By Rail And By Road - Mr James and Mr Pearce

 Today's post is dedicated to two Marlow gentleman who helped our Victorian ancestors get from A to B. Picked at random to feature here, both were actually born elsewhere. They were however most definitely adopted as two of Marlow's own as you shall see. Allow me to introduce you to Mr Joseph James, railway guard, and to Mr Thomas Pearce, postillion and fly proprietor...

First up we will take Thomas Pearce. Born c 1819 at Wargrave, Thomas really comes into our towns history when he was working in the position of postillion at the Crown Hotel in the 1860s. A postillion or postboy acts like a coachman but instead of sitting on the vehicle, he guides the course while riding one of the horses pulling it. The vehicles Thomas were in charge of were ones you could hire privately to leave at a time of your choosing, rather than following a set route and timetable. The Crown was the premier inn in Marlow at this time and the town was already receiving a large number of visitors as tourists from London and elsewhere. It still advertised itself as a "posting house" that is a place where post horses could be hired, although the railways were cutting demand for this kind of travel. Still Marlow did not yet have its own station so there was still a living to be had as a postillion - for now. The Crown employed more than one post boy as obviously each could only take charge of one team at once. I think he'd already left the Crown by the time Marlow station did open in 1873, but he did not choose a wildly different kind of job in his later years because he became a "fly proprietor". A fly was a nippy light vehicle acting as a kind of horse drawn taxi you could hire with a driver. There were quiet a few of these in Marlow, many based at an inn which had the stabling and vehicle storage space to hand. I haven't been able to attach Thomas to one of these premises - at census time he was living in Spittal Street / Square and his yard may or may not have been accessed off there too. I have also noticed that some fly masters had arrangements with one of the inns or hotels who didn't want to maintain their own vehicles, to provide transport for their guests. "Proprietor" tells us that Thomas owned his own vehicle(s) rather than driving them for someone else. He may have acted as the driver too as this seems common, especially in the smaller hiring concerns. He may well have had just one vehicle at his disposal for the reason mentioned below.  

In 1892 an interesting appeal appeared in the local papers. It was noted that the popular Thomas had fallen on hard times. His horse had had to be put down and it does not seem that he was immediately able to afford to replace it. His fly was also regarded as needing renovation. Had he suffered an accident that had damaged both horse and vehicle? I'm not sure as his name isn't attached to any accident I can find a report of. Regardless of the cause, a fly proprietor with no horse and a dodgy vehicle was obviously in a dire situation. He was about 73 years old too, so not the easiest time to start over. An appeal was made to raise a subscription to fund the purchase of a new horse, and to renovate the fly. They thought as one of the oldest residents in the town, he deserved a helping hand. I presume the appeal was successful and Thomas was able to continue while he was able. 

Joseph James

Joseph James was also born outside of Bucks. He was baptised in Dorset in 1837, although his then wife Hannah was Marlow born. Joseph would have been a well known face to anyone who ever used the train in late Victorian Marlow. He was the guard who bought the first ever train across the branch line from Bourne End to Marlow's new station in June 1873. In the first 10 days of the branch line opening 1,700 tickets were sold so it's fair to say Joseph was kept busy. Huge crowds gathered to watch the first train come in, and depart. The following year, the line recorded its first fatality in the form of the frail and elderly Mrs Lydia Price, who fell off the platform and between the carriages while the train was being shunted backwards at Bourne End. More on Lydia here.

As Joseph was the guard who'd given the "all clear" signal to the driver to move the train, he had to attend the inquest and give evidence. He was cleared of any blame for the accident, as the witnesses agreed that Joseph had checked the sides of the train were free of passengers before giving the signal. It seems the poor lady had left the train and then suddenly remembered a few minutes later that she had left a package in the carriage and had stepped forward and put her foot on the step just as it moved. Joseph got her out from the gap she'd fallen into, and although she was conscious at the time, she sadly was seriously injured and died a few days later "in agony". A special train bought the injured lady back to Marlow. 

Most days were obviously not so eventful, although this would not be the only death on the line by any means during Joseph's time. More usual troubles were those failing to buy a ticket or travelling for free beyond the destination they'd paid for. And at regatta time, Joseph's biggest problem was finding room for all those wanting to travel, and keeping an eye out for the inevitable pick pockets. Special trains were put on but even so the number of passengers is sometimes eye-watering. 

Joseph continued to act as a guard on the Marlow line for some 25 years. At the time of his retirement in 1897, it was said his conduct was marked by unfailing cordiality. He was then living in Victoria Rd, always a popular spot with railway employees. (His sons Joseph* and Ernest living with him were both employed on the railway too - Joseph as a clerk and Ernest as a porter). Joseph senior had been forced to retire due to serious illness so a subscription was raised in Marlow to help him, in recognition of his good customer service to local travellers. He died in 1899 age 63, leaving a widow and 6 children. 

*Joseph junior won a foundation scholarship to Borlase school in 1883. He was one of two boys selected from those from the local national schools who took the entrance exam. He would also spend his life working on the railways, retiring as Bourne End station master in 1933. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related information:

Crown Hotel timeline and landlord listing here

Historic Marlow coach services here

Stagecoaches and the Wyatt family here. 

Station masters who lived at Beaumont Rise here

Turnpike toll gates- here

Descriptions of railway related accidents resulting in victims receiving treatment at the Cottage Hospital here

To find all info about a family or individual here, check the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Posts related to travel, specific industries, and miscellaneous Marlow history etc can be found here

 Sources include: 

England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NR2D-Z76 : 5 February 2023), Joseph James, 1837

Great Marlow census returns, transcribed from the originals by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day. 

Kelly's Directory Buckinghamshire 1899

Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Aylesbury News - 4th September 1874, British Library Archive. 

South Bucks Standard 4th June 1897, as above. And clipping 1892, thanks to Mrs East. 

© MarlowAncestors

The Switzerland Of England - Spring Celebrations

In May 1849 the Crown (Crown Hotel / Upper Crown) in Marlow hosted a special Easter Ball. It wasn't the first but was one of the last held for that occasion. The room was decorated with a profusion of flowers, and the ladies attending also wore seasonal blooms. An appreciation of the natural beauty of the spring season is a recurring theme. 

The Switzerland of England

The blooming of the wild primroses was enthusiastically welcomed. The Winchbottom Lane area was one abundant in these pretty flowers and some families made it an annual springtime tradition to picnic there to enjoy them. In town, Holy Trinity Church yard was famously carpeted with flowers. 

The most popular outing was however to the sumptuous cherry orchards of Cookham Dean, which the South Bucks Standard thought was "rightly described as the Switzerland of England in all it's spring tide glory". (1906) It's hard for us to visualise the number of trees, and how resplendent the blossom would have been. But people travelled from all around the region to visit the trees, even coming from London to do so. 

Easter finery

Easter saw the churches decorated, traditionally with predominantly white flowers such as arum lillies. The gardeners at the "big houses" prided themselves in producing a selection of forced flowers for the ladies of the congregation to work their wonders with. Wildflowers were also gathered. At All Saints the font, screen, alter and pulpit were smothered in greenery, and Holy Trinity and St Peters had their own floral displays. The latter was also the scene of Canon Bernard Smith's annual famous donkey ride into the church interior - you can read more about this, and Bernard in a dedicated post here

Easter was also the time of the vestry meeting to choose new churchwardens. And Saturday of Easter week was the deadline for hopeful candidates for entry into the Blue Coat School (Borlase) to have got a "ticket" of application signed by the treasurer and committee members - boys only at this time.

The Primitive Methodist Chapel (now Liston Hall) usually had a Good Friday public tea in the Sunday school room followed by an entertainment with singing and music. The chapel choir provided the former and the chapel's piano and famous harmonium the latter. In 1900 the celebrations included a parade lead by the chapel band. All the proceeds went to the chapel building fund, a very long standing debt the Primitive Methodists suffered under. 

The Salvation Army had outdoor services, and marches including a "monster" (contemporary description) Easter parade in 1895. Other sounds of Easter came courtesy of the Marlow Town band who are mentioned as performing across town at Easter 1884 and the "usual" Easter morning peal of bells from All Saints. 

You could buy hot cross buns from the towns bakers such as West Streets Death and Sons who thought they had the very best in town. Deaths sounds a tasty place to visit in any season with mince pies another speciality. 

Football fun

The Easter Bank Holiday Monday was a traditional time for a football match, with Marlow playing at Crown Meadow, and the more minor teams  fitting in where they could (such as a meadow by the station and Gossmore). In 1896, Marlow saw the final of the Berks and Bucks Cup between Maidenhead and Wolverton on Easter Monday. The roads into town were said to be bustling with supporters making their way into town by horse, bicycle and on foot. Just under 3,500 fans were in attendance, and the club were delighted to collect more than £100 in gate money. 

A match of a different kind was played at Crown Meadow at Easter 1897 before a crowd of 500. A High Street v Rest of Marlow football match with all players playing in fancy dress. At least 3 of the men were dressed as ladies!* Not quite the image we sometimes have of staid Victorians! F W Burton captained the High Street and Geoffrey Hide the rest of Marlow.  The High Street lost 5-3. Costumes included cowboys, butchers, crusaders, and a Turkish soldier.  Funds raised were for the cottage hospital. 

Outside of football supporters, Easter saw a huge influx of visitors, especially by train. In good weather the numbers were reported to be sometimes large enough to cause lengthy delays on the railway because of the extra time taken to get everyone on and off the trains. Great Western Railway offered special cheap third class excursion tickets to Marlow from Paddington over Easter, with services running on Easter Sunday as well. In May 1890, all the hotels, inns and lodging houses in Marlow were said to be full, leading to many people heading back to Bourne End to try and find a room there. The main hotels and inns decorated themselves with flags and bunting to add to the holiday atmosphere - the Fishermen's Retreat, Compleat Angler, Crown Hotel, Greyhound, Two Brewers and the George and Dragon were all mentioned as joining in in 1884. 

May Day Celebrations

We immediately think of May poles when we think of May Day. But the "old tradition" of carrying flower garlands about town seems more long lasting in Marlow. This was the spring equivalent of "penny for the guy" of Guy Fawkes day. By the Victorian era, these garlands were made by children and then paraded around the streets in the hope the charmed adults would recognise the children's efforts with a treat or coin or two. In 1886, the May Garland tradition was mentioned as a lingering tradition in Marlow that had faded more rapidly elsewhere. But the traditional pagan figure of Jack In The Green had not put in an appearance for several years. Canny children knew that visiting Highfields, off Henley Rd, home to Mr Borgnis was essential. He was an enthusiastic supporters of the tradition and it was said no child ever went away empty handed from his property. He certainly had an open purse because several hundred children were said to make a stop at his home. Mr Borgnis chose May Day as the date of his annual "levee" or entertainment for friends, and no doubt the arrival of the flower carrying children provided a pleasant addition to the day. 

The most startling mention of a May Pole is from 1842, when 3 May poles were erected, but not for use by dancers. Instead a figure representing an unnamed person was hung from each then set alight.  (It was believed to represent a politician and/or those responsible for encouraging a prosecution against brewer and ropemaker Richard Gibbons for wilfully giving false evidence to a parlimentary committee investigating electoral fraud in the 1842 election. He was arrested by the Sergeant at Arms and sent to Newgate prison. He was later sent home with a severe reprimand from the Speaker for his "disgraceful conduct". Richard said he had become confused about being asked about both the Povey and Pusey votes and had not deliberately mislead anyone. The town as a whole seems to have believed him. A petition for his release was made by numerous inhabitants stressing his integrity and industry. His nephew Charles Gibbons vote was also contested on suspicion of bribery, but was held to be good in the end. He had voted for Clayton. The result of the Electoral Committee was Clayton's victory was over turned and his seat was given to previous runner up Renn Hampden)

The old May Fair, a partner to the longer lasting October Marlow Fair, had ceased by the Victorian era and the "rustic sports" at Bovingdon Green had lapsed by the end of the 19th century. Another lost tradition was a greasy pole climbling competition in the High Street. 

Spring tonic

If the sight of blossom and flowers was not enough, High Street chemist William Baxter could offer flagging spirits his "health giving saline"  spring tonic. It was aimed at children too, and cost 1/6 a bottle in 1897. 

The changing of the seasons also prompted certain shops to promote their new stock or to suggest you could refresh your wardrobe with the latest Paris or London fashions, if you were lucky enough to be able to afford to do so. James Morgan advertised that Spring 1897 would see every department of his drapers  stocked "replete with the latest novelties". Sounds delightful! 

* The "ladies" were F Langley, F Langley junior (in a bathing costume!) and P Chapman (the last dressed as a lady of fashion with a yellow dress and hat trimmed with an abundance of flowers)

Written by Kathryn Day. 

Related posts:

More about the Povey vote scandal here

Victorian Christmas in Marlow part 1 here and part 2 here

New Year traditions here

Bonfire night in Victorian Marlow here

A listing of other posts about every day life in old Marlow  here

SOURCES

Carlisle, Nicholas, Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales, Volume 1 (Baldwin, Craddock and Joy 1818) Reading Mercury, 10 May 1849, 31 May 1890 From the British Library, access via the BNA. South Bucks Standard 19 April 1895, 16 April 1897, 20 April 1900, 20 April 1902, 20 April 1906, as above Windsor and Eton Express 7 May 1842, as above Bucks Herald 11 April 1896, 08 May 1886,19 Apr 1884.

©Marlow Ancestors

 

Ringing In The New Year, Old Marlow Style

   

I've covered Christmas celebrations in Victorian Marlow. But I realised the town had many New Year traditions too, so this post is dedicated to them. 

In the late Victorian period a New Years Eve ball was a regular feature. The Crown Hotel/Upper Crown had hosted a Christmas ball for many years. The New Year one was usually arranged for others but still hosted by the Crown. For example in 1897, it was a ball for those attending the town hall dance classes. While it was a chance for the adult pupils to dazzle their friends and family with their new skills, anyone could apply for a ticket to attend. Did they stop to mark the transition from one year to the next? Original sources don't tell us! But the balls tended to start at 9 or 10pm and continued until dawn so those attending certainly were awake at the stroke of midnight. Marlow Football Club was another of many organisations that saw their annual ball hosted at the Crown in January. 100 people attended this in 1899. 

Thames Bank house hosted a servants ball for their staff,  friends and neighbours on New Year's Eve 1875. More than 100 guests were present. The evening was organised by housekeeper Mrs Taylor and butler Mr Wilson but everyone in the household was said to have contributed to the "very pretty" decoration efforts. After 2 hours of energetic dancing to the accompaniment of a quadrille band, the dining room was opened up for supper.  The company were said to be "deeply gratified at the richness, variety and profusion with which the tables were temptingly set out". After this rest, it was back to dancing until the early hours! 

Then there was many concerts advertised for the new year although not all took place on December 31st or January 1st. The Primitive Methodist Chapel (now known as Liston Hall) traditionally enjoyed a concert, usually performed by their enthusiastic choir (40 strong) and almost always followed by a public tea in the Sunday school room. The purpose of this was to fundraise for the never quite satisfied building debt fund. If anyone was an enthusiastic giver of teas, it was the Marlow Primitive Methodists. The Prince Of Wales offered frequent concerts for New Years Eve, such as a special smoking concert and supper in 1902. Unfortunately their licence required them to close at 11pm, so they sang Auld Langs Syne just before,  followed by God Save The King of course. 

One of the most touching traditions was the large dinner provided by John Langley at the Verney Arms in Dean Street. Those invited were all men aged over 50 from the Dean Street area, which was one of the poorest neighbourhoods in town. Langley really did invite everyone, with 70-100 men in attendance. This dinner ran for many years in the late Victorian and Edwardian era. "The dinner is looked upon as a sort of reunion and looked forward to by those that take part." The men sat down at 8pm to roast beef, mutton, steak and kidney and veal and ham pies, "xmas" pudding, mince pies, cheese and celery. (1908 menu) It may have occured after Christmas but the festive fare must have been welcomed. 

"Watch Nights" were popular on New Year's Eve in the chapels in town. These were late night religious services and prayer meetings. Although many had a very long heritage in one form or another, they were increasingly suggested as a more responsible and moral alternative to the alcohol based or secular celebrations.  The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists held a joint watch night in 1902, to pray "the old year out and the new one in." The Salvation Army's watch night was sold as a musical evening, with prayers. 

One thing that probably strikes us the most when looking at advertising material from Marlow retailers is how often New Year gifts and New Year greeting cards are specifically advertised in addition to Christmas offerings. Obviously those who could scarcely afford to celebrate Christmas were not going to celebrate in any way again a week later. But so many shops took the trouble to promote their New Year offerings in the late Victorian and Edwardian period that it must have been more common to exchange cards at the time. The gifts tend to be small, with one advert suggesting they were sort of little token gift you might bring when visiting friends or family you didn't have chance to see at Christmas time itself. "This is the month for new year's gifts - you are just in time for the small present you meant to give at Christmas." (Rowe the jewellers, High Street 1908).  The stationers Smith & Co advertised that they had a "large selection of New Year presents to choose from" in 1897, not to mention calenders and diaries of course. Other shops you could browse New Year cards include Charles Page Drye's Marlow Printing Works and W H Smith (stationer not the draper of same name). Smith's also sold every novelty in calenders according to their 1899 boast. Sadly it doesn't seem any have survived so we can't see just what counted as a novel calendar design! The Printing Works was also the place to go in January for your copy of the Marlow Almanac and Directory. This carried useful information such as details of church services and court sittings, and the name, address and occupations of all those involved in trade. A handy way to get the low down on all your neighbours. 

January sales are also nothing new. W H Smith advertised their "traditional annual sale" in January 1905 with bargains in every department. It would continue for most of January. If there was something more common than a January sale, it was one that was extended due to popular demand. 

The last tradition to mention is the bellringers new year eve supper, usually hosted by the Two Brewers. Members of the Bellfry (bellringers) met for the meal which sounds at times to be rather well lubricated. They sang songs and sometimes rang hand bells as well. The ringers would then make their way to All Saints to ring out the old year and ring in the new one. Usually they rang a peal just before midnight and then rang another just after. On other occasions they rang 12 strokes at midnight itself. How many must have waited to hear the sounds of the bells

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

© MarlowAncestors

Related Posts 

Victorian Christmas in Marlow part 1 here and 2 here, Edwardian Christmas here

Skating on the Thames etc here

Bonfire night in Victorian Marlow here

A listing of other posts about every day life in old Marlow  here

Easter and May day here

Sources include:

South Bucks Standard 3 & 31 December 1897, 6 January & 22 December 1899, 3 January 1902, 6 January 1905, British Library Archive. 

Bucks Herald 9 January 1875, 3 January 1908. As above. 

Notes from Elsie Coster. 

©Marlow Ancestors 

 

A Victorian Christmas In Marlow Part One

  

The celebration of Christmas in Victorian Marlow was obviously very different for individual families, depending on their income and how much leisure they could enjoy. Every lavish feast on a well provided for family table existed because a servant or more had spent time on Christmas day working to prepare it. But it was also a time when the better off made particular effort to cheer the homes of their less well off neighbours.

Hot beef and plum pudding

One of the earliest Victorian traditions was for the children of the National Schools to be given a hot beef dinner, complete with plum pudding, on Christmas Day itself. This was paid for by Colonel William Clayton of Harleyford, and James Simpson of Spinfield. The earliest reference I can find for this is in 1833, when it's described as something that happened "as usual." It should be remembered that for much of the Victorian era most people looked forward to a beef dinner at Christmas rather than turkey or goose as is often imagined. Even when these became more common roast beef was usually on the table alongside them. In fact roast beef and plum pudding was the go to celebration meal in Victorian England for ANY occasion at ANY time of the year. Only when topped with holly did the year round party dessert plum pudding become "Christmas" pudding specifically. 

Clayton also made an annual gift of clothing to the poor at Christmas - in 1839 400 individuals received something. Christmas was also the traditional time for distributing annual gifts provided for by various old bequests and charities, not all of them specifically associated with Christmas, but it provided a convenient and easily remembered time for an annual share out. And how well appreciated the gifts must have been in winter in particular with heating costs high and fewer opportunities for casual outdoor employment to supplement the income. Beef and clothing were both popular choices, given for example by the Wethereds of Remnantz for many years, in addition to the bequests by their ancestors. In 1887, 627 poor people received a gift of shoes or clothing from the church wardens acting for the charities they were then in charge of. Marlow had many many families in need of this aid. 

The town centre shops loaded their premises with extra supplies of tempting goods for those with spare cash to hand. Thomas Fullicks, said his currants and raisins were so superior in 1843 that there "were never such Christmas puddings in Marlow as there will be this year." Just under 50 years later Mr Clifton of the High Street (later Grays, on corner with what would become Institute Rd) had decorated his windows with all the "necessaries that go towards making the most toothsome plum pudding."  In 1899 the grocers were "loading their stores with the finest and best of everything for the production of plum puddings, mince pies and almost every dainty for the Christmas dinner table." Hungry yet?  Deaths the West Street bakers were offering a new trend in 1897 - Christmas cakes in all sizes "sugared and ornamented with Christmas mottoes". 

One tradition which has long gone is for grocers, butchers, fruiterers and the like to hold "Christmas Shows." By convention, many were held on the same day by shops of the same type, but not exclusively so, especially later on. This was a day in the week before Christmas when the shopkeeper would put on display their finest produce, hoping to secure the festive trade of as many households as possible. In general the customers were placing their orders to be delivered later. They went to great lengths to decorate their premises and windows for the occasion, and their "Christmas Show day" were advertised in advance. Many of the carcass covered butchers and poulterers that appear in prints were decorated for this occasion, with the images used in advertising thereafter. Some shows lasted a day, others a couple, Death the bakers often went to 3. A while before the butchers had their show, a Christmas fat stock show would take place. This was ostensibly a livestock show, with all the animals entered being offered for sale at the end. The butchers would then compete to secure the prize winning animals, and they would advertise they had bought the best in class exclusively for their customers. The extent that these shop shows were regarded as a big occasion is easy to underestimate. The newspapers sent reporters there and Marlow shops could report hundreds of visitors in one day aside from the everyday shoppers. For example the two day shows of Mr Westbrook and Mr Creswell in Chapel Street, chiefly of beef and mutton, received several hundred visitors each in 1843. Rachel Hall of West Street also exhibited her butchers stock on the Wednesday.  The animal carcasses were described as decorated with holly, ivy and mistletoe in 1897, with other shops making use of streamers and rosettes. In 1874 the journalist reported that "The grocers and confectioners show windows have been more than usually radiant with the good things of Christmas Tide." 

Christmas Balls and Suppers

For the well off, a Christmas ball could be enjoyed, at either the Upper or Lower Crown inns before the Victorian period, moving to the assembly room at the town hall when that opened. The Crown Hotel (Upper Crown) used the latter in connection with their hotel so they were the hosts there. In 1879 hotel proprietor Susan West decorated the ball room to look like a fairy palace. The guests (around 100 of them) arrived at 10pm and only finished dancing to the Burnham Quadrille band just before dawn. With supper also served during the evening, Susan and her staff must have been more than ready for some sleep the next day. 

A tradesman's festive ball is also recorded early on, resurrected briefly in the 1840's and attended by non Marlow tradesman too. In 1844, the tradesman ball was held at the (Upper) Crown and it was noted that "such a ball has not been known for some years." It was actually held in January, given that the tradesman had little rest during the Christmas period itself. Seasonal entertainments of a different kind were the regular festive concerts in the "large room" of the Verney Arms, Dean Street. In 1870, the Verney had attracted a group of vocalists from the Cambridge Music Hall in London no less, who performed to a full house. 

The week or so before Christmas was also the time for the pubs to host their grand share out of the Slate Club funds. These were sort of friendly society where members paid in a fixed weekly amount in exchange for accessing payments from the shared funds in the event of sickness or unemployment. In 1900, 6d was the usual weekly sum. Any funds left over at the end of the year were divided between members who had paid in regularly, and the event was usually marked with a special dinner. A simple but effective savings bank. Most of the pubs hosted one at one time or another, with those at the Clayton Arms, Prince Of Wales (with 70 members in 1900) and the Verney Arms among the most established. Because they were strongly linked to pubs, some of the chapels also started Slate Clubs more suitable for alcohol abstainers. Without the slate clubs it was acknowledged that many a Marlow workman's home would "perhaps otherwise be more or less cold or desperate" at Christmas. 

And of course many larger employers also organised special dinners or suppers such as the Brewery "Christmas Box Feast" at the George and Dragon, and at the Greyhound prior to that. 

The sounds of Christmas

If we think of a Victorian Christmas we quickly think of carol singers. The church choir of All Saints did indeed make a trip around the streets, sometimes accompanied by members of the congregation, and usually on Christmas Eve. Given that they hoped to gather donations, it's no surprise they were usually described as calling at the principle houses and streets in the town. In 1872, Rev George Cree set out with 20 singers from the Church at 9.30pm and arrived back at 1am on Christmas Day, having stopped at Remnantz, the Rookery in Chapel Street, Thames Bank, The Glade (now Cedar House, Glade Road) and Highfields (demolished, off Henley Road.) The singers were traditionally offered refreshments hence the length of the tour. And yes they carried lanterns - they would have needed them especially when heading out of town to Highfield. If you did not live in one of the "principal streets" then the Salvation Army band was likely to provide your doorstep entertainment, in the 1880's onwards. They also performed in the town centre, cheering up the shop workers still working hard on Christmas Eve. And you may well have found them about on Boxing Day too, hoping to catch people in the glow of festive feeling who might drop a coin or two in the collection boxes worn around the neck. Special collections for the poor were made at the Christmas Day services at Holy Trinity and All Saints church too. Marlow's various other bands could also be found performing in the Market Square, or as the Bucks Herald put in in 1882, they made themselves "harmoniously audible."  Given that the Lane End band also made a traditional Boxing Day visit, Marlow must have sounded very lively. Hopefully they all did not perform exactly at the same time as one another! 

The other sounds closely linked to Christmas in Marlow was the traditional "ringing in" of Christmas morning, in the form of a peel of bells performed by the bell ringers of All Saints at midnight Christmas Eve going into Christmas Day. 

More Christmas Shopping

Victorian shop keepers were good at commercialising Christmas in their own way. Shops that did not normally offer toys or novelties  stocked up on them at Christmas. Marlow had it's toy shops but surprisingly perhaps the other main place to buy toys were the drapers, with every one advertising some kind or another at Christmas, such as dolls at Morgans, and clockwork novelties at Hides. The other places to expand their gift  offerings and introduce toys for the season were the printers and stationers. They were also the place to go for your Christmas cards. And yes, they began advertising them long before December! Smith & Co (High Street) offered to show customers a sample book of 345 varied and artistic designs for Christmas and New Year cards, starting at 3s 6d for 25. (1899 price) In 1900 the same shop claimed to have 10,000 Christmas cards in stock, with envelopes provided free of charge. Elsewhere in the High Street Mr Toovey offered cards "at once elegant and cheap." Look where we will "our shops are ablaze with all sorts of novelties to tempt the giver of good things" as the South Bucks Standard put it. 

And if you wanted to buy a festive outfit, Sutton's Emporium in West Street offered the "cheapest,  best and most fashionable clothing for Christmas." 

School treats

In addition to any meals provided for the youngsters attending the schools, little gifts were also often given out. The children of the Parish Church  Sunday Schools were fortunate enough to enjoy a second treat from supporters of the church.  For example, the Oxford Lane infants Sunday school nearly always had a Christmas tree, bedecked with presents provided by sponsors. "Prettily dressed dolls" , mouth organs, spinning tops, and horns were some of the delights presented to the excited children in the late Victorian and early Edwardian period. They almost always got to take home an orange and iced bun too. The children attending the Catholic convent schools had their own treats and celebrations. A magic lantern show in the adjacent Music room (public hall) was a perennial favourite. 

Part two  here deals with Christmas Day itself, more food, the Marlow Common gatherings and Boxing Day. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related posts:

Victorian Christmas in Marlow part 2

 here

Edwardian Christmas in Marlow here

New Year traditions here

Skating on the Thames etc here

Bonfire night in Victorian Marlow here

A listing of other posts about every day life in old Marlow  here

Easter and May day here

 Go to the Specific Shops, Streets etc section  to find out more about historic Marlow shops and what you could buy in them. 

©Marlow Ancestors 

The Tragedy Of Susan West Of The Crown.

 

In 1875 widow* Susan West took over the Crown Hotel from short term proprietor Samuel Hill. It was one of the foremost places to stay in Marlow and a big affair to take on. Unfortunately for Susan, things began to go wrong for her almost immediately. 

Less than a year after taking charge, the Crown suffered a severe fire. A certain amount of smoke was seen one evening coming from above a stove, but it was quickly put out by Susan and her servant or so they thought. The household then retired to bed. Towards morning, they awoke to find the chimney was a "burning mass of soot"  down it's entire length. Their own attempts to put the flames out failed so the fire brigade was summoned. This would only have involved rushing to outside the building and ringing the fire bell of the adjacent Town Hall. The horses that pulled the fire engine were usually kept in the Crown's meadow behind the hotel. 

They may have arrived quickly, but the fire brigade faced a formidable task. The old chimney ran a zig zagged course between the bar parlour through the centre of the hotel and out. It was this haphazard path that had allowed "boulders of soot" to form in the corners and these were now alight.  Getting to the fire involved knocking holes in the chimney and walls and pouring in a huge amount of water. Only after hours of "unceasing labour" in very difficult conditions was the fire extinguished. The damage from smoke, flame, and water can be imagined. Some furniture was destroyed and Susan was left with holes in the structure of the building. Thankfully she was fully insured. But the loss of trade occasioned by the time needed to set things right may well have been the start of Susan's financial difficulties. 

The hotel hosted many big events in the next few years and it seemed outwardly to be doing well. But Susan had spent money on modernising the premises and this had left her in debt. Then came the Election Riots of 1880. The hotel was used as the base for poll winner Owen Williams, and his victory was not a popular one with many, especially the poorer members of society. When the election result was announced outside the Crown at 6pm, boos and hisses turned gradually into a full scale riot, with the Crown it's initial focus. By the time the Riot Act was read at 9pm, every single window of the hotel had been broken. A ladder which had been unfortunately left leaning against the front of the building was used as a sort of battering ram. Initially they may have wanted to use it to gain access to the building, but it was pushed through the window with such force the interior plaster and lathe walls were badly damaged. It was then used to batter the hurriedly closed gates of the hotel, which were barricaded from the inside. Threats were said to have been made to burn down the entire hotel. Every front room was described as damaged. While Susan was able to claim some compensation for the structural damage, time spent putting it right must again have lost Susan much income. 

In approximately 1881, Susan suffered an accident when travelling by dog cart. (Horse drawn light vehicle, usually 2 wheeled.) She was thrown from the vehicle and hit her head on a kerb. This left her needing to stay in bed for a month, and even after that she experienced periodic severe headaches. 

Enter John Langley, a recent widower, large scale farmer and fruiterer and landlord of The Verney Arms in Dean Street. He began to "court" Susan and offered to buy the the Crown. This he eventually did, making arrangements with her creditors and shortly afterwards discharging her debts. He took on the licence in 1883, and soon afterwards the couple were married by licence in Fulham at the Parish Church. (Marriage 19 June 1883. Susan had family in the Fulham area). Salutes were fired from the back of the Crown throughout the wedding day and the bellfry stood in readiness to welcome the couple home with a peal of bells when they stepped off the train. However the ever modest Langley sent a message that he did not want any special fuss made and so the bells stayed silent. However a crowd of friends and neighbours gathered at the Crown to shake the hand of the newlyweds. John was something of a local hero and you can read about him and his son in a dedicated biographical post here

At the Christmas of 1882, Sarah seemed happy. She bought a large tree and erected it in the town hall next door which she also managed. She covered the branches with sparkling decorations and toys and invited the children of the tradesman of the town to come and pick out a free gift. It's one of many examples of her generous spirit. But there was an underlying sadness that would not go away. 

Susan was worried that her new husband would never recoup his investment. He said he told her repeatedly that she need not trouble about this. But she seemed depressed and spoke of guilt at the risk John had taken on. She is said to have developed a restless manner, leaving home every few days for short times away, often visiting a sister in London. After one such visit, Susan never returned home. 

She travelled to Bridport Harbour, arriving with a small bag but no luggage or money. (She was born in Somerset although it's believed she was a stranger to Bridport itself.) She asked to hire a room at a boarding house for a few hours, initially to rest after a long journey. She then asked to stay the night and after that extended her stay. She told the landlady of the boarding house that she had no money with her but could have it at a moments notice if she wired to her family. The landlady thought Susan looked respectable if tired and allowed her to stay. She had been told by Susan about her head injury and the lingering pain resulting from it and thought Susan could benefit from a holiday. Her actions seem to have erred on the side of kindness considering she had to take it on trust that Susan would settle her bill and yet allowed her to extend her stay nonetheless. One day Susan went out for a walk and never returned. Her bag was found in her room. A few days later her body was found at the foot of a cliff 300ft high. 

The verdict was suicide. There was some delay identifying Susan as she had given her name as West and her body was described as mangled due to the nature of the fall. At her inquest, questions were raised about the lack of money Susan had travelled with. It was suggested perhaps husband John had not allowed her much money but this was disproved. He said he had never allowed her to ask him for money - because he had always ensured she had plenty so she would never need to ask for it. He had given her £10 as she was going to  visit her sister and he had also received an affectionate letter from Susan while she was staying there. This was supported by others who said Susan had suffered depression because her husband had spent a lot of money on her behalf, despite his reassurances that he did not seek to recoup his investment. John said the Crown was then trading well and they had no ongoing financial difficulties. He would, he said, readily loose a £1,000 pounds if it could bring his wife back to him. Reports of Susan's age range from 33 to 39 at the time of her death. She gave her age as 30 on the 1881 census however. 

This was not unfortunately the last tragedy in the story. Less than 3 years after Susan's death, her husband John was killed in an accident at the Crown. He fell from a ladder while pruning some wall trained fruit trees in the now vanished gardens at the rear of the Hotel. Sadly he could not survive his injuries and died aged 60. The Crown was then put up for sale. 

*It was said at her inquest that Susan had been a widow for about 9 years at the time of her marriage to John Langley. She left a son according to the same report but he is not with her on the 1881 census. 

For a list of landlords of the Crown Inn/Hotel see here and for other related content and other pubs see the Pub Related option on the top drop down menu. Use the A-Z person index on the top drop down menu to find every mention of your ancestor here. 

SOURCES

Census 1871, 1881. From the the transcription from microfilm by Charlotte. 

Law Reports Volume 7, Great Britain High Courts of Justice, Queens Bench Division, Council of Law Reporting, 1881. 

The Hotels Of Europe. (Henry Herbert & Co 1876)

 Maidenhead Advertiser 21 June 1876 - copy from the British Library and accessed via the BNA April 2021. 

Bucks Herald 19, 30 June & 11 September 1883, as above.

Reading Mercury 25 December 1875, 11 September 1883, as above

Kelly's  Directory 1883, Kelly's Directories Ltd. 

Post written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

©MarlowAncestors

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

Eliza Brighton / Westbrook

 

Eliza Brighton ran a bakery shop in the above premises High Street, Great Marlow from (at least) 1841 to 1848.

She was baptised Eliza Westbrook at Cookham, Berkshire in 1794 to parents Mary and Richard Westbrook.

By 1824 she was living in Marlow when she married Stoney Stratford woollen draper, hatter and hosier Benjamin Brighton. His premises were in the High Street of Stoney Stratford and were extended that year so Eliza had married a man with a business on the up.

The couple had several children before Benjamin died prematurely not long after the couple opened the Marlow bakery. Eliza may well have had bread baking experience but for Benjamin such a switch in trades must have been a leap into the unknown. Eliza was doing well enough at the time of the 1841 census to employ a live-in servant- Emma Perry aged 14.

Four years later Charles Harding, John Smith and William Green were sentenced to a week's hard labour each for stealing bread from Eliza.

In 1847 sentences of four years hard labour were handed down to three more men - George Davis, George Chandler and George Mitchel - for stealing a loaf and 4 cakes from her shop the previous November.

1847 was a dramatic year for Eliza overall. Marlovians were always fond of a riot* and had one in response to an election result in 1847. Eliza took the frightened Misses Cocks from Thames Bank into her premises when they found themselves caught up in the violence. She shut them in with her until the hubbub had passed. To read a biography of one of those Misses Cocks, Charlotte see here.

In around 1848  Eliza gave up the bakery which was taken over by William Hobbs . Eliza by 1851 had gone to work as the housekeeper at the Crown Hotel in Marlow. There was a cook, chambermaid and house maid to help her as well as the hotel proprietor Thomas Furnell. Eliza's brother William was a butcher with premises near the Crown. Her son John would later work for William's widow Elizabeth. A further brother of Eliza was Richard Westbrook another some time proprietor of the Crown Marlow and later of the large Red Lion Hotel in High Wycombe High Street. More on him here.

Ten years later Eliza had switched to be the housekeeper of that Wycombe hotel for Richard.

Finally she appeared on the 1871 census back in Marlow as an annuitant lodging with Catherine and Steadman Camden in the High Street. A post on Steadman, who was a shoemaker, is available here.

Eliza died in 1880.

Written and researched by Charlotte Day

*See previous post of mine on the Women's Riots of 1800 here.  The Swing riots feature here and the 1880 election troubles here. 

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

Sources:

Kelly's Post Office Directory of Buckinghamshire, etc 1847, Pigots Directory 1842.

GRO Death Registration Index.

Great Marlow Parish Registers, my transcription.

Cookham Parish Registers, my transcription.

Census Great Marlow 1841-71 my transcription, National Archives, Kew. High Wycombe census 1861 by Jane Pullinger, National Archives, Kew.

Windsor and Eton Express 11th Jan 1845. Northampton Mercury 2nd October 1824. Papers in the British Library Archive and accessed via their partnership with the BNA.