Mary Church Will - Medmenham 1770

 Mary Church widow of Medmenham proved 4th October 1770.

[She was the widow of Thomas above].

Says sick and weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory.

She wishes to confirm and ratify a deed her husband and she lately made to ?declare? or ?..? the uses of a fine [not a fine in the modern sense but a property transaction].

To her youngest daughter Grace the featherbed, tables, chairs and all other furniture in the chamber testator now has.

Eldest son Thomas gets another bed in the hall chamber with the bedstead bolster and other furniture belonging to it [furniture in this context meant fittings and accessories]. 

All her children get equally share and share alike her stock, crops of corn, grain and hay, utensils and implements of husbandry, cattle, household goods, furniture, chattels and all other personal property after debts and funeral expenses paid. If any of the children express displeasure at this they lose their share.

Sons Thomas, Richard and Mark made the will's executors.

Mary made a mark rather than sign.

Witnesses =Leah Wood, Richard Jenkins,  Thomas Atkinson clerk to Mr Newell of Henley.

CODICIL written the same day.

She is seized of the fee simple of a messuage or tenement with a garden and appurtenances in the parish of Cookham which is let at £2 15 shillings a year. Two rooms and a pantry have lately been added to this property. Mary wills that her daughter Grace receives Mary's rental income and profit from this for her natural life. She is to pay a proportional part of the land tax that will be due on the property.

Witnesses as above.

Sons Thomas and Richard granted probate with third son Mark allowed to claim the same right if he came to the probate court and applied. It was not uncommon where multiple executors are named for only one or two of them to travel to the probate court to get the grant of probate, it presumably having been agreed between them that winding up the deceased estate didn't in fact need all of them and they trust each other enough for only some to act. It can also be because one of the executors was far away, unwell or infirm or just plain too busy by the time the testator died so no longer felt themselves to be a suitable executor. The court nevertheless always reserved them future power to execute if they were living unless they came to the probate hearing and formally renounced their role.

The will of her daughter Grace is already in the blog here. Mark, Grace's brother, features in this will.

Mary was the widow of farmer Thomas Church who died earlier the same year.

This will summary was created from Charlotte Day's transcription of the original p.c.c will held at the National Archives Kew.

We focus on Marlow but try to include some surrounding area content. Over 100 will summaries are available on this blog. See the Will Transcriptions Index. More Medmenham related posts are indexed here.

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

Not You Again Reuben!

Today's subject is Reuben Anderson, a man who is fair to say kept the police constables and J.Ps more than a little busy! 

The age of Reuben differs by a few years here and there when he gives it in court, on censuses and the like. He generally decides on a birth year of 1845, although he may have been a couple of years older. He was the son of George and Emma Anderson of Dean Street (more commonly known as Well End, Great Marlow at the time Reuben was born, not be confused with Well End, near Little Marlow.) Another Reuben Anderson living in Marlow in the early Victorian era was our Reubens uncle, born in Maids Moreton, Bucks. 

Reuben's father spent several spells in prison throughout the boys childhood, usually lasting a month or two, mostly relating to petty thefts and trespass after game. His was not a wealthy family, and George's work principally as a general and agricultural labourer was not necessarily regular. Dean Street was a poor and populous neighbourhood, the haunt of many a poacher. Many lived on the edge of destitution in a way that's much underestimated now. Those that didn't tended to supplement their income in many  ways, not all of them quite legal. 

Starting Young 

Reuben therefore started his somewhat shady career rather young. In 1858 the boy found himself called to the petty sessions, suspected of stealing a quantity of iron from the premises of baker John Millward in West Street. (Formerly Gibbons the tallow chandlers - see the premises here) At this point the petty sessions were held in a small and often raucous room in the Crown at the Market Square. In court, his age was given as 11 but I think he was more likely 13-15 years. Generally speaking if a resident of Dean Street was bought to the sessions room, a crowd of friends and relatives from the area would attend to offer vocal support much to the magistrates annoyance. Perhaps the same thing happened to young Reuben. Regardless, he was found guilty and sentenced to be privately whipped. This was regarded as a lenient punishment compared to time in gaol. Two months before either Reuben or his uncle of the same name had been summoned and fined for stealing underwood at Little Marlow. I suspect it was the elder of the two. 

 Reuben is often recorded as either an agricultural labourer or general labourer, that catch all term for a variety of unskilled and semi skilled work. But the type of crimes he tends to get arrested for, indicates a slightly different story. By far the most common is wilful damage to a tree or stealing underwood. Reuben isn't gathering firewood, he is collecting the type of material he needs for his sideline as a "skewerter". That is he makes wooden skewers that are sold wholesale to butchers, usually in London. It was a very common and perfectly legitimate trade in Marlow, centred around Dean Street. However it was not legal to help yourself to the wood wherever you found it locally, as almost every tree belonged to someone specifically. Some landowners sold the right to collect the skewer materials to an individual, who naturally would be at a serious disadvantage if it all had vanished come harvest time. But skewer makers like Reuben could not afford to lease woodland and it's unlikely that buying the materials from a middle man would be profitable. Snarky comments were often made about how "wealthy" the skewer makers of Marlow were, given that it was pure profit to make goods from materials obtained free and illegally. But the reality was those we have identified as long time workers in the trade were in poor (sometimes shockingly so) houses and never escaped them. It was hardly a road to riches! Reuben is also identified later as a fruiterer - another classic Dean Street occupation. In this case it was the wholesale trade that involved Reuben along with his father - he did not have a shop. This was a seasonal source of employment for him, something to add to his other sources of income. 

Reuben's punishment for the wood rustling and tree damage tended to be a fine. (For example 2d plus costs in 1861 for damaging trees belonging to magistrate Benjamin Atkinson of the Rookery.) If he could not pay, he would be forced to spend time in gaol in lieu. Sometimes the fine was demanded immediately after the case was heard, on other occasions a week or two to gather the required finds was allowed. (Two weeks in the case mentioned above.) In 1862 he was imprisoned for 3 months for stealing the lunch of a farm labourer William Harris who was working in the fields. (His accomplice James Grace recieved 2 months)

A Familiar Defendant 

1863 was an especially busy year for young Reuben. He plead guilty to 3 offences in the same petty session in January. He was at this point described as a youth "well known to police", as was his co accused in two of the offences, James Grace. First up was two charges for stealing swedes and turnips, both offences committed on the same day. The quantity of swedes was large and they were likely intended for selling on as fruiterers had the connections to sell vegetables too. The second offence occured at Blunts Farm. In both cases the young men were bought to the intention of the authorities by an "informer" Thomas Tilbury. When Reuben heard this, he had gone after Thomas and threw stones at him several hitting their mark. Hence the 3rd case for which he was summoned. For each of the first two offences, Reuben was sentenced to 1 months imprisonment with hard labour. The same sentence was awarded to his co accused who had like Reuben plead guilty. For the stone throwing, Reuben was set a high fine of £1 plus costs. As he could not pay, he was taken to prison for an additional 2 months. As he was led away, our miscreant was heard to mutter threats of dire vengeance against the informant. Thankfully for both, nothing cane of these dark mutterings - as far as public records show at least! Come October Reuben was back in front of the magistrates again. This time he was accused of stealing a higher value item, and this along with his string of previous convictions meant Reuben was remanded for trial at the Assizes. The theft involved a large quantity of straw belonging to surgeon William Hickman. This time the sentence was for one years imprisonment. His age at sentencing is given as 18. 

Father George Creates A Scene

A little under a year after his release, Reuben's father was yet again in hot water. The cause this time was a very public act of rebellion. It was November, and he was out of work as many of those with partially seasonal occupations naturally were. He applied to the Relieving Officer Mr Russell for some parish aid. Mr Russell refused to sanction any "outdoor relief" - that is an allowance of bread or money paid to George while he continued to look for work and live in his existing lodgings. Instead he said he would issue an order that George should go to "the House". That is the parish workhouse. George was furious. No one wished to be admitted there, but the parish officers had decided to crack down on the giving of aid that would allow the poor an alternative to the house. It was considered the provision of out relief made things too easy for the poor and prevented the workhouse acting as proper deterrent to the merely idle. It was noted in the newspaper reports of the events that followed that George had a "good" summer income as a fruiterer and skewer maker, the inference being if he had no money now it was because he had not spent it wisely or saved enough. (This was of course usually an attitude espoused by those who had never had to manage on such wages or live in the condition of those that did.) But it's obvious from study of others in the Anderson families position that the debts and rent arrears speedily increased over a winter when little money came in. These then had to paid out of the next summer's income.  

The following evening, George was heard to declare publicly that he would "wreck" the relieving officers home. He took a bludgeon and smashed 15 panes of glass. He made no attempt to disguise himself and was arrested immediately. It may be that Reuben acted heedlessly out of bravado or anger or both. It may also be that his situation was dire and he did what many others in Marlow did and commited a public crime certain that he would be sent to prison and provided for. We have found many examples of people doing just that, often going to confess immediately at the police station. Was prison better than the work house? Unlikely, but it perhaps carried less stigma for men in Georges situation who had often been in prison before. Whatever the motivation, George's attack earned him two months behind bars, with hard labour. It just be said the conditions of providing parish aid were not set by poor Mr Russell and he could have been dismissed if it was considered he was too lenient. 

Happier Events

In 1879 Reuben married Martha Sparkes, daughter of Maria and William, the landlords of at various times the Barge Pole, Black Boy and Fisherman's Retreat inns in St Peter's Street/Church Passage. Martha was just over a decade younger than he. The couple made their home in Oxford Road, and then St Peter's Street. See links below for detailed information about Martha's family. 

It was not exactly the quietest start in life for the couple, as in 1880 Reuben was arrested for his supposed role in the wide scale election riots in Marlow. The case against him was dismissed over uncertainty about his identification although Reuben himself did admit to being present in the area - as an innocent bystander of course. The riot is covered in more detail in a post here

And now at last we have a report of Reuben in which he is the hero. A few months after the riot, he stepped in to rescue a women who was being threatened and harassed by her brother after the siblings had quarreled. It must have been quite the novelty to appear in court as a witness! But old habits die hard and less than two months later Reuben was back at the petty sessions in the role of defendant, along with John Price. The pair had stolen some wood and both recieved hefty fines based on previous convictions for both. 

Throughout the 1880s minor convictions continue to be earned by Reuben. Charges of drunk and disorderly behaviour, being asleep while in charge of a horse and cart, and tresspass in pursuit of game for example. All resulted in fines. 

Reuben died in 1890. He was only in his forties. Poor Martha was of course even younger when she entered her widowhood. She went to live with her brother George at first, then her elderly widowed mother and youngest  brother Thomas in West Street. At this point she took to working as a laundress or washerwoman.* 

*Tragedy struck in 1907 when Martha's brother Thomas went missing and was subsequently found drowned in the Thames. The circumstances were not known. He was working for Lovell's the builder as a labourer  and carter at the time. It was considered by some that he may have been worried about a summons he had recieved for drunk driving a horse and cart presumably because a conviction may have lead to the loss of his job. He had been sleeping rough at times over the few weeks before, although he had returned home by the time he was last seen alive. Verdict: Found Drowned. Age given as 49.  

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts

Sparkes family of the Barge Pole here

Index of posts about life in Dean Street when Reuben was growing up - here

The skewer trade in Marlow here

Posts linked to crime and disorder in old Marlow - here

To find every mention of an individual or family here use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. There's more than 4,000 people mentioned there! 

Sources:

Census 1841,1851,1861,1891 - transcript made by Jane Pullinger. 

Sparkes family and 1880 election rioters research by Charlotte. 

 Bucks Chronicle and Bucks Gazette 5 May 1858. From the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA. 

Bucks Herald 27 March 1858, 25 May 1861, January 24th 1863, 10 December 1881 as above. 

Windsor and Eton Express 24 Jan 1863. As above. 

Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Free Press 24 October 1863,as above

Reading Mercury 3 December 1875, 

Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer, 21 September 1907. Slough Reference Library. 

© MarlowAncestors 

The Other Royal Celebrations In Marlow

We have posts due on events such as the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Victoria's reign, but this entry is about how the town celebrated (or not) some of the other events in Queen Victoria's life. 

If your ancestor lived in Marlow in June 1838, then it is very likely they at least heard celebrations of the Queen's coronation because it appears to have been a very noisy event. Victoria had succeeded to the throne in June 1837 so the residents of Marlow had plenty of time to consider how to mark the occasion. The reports vary widely with rival political groups accusing the other of doing little, which is reflected in the accounts published in local newspapers. The Windsor and Eton Express said that the church bells were rung on Coronation day and that the shops were closed. Others said this was a lie, and only the Tory supporters in town would be content to do so little. The Bucks Gazette said liberal tradespeople took on the task with enthusiasm as did the Clayton family at Harleyford. The Clayton's Conservative political rivals, the Williams of Temple House, who included the Marlow M.P, were accused of not organising anything grand. So the reports have to be filtered with the understanding of the political bias of the reporter. One thing all can agree on is that many fireworks were let off, some guns, and a few cannons. The last were courtesy of Harleyford where the din of artillery was said to have been kept up all day. After 41 discharges of cannon, even the most devoted royalist in the neighbourhood must have been happy a new Queen was not crowned everyday!

 Amongst the criticism levelled at MP Thomas Peers Williams and his supporters such as the Wethered family of the Brewery, was that they had not as wealthier citizens put their hand in their pockets to subsidise any celebrations for the poorer classes. It seems they had been expected to pay the bell ringers for their services, but had not offered to do so so the money had to come out of the Church rates fund. It was also hoped a subscription would have been raised to provide some relief to the poor.  The Bucks Gazette went further and said those who put on events publicly had "resisted the will of the domineering tyrant in the town." (Williams) This may be a little unfair, as while Williams was a controversial politician who was accused of evicting those of his tenants who did not vote for him, his family did entertain members of the Royal Family at Temple House in latter years and so was not exactly anti royal. It seems the feeling was that big occasions meant those who acted in power in the town should play their part and help those with little money to celebrate. Failure to do so was regarded as "selfish". 

Those who did include the less well off were Joseph Tyler of the Clayton Arms in Oxford Lane/Quoiting Place. Joseph entertained more than 100 to dinner - an "elegant repast". And Messrs Wright of Marlow Mills gave a hot beef dinner with ale and punch to 100 or so staff and their family members. This dinner included plum pudding which might seem unseasonal to our eyes but it's a regular feature of many Victorian celebration dinners in Marlow and elsewhere whatever the time of year. 

Moving on to 1840, when Queen Victoria was married to Albert. On this occasion the liberal papers again accused the conservative interests of failure to mark the occasion properly. The celebrations were described as "very limited". But Harleyford House bought out their "artillery" again. (41 discharges of cannon). The bells were of course rang and guns fired. The reliably generous and kind Benjamin Atkinson of The Rookery entertained all his staff to a meal along as did a few unnamed tradesmen working on a smaller scale. But the "most influential  inhabitants of the town who owe all this wealth and influence to the lower ranks of society did very little."

In 1858, the Queen's eldest daughter, Victoria the Princess Royal was married in turn to Prince Frederick of Prussia. Mr Borgnis and Mr William Ward decided to treat the boys of the Blue Coat school (now Borlase) to something to mark the event. Their choice would probably not get distributed today, given that it consisted of cake - and wine! Those attending the National schools recieved some tasty buns while the pupils of the British Schools were given a full tea, presumably without alcoholic beverages. 

The Queen's birthday was usually marked in a small way. Prayers for her continued health were a standard in the local churches. The church bells were rang, and some shops and homes were decorated with bunting. This is more often recorded in the later part of the reign. The local Oddfellows lodge (friendly society) held a church parade (that is a parade to the parish church in full regalia for a  special service) on several occasions in the 1880s in honour of Her Majesty's birthday. In 1887, they were lead by the town band and they followed this with a public dinner for 100 people at The Greyhound.

Various members of the Royals visited the big houses in the area such as Temple, Gyldernscroft and Harleyford. Some of these visits were "under the radar" but others very much the opposite. When the prince and princess of Wales passed through Marlow in a steam launch, on their way to visit the Williams at Temple House, they were expected. Their arrival was somewhat inconveniently timed to occur during the Regatta. They were late, but they did indeed arrive in the end and were greeted with a royal salute. 

The last event other than the Jubilees to mark was of course the death of the Queen. The first notification of any significant news usually came courtesy of a telegram to the post office which would then be displayed either inside or out for all to see. (Less seriously the match reports of Marlow Football Club when playing away also arrived this way.) A week before the Queen's death, a telegram bought news the Queen was seriously ill. Special prayers were said in the various churches and chapels the following day, in the hope of a recovery. Public events due to take place in the next few days were cancelled as a gesture of respect - dramatic performances in the Music Room and a football match. But on 22 January 1901, the news was recieved by telegram late in the day that the Queen had died at Osbourne House, surrounded by her family. It was immediately ordered that the bells should toll in the church. This sound was said to be what made many Marlow residents realise that the rumour about the Queen's death were true. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related posts:

Coronation Celebrations 1902 here

Jubilee 1887 Here

Storm disruption during 1897 jubilee Little Marlow here

Royal furniture makers the Mealings here

Other posts about everyday life in old Marlow here

To find every mention of an individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Sources:

Goodrich, Samuel Griswold. Peter Parley's visit to London during the Coronation (Library of Alexandria, 1838)

McCarthy, John - A History Of Our Own Times, 1871. 

Wilson, Robert. Life and Times of Queen Victoria (Cassell and Company, 1891) 

Bucks Gazette 14 July 1838, 22 February 1840 - British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA. 

Reading Mercury 30 January 1858, 31 May 1890, 26 January 1901 - As above

Bucks Herald 13 July 1878, as above. 

Windsor and Eton Express 30 June 1838. As above. 

Slough Eton and Windsor Observer May 28 1887, Slough Library. 

©Marlow Ancestors

Bringing The Harvest Home - Harvest Festival In Marlow

Any one who has ever browsed a Marlow census return will be aware that huge numbers of people in Marlow worked at some point as an agricultural labourer or "ag lab". You will also notice from other records that many people rented land who did not define themselves as farmers primarily. The gathering of the harvest was something that therefore involved a lot of our Marlow ancestors. 

First a quick word about these agricultural labourers. The census forms had limited space to record someone's occupation. Many people had several jobs at once but not all will be recorded. If you find reference to someone describing their work in another context, where they are a witness in a criminal trial perhaps, at an inquest or if their life is described later, your "ag lab" often turns out to have other simultaneous roles. Some had skilled specialities but were lumped together under the general labourer heading on a census.  Others worked in agriculture seasonally or casually but were not necessarily doing so at the time of the census. Whatever they did, their work was absolutely essential to the wellbeing of everyone in the town. It was also often extremely hard and required strength and deftness. There's no such thing as "just" an agricultural labourer. 

The Georgian harvest suppers and harvest home celebrations seem to have had a bit of a raucous reputation. The early Victorians were at pains to mention how much more civilised their occasions were compared to what came before, mainly in the terms of levels of alcohol consumed. These were usually held mid September, sometimes a bit later, to celebrate the harvest successfully coming in. The records of what small scale farmers did to celebrate in Marlow specifically are mostly lacking but one man who was an enthusiastic host of Harvest Home celebrations was Benjamin Atkinson, of the Rookery, Chapel Street. 

Benjamin was a doctor who also owned farm land and buildings at various places in the Marlow area. This included land off Wycombe Road, (aka Town End Farm), Marlow Bottom Farm, and land towards Handy Cross. (You can read more about him here ) 

His Harvest Home celebrations were a significant event in the town and were "joyously anticipated" not just by his farm workers but by a "large circle of gentry" who were also invited. Everyone invited proceeded to the Rookery itself where the gardeners had spent hours preparing for the event. The grass was cut fine to allow for dancing late into the night, lanterns were hung from every tree and two large marquees were erected. In 1855, 40 people sat down to dinner before 150 more arrived at 5.30pm along with a brass band. There was dancing and feasting until Mr and Mrs Atkinson gathered everyone into the largest tent for speeches. On this occasion, Benjamin said he had bought the company together to honour his work people whom he regarded as friends, and he trusted that he had always treated them as such. This was met with cries of "You have! You have!" You suspect these sentiments were sincere on both sides, as Benjamin and Eliza were well known for their benevolence. As a doctor, Benjamin saw many poor patients for free for example. 

Benjamin also visited the workers in the fields as the reaping was coming to an end, having organised the delivery of an alcoholic treat. He gave a speech there too. In the summer of 1856, a large group of his labourers followed up Benjamin's refreshment with a trip to a public house. An unfortunate consequence of this was a family squabble, fuelled by alcohol, that started in the pub and continued at home before the police broke it up. Richard Martin ended up with a broken leg, his wife some broken ribs, and son William with various injuries. Benjamin recieved some criticism for his habit of treating workers in the fields after this. 

As time passed, this harvest celebration gets rarer. By the 1890's most events seem to have been organised by the biggest landowners and estates only. ( Mr Ellames continued to hold Harvest Homes at Wood Barn Farm, Little Marlow at this time for both the estate workers and their wives, providing "old English fare" and free tobacco. As did the Kearleys of States, Medmenham who decorated the great barn with Union Jack's, flowers, corn and evergreens ahead of a colossal supper and dance.) The local papers reflecting on this lack thought it a shame the bonds between land owner and land worker might be weakened as a result. Others thought landowners could no longer afford to host anything on a large scale like this anyway. 

Church services to specifically celebrate the harvest became more popular in the second half of the 19th century in Marlow. You can be sure that whatever church or chapel your ancestor attended here then, that it would have been a magnificent sight come harvest festival time. The level of decoration is sometimes extraordinary, and it's usually the woman of the congregation who took charge of this. 

In 1877, 250 people sat down to a harvest tea in the school room in the Causeway. This was followed by a concert in the evening. All Saints was decorated with wreathes of cornflowers and evergreens, along with sheaves of corn which sounds very pretty. In 1883, a miniature hay rick was on display beneath the pulpit. But in 1891 the ladies of All Saints really out did themselves. They covered each window ledge with moss and garlands of autumn coloured creepers. The pedestal of the font also became a mossy bank, "planted" with primulas and every type of fern that could be found. The pulpit was hidden beneath an abundance of fruit and flowers while the front of the choir stalls displayed small bunches of corn. Fruit and flowers from the Marlow and Bisham harvest festivals often found their way to Marlow Cottage Hospital afterwards. 

The ladies of the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Chapel Street (now Liston Hall) were equally creative. In 1896 they lined the skirtings of the building with garlands of ivy and placed flowers on every available surface from the gasoliers down. 

Similar efforts to decorate Little Marlow church were made, enjoyed by a packed congregation year on year. In 1864 the Reading Mercury complained that the "ugly" high backed pews made it impossible for many to see the beautiful displays to their best advantage. You can't please everyone! 

Of course for every year there was a successful "incoming" of crops, there were others where the harvest was a disaster. Badly timed spells of wet weather could ruin months of incessant labour. In 1873 persistent rain delayed the harvest and left some farmers facing huge losses. The grain sprouted, because of the wet weather, a situation which reduced the yield, quality and storage capability of the crop. A harvest gathering that went well really was a cause of celebration. 

Related Posts:

To find the histories of different farms in Marlow and Little Marlow  see the "Specific Shops, Streets, Etc" option on the menu. 

Every mention of a person can be found under the Person Index. Other general posts related to agriculture in Marlow will be listed under the general history option here

 Index of posts related to everyday life in old Marlow: here

SOURCES: 

Harvest Home. Anon. (J Evans & Sons, 1810)

Harvest Home (Penny Publications 1873)

South Bucks Free Press September 3 1859, copy from the British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA September 2020.  

Reading Mercury 10 September 1864, 13 September 1873, as above

Bucks Herald 6 October 1873, as above 

South Bucks Standard 9 October 1891, 22 September 1893, 11 October 1895 as above

Oxford Gazette 17 October 1885, as above

https://www.bcg.org.au/pre-harvest-sprouting-in-wheat-and-barley/&ved=2ahUKEwjTtK3c17rwAhUXVRUIHWbvDB04ChAWMAN6BAgDEAI&usg=AOvVaw2-x5d-YBOzqdSZRG10Y5KV

And thanks to Archibald Godfrey for his information. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Executions And Turnip Rustling- Marlow Bottom Farm

Hold on to your hats- this is complicated!!!

C1767 - Webb family occupy "Marlow Bottom Farm", tenants of the Claytons. 

1813 - "Marlow Bottom Farm" given as 170 acres.

1829- 1832 Richard Webb occupied a farm with this name. Still owned by the Claytons. Wife Mary. Leased the farm and also Burford Farm in Marlow Bottom which had previously been occupied by James Webb, presumed father of Richard, and Thomas Rolls. Also had land elsewhere in Marlow as well as other property, especially in the Dean Street area. Burford was his by lease from 1813. Appointed executor of will of Elizabeth Winter written 1813, proved 1814. He himself died 1832. Photo of his grave here. In 1825 his former employee Edmonds was executed for twice stealing his horse (the same horse, stolen, recovered and stolen again). Richard said Edmund's had been a good employee once and asked he be treated with mercy to no avail. To read the full peculiar story, see Kathryn's post here! In 1830 he was one the local farmers threatened by letter for using mechanization on the farm. He does not seem to have given in to demands to remove his machines or been attacked by the Swing Rioters. For more on the Swing Riots in Marlow see Kathryn's post here. 

1833- The 1833 parish assessment lists "Marlow Bottom Farm" twice, once as owned and occupied by William James Atkinson, and once again as owned by the Clayton's and occupied by David and James Webb. So there are two farms now using the name! See below, and note that the short form "Bottom Farm" can refer to either of them or even to nearby Burford Farm. 

1833- David and James Webb have "Marlow Bottom Farm", the one owned by Clayton that is. It had grown to 256 acres.

1833- William James Atkinson owned and farmed a property designated as "Marlow Bottom Farm" of 305 acres. He continued to live elsewhere in Marlow however. For more on William and his family see here. William eventually, as described below, gave up the majority of his farm Marlow Bottom and let it out to others instead. The farm thereafter is usually given as much smaller as he kept some land back for himself. He may also have let portions of land to tenants other than the main farm occupier. 

1838- 1843 James and David Webb who were brothers, the sons of Richard and Mary Webb above. (Clayton property) In 1841 John Perry and Henry Green were fined for poaching on their land. The Perry family were notorious poachers. For more on them see my post here. In 1842 the two Webbs went bankrupt. Amongst money owed was to the parish for unpaid poor rate taxes. They had to sell off their horses, implements and crops of hay, wheat and turnips but obviously managed to continue at the farm for some while as both were still farming there 1843 and David at least was still at the farm when he died in 1846. Warrants were out for their arrest in 1842 because of the tax issue. At the same time there was a warrant out for David's arrest over an alleged assault of Eliza Frith. I don't know what happened about the latter charge. James and David also occupied Burford Farm Marlow Bottom until ejected by their landlords in 1843. In addition they farm 90 acres at Hill Farm. 

1844-46 David and James Webb (Clayton portion) David died in 1846 while away visiting his brother Alexander. James continued the farm until Michaelmas 1847. 

1848- Crops sold off, barley, wheat, oats from the farm of William James Atkinson "Marlow Bottom Farm". He continued to farm a small amount of land here until his death in 1850 when his property descended to his nephew Benjamin Atkinson who owned the farm until at least 1862. In that year he also owned and let let out Town End farm in Marlow. Benjamin is covered in detail in this post. 

1851- John Miller. Wife Mary. Mary raised the fowls on the farm, two chickens were stolen from her in 1853. I am unsure of whether he was at the Clayton or Atkinson owned "Marlow Bottom Farm".  John gave evidence at a hearing on local political corruption -see here.

1854 - 1860 Mary Miller, by then a widow, left and sold up her crops of barley, clover, peas and chaff as well as her stock of poultry. Ducks were stolen from her that year, as was a sack. For the latter offence Charles Frith was sentenced to a month in jail.;Yep, for stealing a sack. Mary died in Kilburn London in 1865. 

1860-1863 George Wells. He fell out significantly with a Mr Hall who had bought some of Mary Miller's crops which were still on the farm when Wells tried to come in as a tenant. Plus Mary Miller was still in the house and wasn't giving him the keys to his barns. His issues with Hall led to a suit in court, a counter suit for slander and then more suits. George Cannon the bookseller and chemist of Marlow High Street, unfortunate mutual friend of both parties, tried very hard to mediate but was ultimately unsuccessful. No wonder Mr Wells didn't stick around for long. He must have been sick of the sight of that stressful farm! Presumably George was at the Clayton owned farm.

1862- Benjamin Atkinson as owner farmed his "Marlow Bottom Farm" himself for a while but decided to give it up and put it up to let again in 1862. He was a doctor and did not reside at the farm at any point. It took until 1863 to get a new tenant. Benjamin said that he was giving up farming altogether so sold off the stock of both his Marlow Bottom Farm and Town End Farm in 1862. He held the farm until his death however with tenant's running it. Following his death in 1867 his widow Eliza held it. By 1880 she had a bailiff Mr Daniel Goodwin running things for her rather than renting it out to a tenant. He lived on site.

1863-1871 William Spiller. Not sure if he was at the Clayton or Atkinson owned farm but most likely Spiller was a tenant of Atkinson's as his arrival fits with Atkinson's relinquishing agricultural pursuits himself. Spiller's farm was mostly arable. He was fined 20 shillings for beating a boy who worked for him for disobeying him [Reading Mercury 14th July 1866, British Library].  The next year he was fined for employing a boy called Robert Twitchen aged just 10 years old as a carter! All but one of William's hens were stolen from the hen house in 1869. Left once his lease was up.

1870- A "Marlow Bottom Farm" is described as having a newly erected farmhouse and as being a corn and sheep farm. The farm is said to be in some sources 150 acres and in others 318 acres. It's never simple when it comes to tracing the history of the farms there! It would seem there were still two farms and sources were getting confused between them as to acreage.

1871-1880 Joseph Birch. Wife Emma. In 1874 John Todd of Marlow was fined for taking turnip greens from Joseph's field. Joseph went bankrupt in 1878 but seems to have managed to stay at the farm for a while afterwards. He was jailed in 1879 for several months after it was revealed he has attempted to move and conceal some of his property from his creditors. The main creditors were the executors of his late father to whom he owed £500 (perhaps a loan to start up farming?). They had one night forcibly removed much of his farm stock, horses and equipment so they could auction them off, effectively ruining him as a farmer and forcing the bankruptcy. He tried to keep back items such as his wife's piano. As he couldn't pay his rent his household furniture and crop of hay was seized by his unknown landlord. Joseph and Emma left Marlow for Chesham in 1880.

1878 - "Marlow Bottom Farm" for sale - but which one! Described as a "capital sheep and corn farm" with "dry and healthy land". Offered with modern farm house, 5 labourers' cottages and a little over 315 acres.  Same year another "Marlow Bottom Farm" containing 140 acres of land and woodland and a farmhouse is up to let. Told you things were complicated. The farm with 140 acres was put up for sale the next year but only a minor part of the land was sold.

1881 - A "Marlow Bottom Farm" now of only 86 acres was up for sale- arable, pasture and woodland with an orchard and farm house. Vacant possession. Perhaps this was the 140 acre farm which the owner attempted to sale in 1878 minus the little bit of land successfully sold at that time.

1881 in July Mr E.B Curtis entered into the "Marlow Bottom Farm" previously owned by Mrs Atkinson and was still there a year later. He knocked two workers cottagers into one for his farm bailiff to live in. Bailiffs were most often seen at farms where the owner or tenant reduced elsewhere but Mr Curtis did live in Marlow Bottom. He and his farm bailiff Daniel Goodwin couldn't get along and they parted company in under a year. It ended up in a court case in which Curtis was found to have given Goodwin insufficient notice when he fired him. This Goodwin was the same bailiff that had worked on the farm for Mrs Atkinson.

1888- a Mr Chilton at "Marlow Bottom Farm" but which one?

1884 - 1902 Henry White. Originally from Cornwall. Raised chickens, bees and field crops at "Marlow Bottom Farm" but which one?

1903- 1921 William Chappell. His wife offered rooms at the farm to rent to tourists. They seem to have taken over the premises of Henry White. Kept cattle, poultry, pigs. In 1906 their employee John Lovegrove had to have his thumb amputated after his bird scaring gun exploded in his hand. This farm was sold by unknown owner 1921.

1931-34 Mr F.C Mathews, a supporter of the Working Men's College of London. He invited some of the unemployed men training there to a summer holiday camp on the farm in 1933. Apparently gave up resting chickens on the farm in 1931 as he sold off all his stock and equipment. A Great Marlow Parish councillor.

1934 Mr William Ray Coryton of Marlow Bottom Farm had a serious fire in his farmhouse gutting a bedroom, dining room, the stairs and the hall. Two firefighters from Marlow Fire Brigade were injured in the attempt to control the fire. There was no water but a small well with which to fight the flames. Report Bucks Free Press 14th December 1934, Bucks Free Press Archives.

1938- poor boys from London brought here for a camping holiday. Alfred Arnold was the occupier, as he was in 1939 though he was described as a grocer rather a farmer. It is possible that the other former "Marlow Bottom Farm" had become Cranes Poultry Farm which appears at Marlow Bottom on the 1939 Register (Ancestry). Scout groups had held summer camps at the farm regularly for some years.

Farm occupier listings are compiled by me by cross referencing property records, ads, trade journals, censuses, wills, court cases and more.

To look for other people on the blog use the Person Index option on the top menu. There are over 10,000 people listed there. 

For other posts related to Marlow Bottom and nearby see here

Lots more farm occupier lists to come on the blog for both Great Marlow and Little Marlow areas.  Use the Specific Shops, Streets Etc option on the top drop down menu to find other farming related posts.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

The Marlow Turnpike Toll Gates

This post isn't about the history of the Turnpike trusts and roads but we will give a quick mention of the toll gates within or close to Marlow to answer a specific query. The Great Marlow and Stokenchurch Turnpike Trust was incorporated in 1791 to deal with the 8 and a half mile stretch of toll road between the two towns. (In its previous state it was described as in a  "very ruinous" condition and too narrow in places.) This was renewed every 21 years until 1851, when no application for renewal was made. The trustees had indicated that they wished to be relieved of their duties and that the position of the trust was no longer sustainable. The level of tolls collected had dropped significantly and so the income was no longer sufficient to pay for the maintenance of the road. The railway was blamed for this decline, rightly or wrongly. The two toll gates on this road were known as the Well End and Holly Gates. The former was in Marlow, as Well End at this time refered to Dean Street as well as the village near Little Marlow. Later the road is described as having "several" toll gates. There were also gates on the Hatfield turnpike road at Bisham, at the junction of Little Marlow and Wycombe Roads (Chapel End), and at Greenlands towards Henley and so on.*

The Well End/Dean Street gate location is uncertain. It is on at least one occasion called the Seymour Court gate. But in 1840 the newly built Bank of England public house in Dean Street, (near the junction with Queens Road) was described as "eligibly situated at entrance of the flourishing and improving market town of Marlow near the turnpike on the Oxford Rd". In this instance, they do not mean our modern Oxford Rd, then usually called Oxford Lane, but the road to Stokenchurch which was then in Oxfordshire. Might the gate have been about where Berwick Lane begins now? The toll house keeper of 1838 George Clark, was the first proprietor of the Bank of England of England. Perhaps he saw a way to a money-spinner, refreshments right near the toll gate!  In June 1831 Richard Webb had purchased the cottage "formerly occupied by Mr Oxlade, now used as the toll house at Well End" for £200. The property was sold by the trustees of Dr John Brown but the ownership of this toll house seems to have been contentious before this. The trustees had notified the Turnpike Trust of their ownership of the property in 1828/9 so perhaps the latter were subtenants? As it was successfully sold by the trustees a little later, their claim was presumably substantiated. 

The toll gate at Aggleton Green (Aggerton) was also in Marlow, this referring to old name for Dedmere Rd end area of what we call Station Rd. This is advertised as up to let (or rather the ability to collect tolls there was up for auction) along with the Marlow Toll Gate in 1780 and for a few years afterwards - the Marlow gate being the Wycombe / Little Marlow Road one. Why was the Aggleton gate there? It is not seemingly located on one of the major routes into town although Dedmere ("Dudmere" "Deadmere" ) was referred to as a highway. Later on complaints were sometimes made that people tried to avoid using Little Marlow Road, for example to escape the tollgate further on, or take a short cut. They used what was intended as service "roads"  for those farming the Marlow Fields (common fields). So perhaps the tollgate at Aggleton was to cut off this potential getaway. Presumably it then became uneconomic to maintain this secondary gate. It is probably the side gate referred to in a newspaper article of 1832 which says the side gate had been erected by the trustees of the Hatfield turnpike trust to prevent toll evasion. It had then been removed for 3 years.  In 1878, we are told the former toll house in Station Rd has gone and has been replaced by a house. The very first keeper there, Richard Guy,  was required to be present only during the daytime and so was not given a house as such but "sufficient lodgings" were found for him. He recieved 2s6d a week for his part time role. 

The leases of the Turnpike toll gates tended to be short, just for a year often, 3 years at most. Finding someone reliable for the job seems to have caused much angst. For example in 1787 the lease of Bisham toll gate was cancelled because the incumbent had failed to perform his duties. He could keep the profit of the tolls but had to meet the expense of collecting them, eg paying someone to do the physical collection if not himself. This time around the leasee would have to pay 1 months rent in advance. And in 1789, a notice for the auction of the Marlow toll gates (plural) states that the current occupiers need not reapply unless they had settled their rent arrears. William Croxon, who operated both the Holly and Well End Gates in 1849, was also sued for rents owed. The money that could be made by the toll keepers gradually declined but in 1830 it was stated that £110 profit had been made from the gates on the Marlow - Stokenchurch turnpike road, over the costs of collecting them. 

 In 1831, it was agreed to remove the gate at the Wycombe and Little Road junctions, also known as the Chapel End gate. It had been the subject of constant bickering. Inhabitants of Marlow technically had the right to pass through without payment, but many complained that this was not what was happening in reality. The gatekeeper had been summoned for taking illegal tolls because of this. On the other hand, charges of riding through the Chapel End, Bisham and Well End/Dean Street gate without paying when required were common. The proximity of the Bisham and Chapel End gates was also an issue as some people complained they were unfairly charged twice for travelling on the same Turnpike Trusts short stretch of road. The gates were little more than a mile apart they said, and was it fair to pay a toll every mile? Deciding who should pay only once, or not at all caused yet more acrimony with accusations of unequal treatment and regulations not followed. The first toll taker at Chapel End Gate was shoemaker William Robinson who recieved 7s a week plus a house. 

I am not sure when the Aggleton/Aggerton gate passed out of active use. The tollgate house gets mentioned in passing in 1835, it's noted that part of some waste ground near The Pound (just past Marlow Place in what we call Station Road) was going to be enclosed to turn it into a garden for "the turnpike house". It may of course have passed into domestic use at this time. There are records of several now demolished 2 room cottages in the area in property deeds, wills etc so perhaps one will be identified as the old toll house in time. In the same year, the trustees of the Reading and Hatfield Turnpike Trust conveyed to W J Atkinson land in "Church Street" [Chapel Street] Great Marlow, for £156. The Atkinsons were at the Rookery so possibly this relates to land where the toll house or gate stood. At least one toll keeper at this gate recieved an allowance in lieu of accomodation. 

The toll gate keepers probably had a thankless job. They were referred to as greedy even though they were not the ones setting the toll fees or conditions. Poor Christopher Bain, a former sergeant and keeper of the Bisham Gate in 1866, was incensed when a rumour was circulated that he had attempted to charge even the Queen when she had passed through. Some said he had closed the "bar" eg prevented her carriage passing, until his demands for the payment of a toll had been met. He wrote to the local papers to clear his name. But many residents must have muttered that this sounded just the sort of thing a toll keeper would do! 

*Hatfield Turnpike Rd - In 1771 the newly opened Reading to Hatfield Turnpike Rd was advertised as offering a connection to the Bath road at Reading, and to a branch of the "Great North Rd" at Hatfield. It went via Henley, Wycombe, Amersham, Watford, and St Albans. The Upper Crown and the Crown and Broad Arrow inns at Marlow were both recommended by the Trust as places to get good post chaises, able horses and accommodation. (The Crown and Broad Arrow was the Lower Crown in the High Street.) In 1831 the Bisham Gate on this road took tolls worth £360 and the Greenland Gate £225. An example of the penalty you could get for avoiding the tollgates was the 12s fine including costs inflicted on George Wood in 1846 for evading the Greenlands gate. In 1770 the trustees through their secretary Mr Allnutt advertised for tenders to erect 50 milestones along the route. Capital letters were to be 3" high and a quarter inch deep, with smaller letters in proportion. The final meeting of the trustees was held in the petty sessions room at the police court in January 1882 to wind up its affairs. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related posts:

Marlow stagecoach services here

Trouble at the Toll House - convict William Neighbour here

For all mentions of an individual here, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. For other transport related posts, head for the General Marlow History listing here

SOURCES

Extract of the annual returns of the Great Marlow and Stokenchurch Turnpike Trust. Great Britain House of Commons. 1851, Vol 18

Conveyance of Well End Toll House, 1831. Commissioners appointed to direct and approve sales made by corporate bodies,  Oxford University Digital archive. 

Reading Mercury 19 March 1770, 17 May 1780, July 8 1771 British Library Archive,accessed via the BNA

Pigots Directory 1830, 1831,1842, 1844

Bucks Herald 3rd October 1840, as above

Bucks Chronicle and Bucks Gazette  24 November 1849, as above

Enrolment books, deposited with Clerk of the Peace, ref Q/RX 1835, Bucks Archives. 

Slaters Commercial Directory 1851

High Wycombe Directory and Handbook 1885

Dutton, Allen and Co Directory and Gazetteer 1869

Weekly News 30 September 1838, thanks to Riley Hammond. 

St James Chronicle  12 September 1839, digitised by Google. 

Reading Mercury 30 September 1830

Berkshire Chronicle May 20 1832

Journal of the House Of Commons August 1790 - December 1791, Great Britain House of Commons. 

Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News 11th April 1846, British Library Archive. 

Windsor and Eton Express 21 July 1832. As above. 

©Marlow Ancestors

Above two, marker to be found at Bisham, near the side turning for the church and school. 

This marker above can be found in Wycombe Road, Marlow. 

Other markers are just beyond Seymour Court Lane off Seymour Court Rd as you leave Marlow, and on the Henley Road near Hooks Corner. 

The Many Lives Of Riley Recreation Ground, Marlow

Riley Recreation ground has had a very colourful life. Now a park, it has spent much of its life under the ownership of the (Upper) Crown Inn/Hotel hence it's old name of Crown Meadow, or further back, Crown Close or the Crown Enclosure. Two of it's old uses are well known - a place for the horses to graze that pulled the fire engine (although other fields were also used) and as the first home for the Victorian Marlow FC. This post is mainly about some of the other events that have taken place there. It was bigger originally, and had more of a pronounced slope up to the Cambridge Road end, hence why football match reports refer to one team as having the disadvantage of having to kick uphill towards their goal, or the "Marefield Goal". 

It was sometimes the venue for early cricket matches, including one in the 1840's between teams rustled up by two rival gentleman to settle a wager. Another similar event on "Alms House Close" may be referring to the Crown Close too, but may also be related to a meadow elsewhere off Oxford Road, or Cambridge Road. A close in those days refers to an enclosed piece of land. It is no wonder the flatter Alder Meadow became the venue of choice in general. 

The meadow had it's most colourful appearance during the October Marlow Fair. It housed the horse drawn caravans and wagons belonging to the menageries hosting performances in Quoiting Square, and overspilling into Oxford Road and West Street (See note below). Lions, bears and elephants were all bought to perform in this cramped venue so it's no wonder that the menageries latter moved their marquees into the Crown Meadow itself. During the first day of the fair, the meadow saw the sale of cattle, pigs and sheep, before going over entirely to pleasure use on day two. You could find all kinds of steam organs, steam powered roundabouts and side shows there, as well as throughout the town centre. When the Fair as a street based concern was cancelled after 1903, the rides and sideshows continued to come to the meadow for what was left of the Fair, with others going to Star Meadow, off Wycombe Road. They continued here until the eve of the first world war. But the site was the home to roundabouts, menageries and travelling theatres outside of fair time for well over 100 years. Some of the attractions were of the "one night only" kind, others stayed quite literally months, slotted in outside of the football clubs playing area - mostly. Beaches Roundabouts were for example a frequent visitor around the end of the 19th century and into the 20th. 

Sadly, one showman died on Crown Meadow in 1893. Henry John Hall of Uxbridge was a circus and swing boat proprietor who had attended Marlow Fair for many years. On the year of his death, he was exhibiting in the meadow a month before the Fair. Normally regarded as being in good health, he was found unconscious on the floor of his caravan soon after returning from a short visit to the Red Lion. He was dead before Dr Dunbar Dickson arrived. Just 55 years old, he left a wife and a stunned fair community. 

The travelling theatres - mostly putting on shows of the comedic or sensationalist kind - were a feature of early fairs in particular but continued to visit well into the Edwardian period. Unfortunately for the theatre proprietors, the powers that be became stricter on the sort of wood and canvas structures thrown up as a venue, and some got slapped with fines for failing to erect a sufficiently safe, sanitary and sturdy structure. Mr Kings "People's Empire" was one such allegedly irregular construction in 1906. Those that passed muster sometimes stayed for an entire season, such as the Electric theatre that set up in Crown Meadow in July 1909. 

In 1893 the meadow saw a Grand Olympian Fete. The Olympics had yet to be resurrected so this was an event loosely inspired by the ancient games. There were athletic races, which cost a small fee to enter but gave the chance of winning a cash prize in turn. And side attractions included a brass band and a circus with trapeze artists, high wire acts and acrobats. After the sports came dancing, with refreshments provided by Mr Cole of the Crown. The day ended with a "grand illumination of coloured fires"  and a few fireworks at dusk. However those paying their entry fee to the privately organised event were allegedly left very disappointed as some of the advertised entertainers did not turn up. And the high wire artist had to cut short their act when the improperly constructed wire began to sag! The improvised stage was also rough and its security was doubted. One artiste who did attend was a man who kept his balance while running on top of a giant revolving globe, juggling various knives and balls. 

Lord Sangers Circus and Hippodrome was one outfit to set up here for a one night show on several occasions. It paraded through the town at mid day - complete with elephants -  before setting up a large marquee and canvas stabling in the meadow. Sangers were never one to modestly announce their arrival. The 1895 Marlow show was described by them as something to "eclipse anything of its kind that has ever been submitted to any nation in the world."  The display was of a "brilliant character" according to the local press and fully attended. There were two performances, one afternoon, one evening. There had been a minor scare when a circus caravan lost a wheel near the bridge but no one was hurt. Let's hope they didn't bring those poor hefty elephants over the delicate bridge itself! Other circuses to use the future Riley Park as their home include Fossett and Sons in 1901. 

A "Water Carnival" hosted in the meadow as part of a circus in 1894 resulted in a court summons for Oxford Lane resident Mr Bowles. He had been in the habit for some years past of allowing the circus and roundabout proprietors to take water from his house in order to tend to their horses and operate the rides. They came to his door with a water cart and filled up. But the number of gallons needed for a water carnival on the land locked site (exact details of what this involved are sadly sketchy) caught the attention of the Marlow Water Company Engineer John Soley. He saw the circus taking a water cart to Mr Bowles' home. While it seems they may have turned something of a blind eye usually, they could not on this occasion. The matter ended up in court as the Marlow Water Company said it was not permitted to re-sell or give to others the companies water piped to a domestic address. The supply was not on a meter then. However the company could not prove Mr Bowles had accepted any money for the water and what's more the magistrates said they did not think it was generally known it was against the rules to share your water supply. It seems the magistrates were certainly unaware of the restriction so could not expect an average householder to know so Mr Bowles was let off without any fine. Mrs Bowles was the one who came to court.

The shows and attractions sometimes caused an annoyance to the staff and patients at the Cottage Hospital in it's original position at Cambridge House, Cambridge Road. At the time, medical advice was often that patients should avoid any kind of over stimulation or noise, to the point of removing pictures from the sick room walls, and laying material on the road outside an afflicted persons home to deaden the sound of horses hooves. So the sound of a circus or fairground organ in the neighbourhood was genuinely regarded as potentially dangerous if too frequent. It's interesting to note that when the hospital moved to the Glade Road / Victoria Road site, it's relative quietness was considered a strong advantage. Cambridge Road saw more and more traffic all the time it was said. Those who were in favour of the hospital staying there, argued that although match days could be noisy, the loud organs and show booths no longer attended the meadow with such regularity as before. Mr Wethered thought this was because the children were now mad on visiting moving picture shows and traditional fairground type attractions were no longer so exciting to them. 

Such rides and booths were unlikely to get permission to set up when Edward Riley bought the meadow and the accompanying Crown Hotel in 1914. He donated it to the town, vesting it in some trustees which included himself. He intended the Hotel to continue and that it would provide an income to provide for the maintenance of the new recreation ground, in addition to other money left for that purpose. Unfortunately Edward died in September 1914 before the park opened, and it was decided to sell the Crown itself. (You can read more about Edward Riley here) The war, and the difficulty of selling the hotel meant the opening of the Meadow as Riley Recreation Ground was delayed until 1921. Marlow Urban District Council chairman Mr H Buckingham did the honours in front of a large crowd. It was not laid out as intended, but at last it was available for public use. The losers were Marlow FC who were told when Riley bought the meadow that they would not be allowed to continue playing there much longer. They eventually moved to Star Meadow of course, after playing some games in Porter's meadow by the train station. The loss of the "Crown Ground" made things harder still for Marlow's other more minor footie teams who had also played on the site, as well as on Star Meadow. The likes of Marlow Star, the Ramblers and Rangers now all had to compete for space on one main site along with hockey teams. The clubs large iron and wood grandstand, purchased from Hampshire Cricket Club/St Mary's FC, remained on the Crown ground after the meadows sale. It was presumably their intention to move it to a new permanent home when that was found, as it had after all already been dismantled to come long distance to Marlow in the first place. But as the regular football came to a halt in the First World War, and the new park was not yet ready to open, the stand stayed put until 1918, when it was sold for three times what the supporters syndicate had paid for it, as iron was now relatively scarce. The sale happened because the club could not at that time see when football would be restarted again on any sort of scale. It was purchased by a local builder and some of the profits invested in National War Bonds. During the First World War the Crown Ground was used by teams from the locally stationed armed forces playing in the military leagues. 

The residents of Cambridge and Crown Roads may not have been sorry to see the football go. It was a frequent cause of complaint that when Marlow played at home, men would obstruct the two roads by parking their vehicles in the highway there and standing on the carts etc hoping to get a free view of the action. Mr Hillsden was one Marlow man caught by PC Atkinson in 1899 doing just that, along with a number of out of town football fans. Others had departed too quickly for the constable to collar. In 1896 a creative group of men were summoned for blocking Cambridge Rd with ladders leant against the perimeter of the ground, to provide them with a birdseye view of the match. They were let off as they all said they didn't know that they were doing anything wrong and had immediately departed once spoken to. ( James Dormer, Daniel Clark, Frederick and William Price, James Edwards, William and James Tubb, Albert Toovey, and for standing on a parked cart, Nicholas White.) When Marlow moved to Star Meadow, such action would be unnecessary as the site was barely enclosed and anyone could get a good view of the match from the surrounding area! It was said that if Marlow hoped to gain any profits from match attendance in the future they would have to erect a canvas wall around the meadow to screen the match play from curious eyes. Visibility of a different kind was sometimes a problem at the Crown Ground. It's amazing how many matches are said to have been played in conditions of thick fog. "Good play was almost impossible" as one match report from 1890 had it, relating to a match played by the Marlow Ramblers on the ground Aka the Wednesday Ramblers. Matches could also be shortened for other reasons - such as the visiting team needing to catch an early train home in December 1888. On that occasion they just stopped playing after an hour. 

This post has only covered a few of the many many events held at the now Riley Recreation Ground. It had a role to play in Coronation and Jubilee Celebrations too which feature in their own posts. And it was a gathering place to start parades and marches, a venue for amateur athletic meets and Borlase school sports, it hosted agricultural shows...the list goes on. And all this before it became a public park. Marlow should say thank you not just to Riley for his gift, but the various proprietors of the Crown Inn and Hotel for allowing the use of the meadow for so many events, sometimes free of charge. 

Notes:

Some of the menageries known to have visited Crown Meadow specifically both in and out of fair time include: Edmonds Menagerie in the 1880's, Anderton and Haslam's show and menagerie in the 1890's, Wombwells/Bostock & Wombwells under various owners from the 1840's into the 20thc and so on. 

For information on a raid on circus workers performing on Crown Meadow during the First World War see this post here

And info on Captain Marshall's Marlow Menagerie here

SOURCES

Copies of the South Bucks Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Reading Mercury, Bucks Herald, Middlesex and Surrey Express, Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press, and Henley Advertiser held at the British Library, and newspaper cuttings supplied by Jane Pullinger. 

Evening Dispatch 08 January 1918, accessed via the BNA. 

Looking towards Cambridge Road

 Looking towards Oxford Rd

For more on Marlow Fair see the post here

And for a general history of The Crown - here

Higginson park early history - here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

© Marlow Ancestors

Perils Of A Short Neck- Burford Farm.

Burford Farm, Marlow Bottom.

Notes: original name sometimes given as Burford Hill Farm. Historic England states parts of the farm house building date from the 17th century. Records describe substantial alterations and re-fronting 1842/43. 

Description: 1813=177 acres arable. 1901=150 acres with optional 50 acres in a wood shooting land also available with the farm. Had then a staff cottage as well as a farmhouse.

Historic Occupiers, which were not usually in the past the same as the owners of the property:

1807- James Webb yeoman and Thomas Rolls (draper of Marlow High Street) jointly leased the farm. It seems James was the one who lived in the farmhouse. Was an arable farm with a fruit orchard then. Was likely  part of the former property of Dr John Browne, then managed by trustees from Oxford University for the latters benefit. 

1813-1832 Richard Webb. Died in 1832. Wife Mary. See post here  on Marlow Bottom Farm (which he also leased) for a great deal more about him, his link to the Swing Riots, plus links to Kathryn's good graves photo post for him and other family members etc. To read about a man executed for stealing Richard's horse see here 

1838-1843. James and David Webb sons of Richard and Mary above. Fell into bankruptcy 1842 and evicted 1843. (A warrant for commitment for both was issued in 1842 as they hadn't paid their church rates. A little later they were still at large despite apparently remaining in the neighborhood.) For much more on them including gravestone links for David see my previous posts on Marlow Bottom Farm which they also occupied. Oak, beech and ash wood plus elm and walnut trees was sold off from woodland ("Great and Little Hatchet") attached to the farm in 1842.

1843-1849 Richard King. Non resident as he also had Widmere Farm, Marlow see here for more about him. Previously at Chisbridge Farm. Wife Sarah. Richard died 1849.

1849-1851 Sarah King. She left and sold off stock in 1851. Lived at Widmere Farm. See post linked above. Amongst the items sold were ricks of wheat, cast iron pig troughs, 7 young horses, plough harnesses for 4 horses, 4 light market wagons, 4 strong dung carts, a gig and the usual selection of ploughs, harrows, etc. 

1854-1857 Thomas Brangwin. He was given notice to leave in 1854 however he must have got an extension to his lease as he was still at the farm in January 1857 when he died. He was found lying unconscious on a footpath near his home early one morning having been gone all night and died hours later never having been able to regain his speech.. The resulting inquest concluded that he had died from "a visitation of God" by way of apoplexy. He was prone to apoplectic fits the inquest heard as he had "a peculiarly short neck" [Reading Mercury 24th January 1857, via the BNA and British Library partnership and Bucks Free Press 27th January 1857, Bucks Free Press Archives.]. Used the farm for arable and pig farming principally. His third wife Sarah Ann died 1859 aged 43 in Andover Hampshire after "a long and painful illness".

1861- 1865 William Rowles. His dad was also a farmer. Returned to his native Oxfordshire to farm. Seems to have had some trouble with his servants, as he went to the local magistrates on several occasions to complain his yearly hires were neglecting their work - this was at the time regarded as a legal issue. For example in 1865 James Grimshaw and Thomas Plumridge were summoned for absenting themselves from their work. An Order was made for £2 and £1 respectively to be deducted from their Michaelmas bonus money in punishment. In 1863 following a reassessment of properties in the whole of Great Marlow parish William's poor rates  (tax) rose from £6 13 shillings a year to £11 18 shillings. He grew wheat, oats, barley and beans on the farm as well as raising poultry, pigs and sheep.

1865- 1868 Henry Thomas Proctor. Oats and some sacks stolen from him in 1868. Married 1865 St Clement Danes London, to  Lucy. Pays rent of £260 per annum for the farm.

1869-1875 Francis W Islip. He used the farm to grow corn, clover and hay. Just 23 in 1869. He retired from farming, was a merchant briefly then lived on his own means in his native Leicestershire where he married his wife Priscilla and was a strong supporter of Liberal politicians and frequent donator to charity.

[1875-1877  One source suggests that William Curtis had sub let the farm to Thomas Owen Wethered, but later it's definitely Wethered who is the tenant, subletting to Curtis]

1875- 1881 William Curtis. The Misses Curtis ran a boarding school for small boys in the farm house in 1881. These were William's sisters Martha and Alice. They moved their school to Cambridge House, Cambridge Road later that year. For more about this and 69 (and counting!) other historic Marlow schools see here.

1902- 1904 Mr and Mrs Sealy. Left and sold off farm stock 1904.

1905- 1920+ Nicholas Ernest White. Arable farm but also won several prizes for pigs he kept. His wife Agnes let rooms at the farm to tourists. She died aged just 47 in 1916.

1939- farm house then a private residence.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Farm occupancies are determined by me by cross referencing property records, adverts, trade journals, court cases, censuses etc

© Marlow Ancestors. Credit this blog if using this original research but you are welcome to do so for family or local history purposes.

Atkinsons of The Rookery Marlow *Updated Jan 2024*

Above pic: Rookery Lodge. The main house has been demolished. 

Benjamin Atkinson inherited freehold and copyhold land in Marlow from his cousin William James Atkinson* after William died in 1849. William was a barrister though he also got some income from owning land in Marlow, Marlow Bottom and Handy Cross in Buckinghamshire as well as in Kent. Despite his farming interests he only defined himself as a barrister in every record I have found. He also served as a J.P. 

William split his time between his house in Chapel Street Marlow and one in London. Without children himself he decided to make Benjamin his heir, and made it a condition of the inheritance that if Benjamin had no children the son of Benjamin's sister Mary Ann would inherit.

William's maternal grandfather owned a reasonable amount of Marlow property. Some of this provided an income to William's mother and I think that William may have inherited some of the property, including some in the vicinity of the Rookery from him however I am only about a third of the way through the man's GARGANTUAN and complex will, so it'll be a while before I can judge that. It is without doubt the longest will I have ever transcribed, and believe me I've battled through plenty! The Kentish property of William James did definitely come via that grandfather. 

As well as the site of the Rookery and farm lands Benjamin inherited 7 cottages in Chapel Street from William James.

In 1833 William's Rookery was described as a house with lawns, flower garden, yard, walks, kitchen garden, stables, coach yard and house, sheds, orchard and "a garden opposite".

On the 1841 census William has 3 live in servants to look after the house.

According to Victorian visitors, it was only during Benjamin's time that The Rookery became known as such (because rooks nested in the trees there). Interestingly a Joseph Heath, gentleman farmer, had a house in Marlow called the Rookery back in 1813, and later references to the Heath family's Rookery do not seek to clarify that it was a different house to the Atkinson's Rookery. That being said I believe that the Heath home was along the river near Mill End rather than in Chapel Street.

By the way the Heath family of Marlow, West Wycombe, Mill End and Ewelme, were very interesting. Well worth a delve into the archives!

 It was the understanding of Victorian visitors to the Rookery that Benjamin's house had been originally created out of an ancient hermitage which in between times had been a farmhouse. Hermitage or not they said it was certainly an 11th century building at its core but with a more "modern" outer appearance, by far the oldest building in Marlow. It will be interesting if archaeological digs on site can expand on this further. To date remains from that period haven't been uncovered on the Rookery site by modern archaeologists. However, in 1877 it was reported that workman digging foundations for the new range of stables had discovered numerous interesting items which were believed to have come from the Hermitage / Chapel.  These included some 11th century silver coins, a silver seal, a stone "mantelpiece" and parts of several stone columns. 

So what of the man himself?

Benjamin was born in London in 1803 the son of a wealthy apothecary and surgeon Benjamin senior, who had previously owned property in Marlow himself, and  Judith (née Norman). Benjamin junior became a surgeon and apothecary in partnership with his father. Originally practising in Lombard Street, but residing in Nicholas Street London, sometime after 1824 Benjamin Senior moved to King William Street there. At number 12 the two Benjamin's would carry on their business until Benjamin Senior's retirement in 1837. After that his son practised with the help of a hired assistant. Benjamin junior concentrated on the surgery side of things though.  Officially he remained an apothecary as well. He also received income as medical adviser to a life assurance company.

Benjamin Senior died in 1840, with his son his heir. Judith had predeceased him. 

In 1849 Benjamin junior married Eliza Griffin, a woman significantly younger than him. 

At some point in the 1850s -on or after 1854- they made the Rookery their main home.

Benjamin also owned Town End (adjacent to the Rookery and sometimes called Rookery Farm, not to be confused with Town Farm, West Street) and Marlow Bottom Farms, as well as fields scattered about and although he employed people to actually run the farms for him on a day to day basis he was actively involved in them. At Marlow Bottom there was corn, wheat, barley, poultry and a big income from timber plantations - elm, beech, oak and ash.

Above, 1839 map of an estate sale, showing also a small selection of Atkinson held land in Marlow Fields. 

Benjamin's warm mutual relationship with his employees was well known in the town as were the Harvest Home celebrations he treated them to. He was revolutionary in his outspoken belief that your employees should be treated as your friends. To read about the famous Harvest Home celebrations held in the Rookery see here. No doubt he had heard tales of the time in 1830 when his uncle William had received one of the infamous "Swing letters" during the machine breaking riots. You can read about the events in Marlow here

Overall I'd say he was probably a nice man. One day a week he saw local poor people for free at the Rookery for surgical consults. The South Bucks Free Press reported in 1859 a queue of 50 for his free services.  

He comes across as a more compassionate J.P than the 1800s norm too when sitting at the Marlow police court. He criticised prosecutors for shouting at witnesses and showed compassion several times in his sentencing.

On numerous occasions he himself became a victim of crime. Using land at Marlow Bottom was never a good idea for anyone wanting to hold onto their crops or livestock -it was Marlow's rural crime hot spot in the 1800s! The worst theft suffered by him was that of a horse. However, for once, that event was not at Marlow Bottom. Cousin William had suffered at least two thefts himself. On another occasion he and his steward found a poor, apparently Scandinavian, tramp who had hung himself from a tree on William's land.

Benjamin died at the Rookery in 1867 leaving Eliza to a long widowhood. They had no children so as per William James Atkinson's instructions the Rookery descended to Benjamin's nephew Henry James Norman Layton (who bought New Court in Marlow in 1880 but lived usually in London). Eliza was allowed to live at the Rookery until her death. She was one of the more prominent people in later Victorian Marlow. Medical affairs were clearly important to her as she was on the committee of the St John's Ambulance and an official Lady Visitor to the cottage hospital of which she was one of the most dedicated financial supporters. To add to that she was a champion of the local fire brigade, numerous flower shows, the church choir and the foundation of a water works for Marlow. In her younger days she was one of the official Lady Patronesses of the balls held in the Town Hall. An interest in gardening especially in the cultivation of apples and pears also kept her busy.

It seems she was going to give up the house in 1880, but in the end did not. The same year her husband's heir bought New Court in the town as I have already said. Perhaps he had decided he wanted to own a house he could personally occupy in Marlow, and Eliza agreed to give up occupation of his inheritance but this became unnecessary when he found out New Court was for sale?

Eliza died in 1900 while on a visit to Folkestone taken for the hopeful benefit of healthy sea air. She had been suffering from failing health and eyesight for some years, and never fully recovered the effects of  an otherwise successful cataract operation. Eliza was bought back to Marlow for burial beside her husband at All Saints. 

The Rookery house is long gone but part of the garden is now a park (Wrightlands) to the rear of existing buildings in Chapel Street, and a stable block and lodge still stand.

*William donated a stained glass window to the then newly (re) built parish church in 1834. 

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. Additional research Kathryn Day (1877 finds update)

To find all mentions of ancestors on the blog choose the Person Index option on the top drop down menu.

More Chapel Street content can be found under the "Specific Shops, Streets etc" option on the menu.

Other medical related posts (selected)- find others listed on the General Marlow History option on the menu.

Call the Apothecary here

Marlow (Forgotten) Hero Nurse Cassidy here

Matron Mary Cole here

Marlow Heroes John and Emily Dunbar Dickson here

Midwife Sarah Price here

A full list can be found under the General Marlow History option on the top drop down menu.

© Marlow Ancestors. Please give credit and a link here if using this research (so that the source citations are not lost from the information) but you are free to do so for any family and local history research purposes.

Research sources:

Copies of original wills obtained from the Nation Archives, Kew and transcribed by me.

Property deeds at Somerset Heritage Centre 

1833 Parochial Assessment, original record held by my family and transcribed by me.

Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the late John Coakley by Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (1817).

1841, 1851, 1871 and 1881 censuses from my transcription of images on LDS family centre microfilm back from when that was how you viewed such things!

1861 census info transcribed from page image from Ancestry UK accessed May 2016. 

Parish registers at London Metropolitan Archives.

Death and marriage certificates from the GRO. 

Bucks Herald 23rd Feb 1884 [Eliza's connection to the water works] copy held at the British Library via the BNA. Accessed January 2020.

Bucks Herald 29th July 1865 [Benjamin's horse stolen] via the BNA. Accessed January 2020. 6th Jan 1877. 

South Bucks Free Press 3rd September 1859. As above. [Queue for free care]

Oxford University and City Journal.