Early 20th Century Shopkeepers In Queen's Road Marlow

Queen's Road was fields before residential development began, slowly at first, from the mid 1800s. In Victorian times it had at least a pub and a grocers. This post deals with the early 20th century.

Virtually all historic buildings have been destroyed in this road so that any street numbers given here bear no relationship to any modern property in the road with the same number. 

Henry and Margaret Brown(e). Margaret Brown(e) grocers. Not here 1907 but this husband and wife are censused together with Henry named as a grocer in 1911. Margaret seems to have started operating alone from late 1911, suggesting that Henry had died. She was still there running the shop in 1915 but not 1920.

John Bryant general shopkeeper at number 24 from at least 1911 to at least 1921 but not before 1901. This shop was on the Cambridge Road side of the street, not far from Eton Place. He had previously operated a greengrocery shop in Spittal Square (c1890-1901) and lived there with his family. He was also a market gardener. John was a retired soldier who came originally from Flackwell Heath, born circa 1846. Probably still running the shop in 1924. Wife Anne (Annie) assisted in the business. The couple had previously ran the Fighting Cocks pub in Dean Street for a few months before it was closed down. This doesn't mean that John gave up vegetable selling, many Dean Street landlords earned extra money by selling potatoes in particular, but other greens too from their premises. John and Annie had also lived possibly at Newtown Road Marlow before arriving in Queen's Road and opening the shop there. Their son Robert was killed in action in WW1, thankfully other sons George and Harry survived. During ww1 John was charged with profiteering by selling potatoes at inflated prices at High Wycombe. He grew the potatoes on his allotments in Marlow. He'd probably need more than an allotment to consider himself a market gardener so there was likely land elsewhere in his keeping. There were market gardens in Queen's Road itself at the time which he may have hired part of. His sons Harry and George who helped in his shop later became wholesale and hawking greengrocers on their own account with a smallholding off Little Marlow /Wycombe Road. It is possible this same piece of land has previously been in their father's cultivation. George as a married man lived at no 27 Queens Road while Harry moved to 88 Newtown Road. By 1939 John Dawkins ran John Bryant's former Queen's Road shop on a day to day basis, though John still lived there.  The shop, adjoining bakers and cottages were all built by the Plumridge family of the Duke of Cambridge. 

William Buckland a general shopkeeper cum grocer at number 41 from at least 1907 (but probably not before 1905) until at least 1939. This was on the corner of Prospect Road. It was later turned into a house. William was born circa 1865. 

Mary Grantham (Mrs) called herself a sweetshop keeper in 1901 but later was a grocer. Mary was originally from Wiltshire and the widow of Thomas Grantham. She died aged 55 in 1915. The business was taken over by her daughter Elsie Grantham who ran it as a general shop. Elsie was born circa 1894 and looks to have married Harry Armstrong in 1935. The shop was almost on the corner of Oxford Road, on the Cambridge Road side of the street. A popular stopping place for school children. 

William Henry Saunders at no.26. On Cambridge Road side of the road not far from Eton Place. Bakery by 1907 to at least 1920. Assisted by wife Jane (nee West, whose parents lived at Keynsham's Farm, Cadmore End when their daughter married in 1896). This couple were Wesleyans. They lived in nearby York Road before being based in Queen's Road. Number 28 was later converted into a house without the removal of the bread ovens and so was often still referred to as "The old bakery". 

Just as a bonus, another business in Queen's Road in this period though not a shop:

Frederick Dunn insurance agent at no 36 at least 1911-20. Wife Louisa. He was born Lane End 1870. They moved to Marlow from High Wycombe but had also previously lived briefly in Manchester. Frederick had previously worked as a chair caner. The couple's son Frederick jnr worked at the paper mills as a boilerman.

And also mention must be made of:

J East a general dealer in 1907 (Cambridge Road side of the road). Uncertain whether he had a shop or dealt more informally which was common in that occupation.

And the Grace family whose shop was on the corner of Dean Street and Queens Road in this period and earlier with the main entrance however on Dean Street. More on them and other Graces here.

Some Sources:

England and Wales Census, 1911," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7VP-VH9 : 22 July 2019), Mary Grantham, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7VP-J4M : 22 July 2019), Fred Dunn, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Marlow Almanack and Directory 1907.

Marlow Guide 1905 

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire etc 1911, 1915 and 1920 editions 

1891 census of England  and Wales Great Marlow transcribed from microfilm by Jane Pullinger and 1901 census transcribed by me. Census information is Crown Copyright

"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV8Z-KYB5 : 8 October 2014), Elsie M Grantham and null, 1935; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1935, quarter 2, vol. 3A, p. 3266, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. 

Personal Interviews - thanks to all!

South Bucks Standard 4th September 1896.

Reading Standard 7th September 1916. This edition from British Library Archives via the BNA. As was Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News April 17th 1917.

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Western House- Some Victorian Residents

This list is of residents not owners of the property (though some people will be both).

1862-66 Edmund Sexton Perry Calvert. In late 1865 the property is advertised as for sale leasehold with a 15 years term remaining. It then comprised of a 17ft 6" x 14ft entrance hall, 20ft 9" X 15ft 4" dining room, 21ft X 15ft 9"  drawing room, 14ft 10 X 14ft 10" library, 15ft 9" X 15ft boudoir,  10 bedrooms, 2 dressing rooms, kitchen and domestic offices. Outside the would be occupier could enjoy the garden, a private walk to the Thames,  an orchard, coach house, gardeners cottage and the farm buildings. In all 13 acres including some pasture. We are also told that the house is properly enclosed in a ring fence and that it is sheltered from northerly winds. If that's not enough, the house can also boast of a good supply of water, and twice daily postal deliveries. 

1866- 1867 Charles Fowler. Architect. Fellow of the Royal Institute Of British Architects 1834. Also farmed land by Western House. Wife Maria. He died 1867.

1867- 1876 Maria Fowler born circa 1798, widow of Charles Senior. Also resident her son Charles junior born circa 1823 who was also an architect (Fellow of the Royal Institute Of British Architects 1862). Charles junior was  additionally Deputy Chairman of the Llanelly Railway Company in Wales. He (and his mum though he took the lead) got into a row over rights of way with his neighbour Sarah Bliss Hammond. It was a big row- barricades were erected and lawyers called. For more on this see my biographical post on Sarah here.

Other children of Charles Senior and Maria= Sophia born 1829, Jane 1833 and Emma 1835. 

1879- The Misses Fowler. Must be two of the Fowler daughters above.

1881- Austin MacKenzie and Mrs MacKenzie. Their housemaid Annie Field was found guilty of stealing £5 worth of items from her employer that year and jailed for four months. The items included 10lb of candles, a pot of jam, dusters, soap, napkins and tablecloths. The butler at the house at that time was Robert Wright and the footman was Thomas Sutton. Both were witnesses against Annie in court.

1888- Major A Griffith.

1898- Mr and Mrs A Dunn who had lately been in residence left.

1898-1899 Mrs Henrietta Isabella  Ranken. Died on a visit to London. Widow of W B Ranken. She seems to have had farming interests. 

1900-1914 Francis Crawford Caffin AKA Frank. He leased it 1900 after Mrs Ranken's death. Civil engineer and Director of the Djebel Charra Mining Company. His son Haden served in WW1 and was twice mentioned in dispatches. More on Haden to come. Francis had first leased Palmer's in the High Street, while he was in the area supervising work on the Bourne End railway bridge. 

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

For other West Street related posts, see the specific shops, streets etc option on the top drop down menu. The A-Z person index there is where to go to find every mention of your ancestor here on the blog. Thousands of people get a mention. Happy hunting! 

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

Sources:

Dutton, Allen and Co's Directory 1863.

Royal and Commercial Directory of Beds, Bucks etc by J.G Harrod and Co 1876.

Post Office Directory 1869 by Kelly's Directories Limited.

Census my transcription from microfilm.

List of Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers 1914.

Bucks Herald 27th August 1881. British Library Archives.

Bucks Free Press 26th August 1881. Bucks Free Press Archives.

The Mining Yearbook 1905.

The Joint Stock Companies Directory 1867. Oxford University Library. Digitized by Google.

Catalogue of the London Library 1888. Digitized by Google.

GRO death registrations from GRO online. 

Windsor and Eton Express 14 October 1865, Slough Libraries.