Blue Flag / Old Blue Flag Handy Cross

Today we would probably call this near High Wycombe but Handy Cross was historically in Great Marlow parish.

Property owned by the Clayton family and leased by Wethered's Brewery of Marlow. Sometimes referred to as The Blue Standard. 

 Landlords listing and history timeline:

1833 - William Earis. Premises consisted of a house, adjoining cottage and shoeing forge for a blacksmith. The surname Earis is a very Handy Cross one. It also occurs as Earys, Ayres, Eyres, Ayris, Airis, Aris etc.

1840-Mrs Earis keeps a shop at Handy cross (beer shop?)

1841 - The scene of a meeting of Liberal supporters (known as the Blues) after the election at Great Marlow. Clayton who owned the property was the successful Liberal candidate. The name of the beer house is definitely not a coincidence! The celebration was however premature as Clayton had a majority of just 1 and the  election result was over turned when some of the votes were considered invalid. A Tory candidate then overtook him in the polls and he lost the seat. 

1842 Susanna Earis widow of William of the Blue Flag died age 64. She may be the Mrs Earis who was a shop keeper at Handy Cross in 1840. In this instance "shop" may mean beer shop. Though in 1844 a Joseph Earis, (her son?) was running a grocers shop at Handy Cross and getting in trouble for selling alcohol in it without a licence.

1845 "Old Blue Flag"  - Joseph Earis. Wife Mary Ann nee Beesley. Joseph wants to press charges against three men who he says assaults his wife, her brother and her father at the beer shop. However the case is dismissed as it's considered all were as much to blame as each other. The Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News adds they considered that this was a "beer shop quarrel" caused by the "bad temper" of the landlord and wife. [October 25th 1845]

1863-64 = James Clarke / Clark.  James was an inveterate poacher! In 1863 for example he was fined for being in possession of a pheasant which he said he'd come across on the side of the road. Such things were happening to James a little too often go convince the authorities! In a previous case the same year he was accused by the magistrates of keeping his house open "for the purpose of concocting robberies".   They lamented they did not have the power to take away his licence. On the 1861 census he was a shepherd at Handy Cross with his wife Elizabeth who was a dressmaker.

1868 - William Harper

1869- Brewery were struggling to find a licensee sufficiently respectable for the magistrates to approve of. Sam Beasley has to try three times for the transfer before it's accepted. 

1869-72 Samuel Beasley / Beesley. Wife Mary. In 1870 Samuel's gun, knife and handkerchief were amongst other articles stolen from his premises (Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News 23rd October 1870). The thief was caught and earned 18 months in prison.  Samuel may have sold groceries on the premises too. The Beasleys took over the Royal Oak High Wycombe in 1874 and remained there until 1877.

1873- the police try to get the premises closed, saying it did not meet the minimum size requirements for an alcohol licence. Two adjoining cottages were being used for the business but their combined size couldn't be allowed to count, the police argued, as there was no door or other communication between the two cottages. The magistrate at the licensing hearing offered the brewery (Wethereds of Marlow) a chance to have the property surveyed and revalued but they said they were not bothered about keeping it open as they had the bigger Blacksmith's Arms also at Handy Cross. Yet the Blue Flag at Handy Cross is still mentioned as late as 1902. It is possible it continued as a lodging house only. Many of these had pub-like names and signs. 

1875- premises used for an agricultural auction.

1902- Last known mention of the Blue Flag, Handy Cross as existing (South Bucks Standard 4th July 1902).

Landlords and history of the nearby Blacksmith's Arms, Handy Cross here

Index of pub related posts on this blog here. Contains pubs Great Marlow, Little Marlow, Lane End, Medmenham, Well End.

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

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

Will Summary Hierom Gregory of Little Marlow 1675

Transcription by me from a will held at the National Archives, Kew and then summarised here. If you use this summary please credit to this blog but please feel free to do so.

HIEROM GREGORY, CURATE, OF LITTLE MARLOW. WILL PROVED 1675. WRITTEN 1674. [Note in other records name can be given as Hieron but is usually Hierom]

Says he weak in body but of good and perfect mind and memory.

Puts soul into hands of Almighty God.

To be buried at discretion of his executor who is his son Isaac.

Oldest son Hierom excused debt he owes plus given 5 shillings.

Edward Dunkley husband of testator's daughter Hannah excused £20 debt he owes him.

John Dunkley son of the above given £5 for his apprenticeship.

Testator's daughter Rebecca Beesley, wife of Thomas Beesley, clerk*, £50 plus household goods comprising [amongst some things I could not make out] 2 silver spoons, one dozen of the best napkins, a featherbed, 2 feather bolsters, 2 pillows, 2 pillow covers, the best sheets, 2 joined stools, the great green chair, the low red chair and a needlework cushion. Thomas himself got "the first act from the Book of Martyrs" and all Latin books testator has.

Grandchildren Charles, John and Hannah Beesley £5 each.

Daughter in law * Sarah Mark £5

Kinswoman Anne Slaughter £5

Rest of goods and chattels to son Isaac who is the executor.

Will overseers his loving brother William Bailey of Oxford and kinsman Jeremy Gregory citizen of London.

Witnessed by John Cook and Elizabeth Bulter.

*Language has changed since the 1600s. Be aware the term clerk meant vicar as well as someone in administration. The term daughter in law was used for both a step child and for a woman married to your son. As I have not researched this family further I can't say what is meant specifically by the writer of this will.

Most wills of this period had both executors and overseers. To be excused a debt you owed the will writer was also common.

Will transcription and post by Charlotte Day.

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So far this blog contains mention of

125

people from or associated with Marlow.