bungalow in Marlow Bottom, with pink bathroom suite, garage and 1/2 acre garden partially "uncultivated", 1964 = £4,500.

2 bed maisonette near town centre with garden, 999 year lease, 1964 = £3,700.

Small 2 bed cottage, recently modernised with re-wiring and new plumbing, room for a garage 1964 = £2,850.

To let, 3 bed semi near town centre, unfurnished, with garage, per week, 1964 = £6 not including bills.

To let, large 6 room self contained flat in central position, unfurnished, 1964 =  £5 5s a week including bills. 

22ft (which was average) secondhand residential caravan at Westhorpe Caravan Park, Little Marlow, 1965 = £235

"Luxury maisonette", 2 beds. With garage. Own small garden. For sale 1966 = £4,500

Furnished one bed, two reception flat with garage to rent, 1966 = 7 and a half guineas a week.

Three bed bungalow on Marlow Lock Island  with central heating, a garage, a "sun lounge" and mooring for a boat, for sale 1967 = £7400.

For the home and garden:

Box of matches from R Brown grocer 1942 = 1.5 pence

Two dozen mixed bedding pinks, as ordered for the gardens of Remnantz West Street, 1945 from Allwood Bros nursery = 17s including carriage. Their mail-order catalogue cost 1d. 

Second hand marble topped wash stand, with jug and basin, bought at Marlow Bottom, 1945 = £5 10s 

Second hand double size iron bedstead, 1945 = £7 10s

Used electric washer with rubber roller wringer, green enamel, "pre war quality", 1946 = £40

Ex US Army safe, unused, with "burglar proof locks". Available in a variety of attractive colours! From Marlow Engineering Co, Hayes Place, 1947 = £10 10s or £12 10s which represents a heavy discount on original price they say. A lot of army surplus materials were being offered locally this year. 

Second hand HMV battery powered wireless set, sold 1947 = £5.

A bag of seasoned logs for your fire from Toomers in Station Approach, 1948 = 3 sh 6d (delivered). Discount for buying 20 or more.

Rolls of wallpaper from Lynch's Paint Shop, Chapel Street, 1949 = from 3sh 11d a roll.

Post Office wireless licence, 1949 = £1 per year covering all radio receivers in the household except those in any paying lodger's room plus occasional use of a portable set away from home "at picnics, boating parties and so on". Does not cover any radio receivers installed in caravans or vehicles you own for which you would have to pay another £1. 

Combined radio and TV licence, 1949 = £2 per annum

"Gaily striped deck chair", in rot proof canvas and wood from Morgan's (now part of the company  McIlroy's) High Street 1949 = 31s 11d. 

Family size box of the new Surf washing powder (for laundry), various Marlow suppliers, 1952 = 1s 11d

12 inch t.v qv from Marlow Electrical Services, Electric House, High Street 1953 = 65 guineas 

12ft by 9ft Indian carpet from Oliver's of Marlow, 1953 = £37 16 shillings.

3 piece suite (sofa was a two seater), with loose covers ordered from Morgan's Marlow ,1953 = £39 19sh 6d.

Second hand dining room suite consisting of a drop leaf table, 4 chairs and a sideboard, from Taplin Upholsterer (and used furniture dealer), Oxford Road, 1954 = £12 10s

Walnut bedroom suite, second hand, comprising 4ft 6 bed, wardrobe, dressing table, tall boy. From Taplins Oxford Road, 1954 = £45.

Kidney shaped dressing table from Olivers of Marlow, High Street, 1954 = £3 10s

"Oak colour" dining suite - sideboard, table, 4 chairs, from Alan Hunt, Market Square, 1955 = 27 and a half guineas or can pay deposit then installments. 

Alarm clock battery powered  "now perfected" from Bailey's West Street 1956 = £8 5 shillings.

Set of a cocktail sideboard with light fitting, table and 4 chairs. From Alan Hunt, Market Square, 1958 = 49 and half guineas or available to hire purchase with £10 19s 6d deposit. 

6x4ft garden shed from D Lynch, Chapel Street, 1958 = £15.

Second hand Royal Typewriter, 1959 = £25.

Hand agitated table top clothes washer with wringer, 1959, used = £7.

"The most advanced television of the year"- the Sobell slim portable TV with VHF radio and forward facing speakers, from Bodwell's, 1960 = 62 guineas plus 2&1/2 guineas etc got a remote control.

Christmas trees, rooted from Aldridge's 1960 = From 3 shillings.

Brobat bleach, from Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 11d plus 1d bottle charge. 

Pack of 4 Andrew toilet rolls, Co Operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 3s 6d

T.V rentals from Bodwell, West Street 1963 = from 10 shillings a week. Platts Radio Shop in Quoiting Square (next to Platts garage) also hire TVs. In 1964 they are available from 8s 6d a week. Choose from Pye, Bush or Murphy brands. 

A dozen geranium or dahlia plants from Spinfield Nurseries 1963 = 18s. 

Almost new 3 piece suit in moquette with zipped covers, 1963 = £18

Cost of dry cleaning a double blanket at C.L.E.A.N dry cleaners, Little Marlow Rd, 1963 = 6s unless satin edges in which case 6s 6d  

Set of 4 chrome plated garden hand tools with wooden handles, from the House of Chalk (aka C A Chalk & Son), 1963 = 15s 

Gallon of emulsion paint from Lynch's Dean Street, 1963 = 27 sh 6d.

Second hand Parker Knoll wing chair, 1964 = £5

Wycombe Rural District Council sells "air dried manure" from the Little Marlow sewage purification works, 5 cubic yards, 1964 = 30s delivered. 

Cotton tea towel from A E King, Spittal Street, 1964 = 2s 6d

Gaslux gas powered fridge, 4 cu feet capacity and ice box, from North Thames Gas Board, 1964 = £35 14s, not including fitting.  Hire purchase also available 

"Revelation" record player, from P A Baker, Spittal Street, 1965 = 10 and a half guineas (special offer price) 

One load of washing done at the coin operated Launderama in Spittal Street 1965, = 2 sh.

Belling 2 bar electric fire from the showroom of Browne and Sons  in Maple Rise, 1965 = £13 18sh 1d.

The Ship brand box of safety matches, from The Tuck Shop West Street, 1966  = 3d

Bendix fully automated washing machine with spin dryer function, from Davies and Dean, West Street 1966 = 110 guineas or 150 guineas for one with tumble drying function too.

Phillips twin tub washing machine, from Davies and Dean, West Street 1966 = 78 guineas plus 3 guineas extra for a heat proof work top to sit on it.

Frigidaire spin dryer from Davies and Dean, West Street 1966 = £23 10s or £25 10s for one that automatically switches off. 

Kenwood Chef - "the world's most advanced food preparation machine", includes bowl and mixing attachment, other attachments extra, from Davies and Dean, West Street 1966 = £31 10s

Cup and saucer, bone china, from Treasure Chest, West Street 1966 = 6 sh 9d.

Latest model Bush 4 speed auto record player, from Direct Discounts, Spittal Street, 1967 = 22 guineas (special offer price) 

"Masterradio" 3 channel 19" TV from Direct Discounts, Spittal Street, 1967 = 49 guineas (sale price)

Sobell Stereogram (radio, record player and speakers combined in a cabinet) from Direct Discounts, Spittal Street, 1967 = 39 guineas (special offer price) 

Axminster broadloom carpet, from Norman Heals, High Street, 1968 = 42s 6d a square yard. 

Childhood

Second hand pram with canopy as sold in Marlow, 1946 = £2 10s

Boys jacket and "knicker suit" made to pre war quality, from Morgan's, 1945 = 29s 7d or 55s 6d for wool worsted version. (8 ration coupons also needed of course).

Girls long sleeved wool dress, from W E Applegate drapers and clothier, 1949 = from 23s

 Velour snowsuit with hood attached, for young child, from W E Applegate, 1949 = from 29s 2d (price goes up with the age its intended to fit) .

The amount charged per hour for the babysitting services of Mrs Allan of Holland Road, 1951 = 2s.

Girls gym tunic from A E King, 1952 = from 26s 9d for the smallest size. A navy regulation school coat from the same started at 79s 6d with school berets from 5s 11d.

Second hand Triang Pedal car sold in Marlow, 1953 = £2.

"Dainty but hard-wearing" summer dress for little girls in "gay patterns" , from Arthur Rowe Ltd, West Street, 1955 = from 15s 11d for toddler  - 64s for a "young miss". 

Child's leather school shoe with rubber sole and reinforced toe, from Milward's, High Street, 1958 = from 20s 9d for size 9.

Heinz Baby food from Dorsett's grocery shop Market Square, 1962 = 8d. Reduction for buying a half dozen.

Second hand Marmet pram with sun shade, Marlow, 1963 = £14.

Canvas school satchel, from W H Smith 1963 = 15s 6d.

Baby's car seat from shop "Adinda" in Chapel Street 1963 = £2 9sh 6d

Personal Care / Health 

Tin of Eucryl tooth powder (various Marlow suppliers), 1944 = 9d, large 1s 3d .

Phillips Tonic Yeast- treats indigestion and prevents nervous breakdown (!) from all Marlow chemists, 1950 = 1 sh 3d.

Boots Gardenia bath cubes, per box, 1951 = 3 and a half pence.

Hair cut in your home by travelling hairdresser who covers Marlow, men only, 1960 = 2s 6d or 2s for boys or OAPS. 

Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass gift set consisting of dusting powder, hand lotion and 2 bath cubes, from Watson's chemist Spittal Street, 1962 = 23s 6d.

Business costs:

Purchase price of The West Street Cafe, 1945 = £550

The Empire "Aristocrat" portable typewriter, from W H Smith & Son, 1955 = £22 10s (available on hire purchase too).

Rent of a single room office in Marlow town centre, bills not included, 1956 = 35s a week.

Hire of a cement mixer, including delivery from Marlow Bottom, 1959 = £2 a week.

Extra strong builder's wheelbarrow with rubber wheel, from Lynch's Dean Street, 1963 = 77s 6d .

Rent of small 2 room office suite near centre of Marlow, with own entrance, 1967 = £350 per annum exclusive of bills. 

Food and drink 

Jar of pickle from R Brown grocer High Street 1942 = 1 shilling 1d.

6 oz cheese from Browns as above 1942 = 5 shillings.

2 eggs from Browns as above 1942 = 5d.

A tablet of jelly from Browns as above 1942 = 2&1/2d.

2 lbs nuts from Browns as above 1942 = 14 shillings.

1/2 lb Brooke Bond Dividend Tea 1942 = 1s 5d  various stockists. 

A bottle of orange juice (available to young children and expectant mothers only) picked up from the library or infant welfare centre (both in what is now Liston Hall) or distribution volunteer Mrs Watson at Marlow Common, 1943 = 5d.

1/4lb carton of Rowntree's cocoa powder, various Marlow stockists,  1944 = 5d 

Half bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label, 1945, various Marlow suppliers = 13s 6d (notice is given that supplies are low and are likely to be scarce for foreseeable future.)

A dozen cans of vegetable and tomato soup (the most popular flavour), delivered to Marlow from Imperial Food Stores in High Wycombe, 1946 = 8sh 6d. 

1 dozen small sausage rolls from Burgers bakers, Causeway 1953 = 2s 2d shillings.

A gallon of ice cream from Burgers as above 1953 = 12 shillings.

1 dozen croissants from Burgers 1953 = 3 shillings.

Packet of Smedley's Quick Frozen garden peas, from H & J W Aldridge, Market Square, 1954 = 1s

1/4lb box of Brooke Bond P G Tips tea, from various Marlow shops, 1955 = 1s 9d.

1/2 pint of Wethered's Best Bitter, public bar price, 1955 = 9&1/2d.

Bananas, per pound in Marlow, 1957 = 1sh 6d.

4-oz Maxwell House coffee from the Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 4s.

Jelly tablet "table jellies" to make 1pt jelly, from Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 6d (reduction of 3d from price elsewhere they say). 

3lb bag of "Suprema" self raising flour, Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 1s 6d.

1lb of C.W.S lemon curd, Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 1s 6d.

1lb of C.W.S custard powder, Co-operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 1s 5d.

12oz tin of "Wheatsheaf" pork luncheon meat, Co-operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 2s 8d.

A dozen new laid eggs, medium size Co operative stores, Station Rd, 1961 = 2s 6d.

Fixed price lunch at Compleat Angler hotel, as available to non guests on certain days, 1961 = 25s Saturdays, 30s Sunday or Monday. 

Bottle of Chateau Libertas South African red wine from the Coach and Horses West Street, 1962 = 10sh 9d.

Shoulder of English lamb, from Jeffries, Spittal Street, 1967 = 3s.

1lb butter from C & Q food market, Oaktree Rd, 1967 = 2s 9d (offers green shield stamps with purchase) 

3lb 2oz size fresh chicken C & Q food market, Oaktree Rd, 1967 = 2s 9d. 

Packet of Jacobs or Crawford's Cream Crackers, from Home & Colonial Stores, High Street, 1968 = 12d

Quarter pound of P G Tips tea, Home & Colonial, 1968 = 1s 4&1/2d.

Packet of McVities Digestive biscuits, from Home & Colonial, 1968 = 9d.

Special luncheons served weekdays at Sun Ya Chinese restaurant, Quoiting Square, 1969 = 5 shillings.

Reading material:

Premium or Preferential annual membership to W H Smith's circulating library, High Street, 1942 = £2 3s. This lets you take in the very latest titles. A cheaper option is A grade annual membership which gives you full access to the library, minus those tempting latest releases. And B grade membership costs 10s a year for access to a more limited range of books, all of them a bit older. In 1949 you could subscribe a few pence a week to borrow on an occasional basis. Then the premium membership had risen to £3 a year. 

Latest fiction to borrow from H Simpsons High Street, per week 1945 = 2d or 3d

Copy of The Telegraph newspaper, 1948 = 1&1/2d. 

Copy of The Strand magazine, 1949 = 1s 3d.

Copy of the Bucks Free Press 1951 = 3d. 

Copy of Woman's Weekly magazine, 1952 = 3d.

Hard back books ideal for Christmas gifts such as the History of England by Arthur Bryant and Exploration Fawcett, the real life journals of lost explorer Colonel Fawcett, from W.H Smith High street, 1953 = 15-16s. 

Phillips modern school atlas, from W H Smith, 1963 = 11s 6d.

Copy of the weekly Marlow and District Times newspaper, 1969 = 4d. Published each Wednesday. 

Hobbies and leisure:

Entrance into a travelling circus and zoo which came for two days to a field off Dean  Street in 1943, = from 1 shilling for children, 1 shilling 6d for adults.

Second hand tennis racket and 5 balls, collect Marlow Bottom, 1944 = 57s 6d.

Second hand 15ft caravan, 4 berth with Calor gas lighting and heating, 1944 = £460.

Ticket to see a dance band at the Band Hall plus the local heat of Miss Buckinghamshire 1945 = 2s 6d, or 1s 6d if in H.M Forces.

1 weeks holiday as organised by The Central Council For Physical Recreation at Bisham Abbey for those aged 16-35. Includes board, basic lodging and expert tuition in a sport of your choice out of: lawn tennis, bicycle polo, rowing, football, canoeing, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, fencing, ball room dancing, soft ball and athletics, 1947 = £3 15s

Coach trip to New Theatre Oxford from Market Square Marlow, by Thames Valley Traction Co, 1949 = 9s 9d including the theatre ticket. Runs twice a week over winter season. 

Book of Buckinghamshire footpaths for walkers, sold at all Marlow booksellers, 1949 = 8sh 6d.

Admission to the Regatta enclosure, June 1950 = 7/6. Plus teas from 2 shillings and lunches from 3/6. Official programme 1 shilling. 

Programme for the Marlow Choral Society concert version of Tom Jones, at the Church Hall, December 1952 = 6d. 

One of the latest fully equipped caravans, the "Marlow Tudor" from the Marlow Coach Building Works, New Town Road, 1953 = from £445 (display ground was in Loudwater). In 1952 the 20ft 4 berth Marlow Tudor with aluminium skin, oak paneling and three rooms is £650. 

Boxing Day "Tyrolean Dance" at the Complete Angler hotel, 1953 including dinner = 30s. Evening dress required. 

20 Matinee brand deluxe tipped cigarettes, 1955 = 2s 8d.

Tickets to Marlow Young Conservative "gipsy dance" at the Crown hotel, 1958 = 5 shillings.

Rent that Marlow Park Cricket Club pay to use the cricket pitch in Higginson Park, per annum, 1958 = £70.

Tour of London Airport with return coach travel from Marlow, as run by Thames Valley travel, 1959 = 4sh 6d.

Ticket and coach transport from Marlow to Puss in Boots Pantomime at Oxford 1959 = 12 sh 3d.

Entry to local art and craft exhibition at Court Garden in 1959 = 1 shilling.

The Clarion "transistorised tape recorder", 50 hours play on 4 torch batteries, complete with microphone and tape, from M W Keen, High Street, 1959 = 25 guineas. 

11 ft Penn "car top" sports boat, from Willan Cars, High Street, 1960 - £69 10s.

 Seven day coach tour trip centered around Grange Over Sands. Includes luxury coach travel, full board hotel accommodation including gratuities, and sighting tours with meals en route. Book at the Thames Valley booking agent, corner shop, Market Square. Join at Wycombe, Maidenhead or Henley, 1963 = £29 10s. 

As above but to South Devon, trip based at Torquay, 1963 = £22 10s.

Ticket to a dance at Court Garden with band "Danny Lawrence and The Trends" - 7.30-1030pm. "Rock! Jive! Twist!", 1963 = 4s.

The Canonette 8 cine camera from Keen's, High Street, 1964 = £49 16s. Installment plans available 

Entry to Borlase summer fete and "Go Kart meeting", 1964 = 6d including a programme plus half a crown (2s 6d) for a go on a go kart. 

13ft touring caravan, second hand, 1964 = £55.

Coach trip to Whipsnade Zoo from Marlow, runs every summer Sunday, 1964 = 6s 6d. No reductions for children! 

Weekly entry into Postal Bingo (games called on Radio Luxembourg, 6 times in week), 1964 = 3s 6d (plus one off membership joining fee of 2s 6d) Top prize is around £6000..

Pack of 20 Players gold leaf Virginia tipped cigarettes, various Marlow stockists, 1966 = 4s 7d.

15 day holiday to Mallorca from Carters travel agency in West Street, 1966 = From £37 per person.

Admission to air display at Wycombe air park, Booker, 1968 = 30s for a car and all occupants or £7 10s for a coach ditto. 

Clothing/ Footwear/ Accessories :

Cleaning and pressing of a suit or dress at Allwrights cleaners, Spittal Street 1942 = 4s 

Ladies' long sleeved poplin shirt, plain colours or stripes, from Morgan's, High Street, 1945 = 42s 9d (plus you needed 4 coupons from your clothes ration).

Second hand gents navy blue sports coat sold in Marlow, 1945 = £4.

Latest fashion handbags in choice of 6 colours from Morgan's of Marlow, 1949 = 19 shillings 11d.

Beaver fur gloves from W.E Applegates (ran by A.E Kings), 1949 = 39 sh 4d.

Men's slippers from Milwards, High Street, 1950 = from 12 sh 9d to 31sh 11d.

Ladies lace trimmed nylon underwear set, from A E King, 1953 = 48s 6d.

Initialled set of 3 coloured handkerchiefs, from A E King, 1953 = 5s 6d boxed. 

Fur backed wool lined gloves, A E King 1953 = 39s 11d.

Ladies all wool house coat (dressing gown in this instance) with zipper front, A E King, 1952 = from 57s 6d depending on side. 

Gents tweed suit, all sizes, W J Daniel, High Street, 1958 = from £8 9s - £13 13s.

Ladies sling back high heel shoes, in black, gold or silver, Millward's own label range, from Milwards in the High Street 1964 = 55s 11d.

Ladies full length quilted dressing gown, from A E King Marlow branch, 1964 = 72s 6d .

Pets, livestock & equestrian 

Rhode Island Red Cockerel from breeder at Marlow Common, 1944 = 8s.

Fully grown goose, bought from Munday Dean, 1946 = 40s.

Dog vitality powder turns a listless pooch into a dynamo, from G.E Stevens, West Street, 1951= 2sh a packet.

Green budgie, 1955 = 10s.

Horse for hacking from Peter Pinches horse dealer etc at Field House Farm, near Newtown Road Marlow, 1958 = from £50 (to buy).

Chihuahua puppy, female, 1964 = 15 guineas.

6lb block of Dinnadog frozen dog food, available from G E Stevens, corn merchant etc, 1964 = 7s 6d.

Transport:

Second hand Raleigh gents bicycle with dynamo lighting for sale in Marlow, nearly new, 1944 = £12 

Adult return bus bare from Marlow to High Wycombe, 1946 = 11d.

3rd class season ticket for rail travel between Marlow and Paddington, valid for 1 month, 1948 = £5 13s 6d. A weekly ticket for the same journey cost £1 0s 11d. 

1938 Singer Super 12 car, low mileage, offered for sale in Marlow 1949 = £300.

Double garage for hire in Marlow, 1949 = 15 sh a week.

Coventry-Eagle cycle, "The Exemplar" model. "Britain's most modern bicycle". From B.T.C Cycle Dealers, Spittal Street 1952 = £21 9s 6d.

Bus fare from High Wycombe to Marlow on one of the extra buses put on by Thames Valley Traction Co on the occasion of the Marlow regatta, 1952 = 1s 1d return.

Hiring a car in Marlow for the weekend, 1953 = £3.

Special GWR cheap day return ticket to Newbury for the horse races, 1953 = 9s 6d.

Second hand 3 speed ladies bicycle with new tyres, 1954 = £7.

1950 Morris Minor with detachable hard top and heater, sold by Currall's Garages, 1955 = £420

Day return to Eastbourne, from Marlow, on coach run by Carter's of Maidenhead three times a week in summer, tickets from Silvester's newsagent, West Street, 1957 = 9s 6d. (also goes to Brighton, Worthing, Hastings and Bexhill at same frequency).

Secondhand Ford Prefect sold in Marlow, 1958 = £450.

A days hire of the "latest de luxe 4 door Morris 1000" car, with radio fitted, including RAC & AA membership and insurance, from Platts garage, 1958 = 17s 6d.

An hours driving tuition by "an expert" tutor Marlow, 1958 = 10s to 12s.

Vespa - 1955 model, in good condition, sold used in Marlow 1958 = £76. In the same year a second hand Vespa with screen, pillion and cover was £100 as sold in Little Marlow.  

Used gray colour Ford Consul car, with 9000 miles on clock, from Greene & Earl garage, Maple Rise, 1959 = £710.

Car hire for a week from Pritchards of York Road, 1960 = from £9 to £18 10sh depending on car model and season. Winter hire was cheaper.

Cost of parking in High Street on Sunday or Bank Holidays, no time limit, 1964 = 2s. 

1955 Jaguar car mk 7m, offered for sale in Marlow, 1964 = £85.

Compiled by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day. Warm thanks to contributors! 

Other posts about general Marlow history can be found in an index here

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