Life For The Blue Coat Boys

 This post is about what school days were like for the boys attending what is now known as Borlase School in Marlow, during the 1830's and 40's. Why this period in particular? Because it a period from which we are fortunate to have some first hand descriptions of what it was actually like to go there. At this period, the school was almost always referred to in Marlow as the Free School or Blue Coat(s) school, occasionally as the Charity School. It was founded by Sir William Borlase in memory of his adult son Henry who died in 1624.  Henry was a one time Marlow M.P. Sir William established the school for 24 poor boys of Marlow, Little Marlow and Medmenham, with an adjoining House of Correction and Work House. The master of the latter would whip any offenders presented to him by the parish constables or tithing men, and provide work for the able bodied poor. The "idle poor", vagrants and petty criminals could also find themselves inside the House Of Correction aka a Bridewell. He had another important job, of also providing training for 20 Marlow girls in the arts of knitting, lace making and sewing. Actually a female teacher did the day to day duties here. This female education was the first part of the bequest to be cut down when the income from Borlase charity proved insufficient to maintain all of Sir William's institutions. In 1833 there were only 12 girls being taught for free by a mistress but, interestingly, they were also at this point being taught to read, in addition to "work". The girls were also then to be "partially clothed" by the charity. 

Our focus in this post is however the main boys school. It was known as Blue Coats because the "Charity Boys" were provided with a sort of uniform upon joining the school. This was indeed blue: a blue cape, tied with red tape, and a blue cloth cap with a red band. This outfit would have been a source of pride and distinction when it was first introduced. But by our period, it was a little anachronistic and as the boys were required to wear it on the way to and from school this made them the target of a certain amount of teasing from other boys. 

The Free School as it looks today, extended and with a different entrance to that which the Bavin boys (see below) used. The House of Correction has been demolished. 

Brothers William and Edward Bavin who attended the school during this period under master George Gale, dictated their memories of attending the school to amateur Victorian Marlow historian George Stevens. George Gale had taken over from the troubled William Francis, who ended up in gaol in 1834 for libelling a member of the Wethered family. Francis (Frances) seems to have had a knack for finding trouble. He had been in charge of the school for decades but the trustees of the school were said to be unsatisfied with him in the period before his arrest. A report by those investigating Public Charities in 1833 said an attempt had been made to dismiss Francis but it had proven unsuccessful as "no specific charges were bought against him". When Francis was arrested and sent to Aylesbury Gaol for 3 months, it was relating to a libel case that had rumbled on for 2 years. The scandal caused a lot of gossip in the town and it must be said he had significant support in Marlow. The charges against him were regarded by some as politically motivated and a subscription was raised to cover his expenses while he was imprisoned. It is in this environment that George Gale took over. 

George was described by the Bavin boys as one who worshipped birth and breeding. "His ideals were wealth, birth, and blood and he looked down on scholars as inferior beings". He is said to have favoured using military phrases and was not one to inspire his young students with ideas about the various opportunities their education could bring them. Instead he told his charges that many would hang and the rest would probably be soldiers! Physical punishment was a given, in common with other schools at the time. 

The trouble for the boys was that the curriculum for their education was created in the 1620s and it was still followed closely. Sir William had asked for the boys to be instructed to read, write and cast accounts. They were also tested on their catchecism annually.  Boys attending the private schools in the town could expect to study a much wider range of subjects such as history, Latin and geography. The Bavin boys remembered that they read several chapters of the Bible every single day, with the boys gathered around Gale in a half circle. Apart from this, arithmetic, reading and writing, they only had a few lessons in mostly military history, this being a passion of the master. But no geography, or languages, ancient or modern. The students stayed at the school for 4 years, at the end of which they would receive 40 shillings towards an apprenticeship. 

 

So how were the scholars chosen? The family of a prospective student, who was the right age (10) had to apply to the treasurer of the Borlase charity for a "ticket" for (potential) admission. They needed then to take this ticket to a majority of the 12 trustees to be signed with an endorsement. If the family did not find support from the trustees for their application, they could not proceed. At the annual meeting of the trustees at Easter, the tickets were reviewed and a certain number selected - twice as many  as there were places available each year. These were then taken to the Governor of the school, who personally selected the successful candidates. Places were limited to 1 per household, so Edward Bavin attended as a Blue Coat boy, while William attended as a day boy. This meant that William did not have to wear a uniform but had to pay a fee for his education. The master was allowed to take on as many fee paying pupils as he wished providing teaching them did not interrupt the business of educating the Charity scholars, and these fees were generally in this period regarded as a source of additional personal income for the master. He also had an adjoining house and garden for his use. In 1818 under William Francis the entry fee was 1 guinea and the annual one 25 guineas. William Bavin remembered that there was about 6-15 day boys attending at a time.

The day boys had to provide their own materials, but the charity boys were allowed a primer, psalter, new testament and 2 reams of paper annually. 

Once selected, the boys faced an unofficial initiation ceremony on their first day. As they approached the little line of trees outside Remnantz, in their tell tale new blue capes, they would be seized arm and leg by 4 boys while a fifth grabbed the head. They were then "bumped" up the row of trees. This was said to be a very old tradition, but it was ended when a parent complained. 

The other tradition was said to be the heavy drilling of the young boys as to the right answers to the (rehearsed) questions they would receive during their annual religious examination in the parish church. The boys were marched there in uniform, the day boys excused this experience. Given the amount of Bible reading the boys did, it's hard to imagine there was much they didn't know!

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

To find all mentions of an individual here use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

For other school related posts see the listing here

For a list of over 70 old schools in Marlow see here

1850s night school for agricultural labourers and the Regency adult education institutions Here

Sources include:

Borlase, William Copeland - The descent, names and arms of Borlase (G.Bell & Sons, 1888)

Buckler, John Chessell . Sixty Views of Endowed Grammar Schools (Hurst, 1824.)

Carlisle, Nicholas Concise Description of the Grammar Schools of England 1818

Public Charities, an analytical digest. Commission on Charities and Education of the Poor, 1842. 

South Bucks Standard August 1896. 

Windsor and Eton Express 29 November 1834

Family Almanack and Educational Register, 1854. 

Kelly's Directory, 1847. 

 

The Marlow British Schools *Updated September 2025*

 If you try and find what schools your ancestors went to in any town, you will quickly come across references to both "British" and National schools, and later "Board" schools as well. The National schools, run under principles of the Church of England, are well known in Marlow, as they survived a long time. Marlow's British Schools didn't last long enough to leave much record behind, and so it was once thought that Marlow never had any. These were schools established by the "British and Foreign School Society for the Education of the Labouring Classes of Every Religious Persuasion"  - in reality they appealed to non conformist families. Given that Marlow had a number of non conformist places of worship and they had a tradition of promoting education, it did not seem likely that no British school was established in our town. So I began a search and can now confirm we had both a Boys and Girls British school in Marlow in the 1850s. They may not have lasted decades but there would have been a small group of children who had most of their education in one of the schools. 

A meeting was held at the Salem Chapel (aka the Independent Chapel/Congregational Church, now the Christchurch URC, Oxford Rd) in 1852 to discuss the desirability of setting up a British School. The response was positive, and fund raising began immediately. The supporters were naturally from mostly non conformist families, and those who were identified as supporters of the liberal political  fraction (the two tend to go hand to hand in Marlow). The latter is probably why the use of the town hall, which was under the control of the conservative MP, was refused for the meeting. The fact a prominent guest was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the recent election, Jacob Bell, probably didn't help either. Later the school idea was identified as proceeding from the supporters of Bell. Although he was not a Marlow man, to his credit he maintained an interest in the school for this place he was not in the end elected to represent. No doubt he had half an eye on future election opportunities here. But he had campaigned on the extension of the vote (including to women) and he said such voting rights would be meaningless if not backed by good quality non sectarian education for the voters. 

In February 1853, a second meeting was held, to proudly announce that support had been sufficient to allow for the establishment of the boys school which would open on the 1st March. The meeting was said to have far outstripped any similar public one "as regards numbers or respectability". After the meeting proper, there was a fundraising tea and exhibition of penmanship and drawings from the pupils of the British School High Wycombe. The ladies organising the tea provided the food to the school for free, so every penny of the sale of tickets could be regarded as profit. 

It was always intended to begin one for the education of girls too, but they decided to start with boys because it was there they could, at the time, be most confident of generating enough demand to support the school. They also intended to build a permanent dedicated school building but until then they would use a temporary home. I am not certain which building(s) they adopted at first. I can see references to places they held various events and meetings such as public examinations and special teas but I can't pin point the location of the boys hired school rooms beyond the fact that they were located somewhere in the High Street in 1856.  I don't believe the British school were able to realise their dream of a permanent specially built school building but this is still being researched. I can say for certain that they had not erected or purchased one by August 1856 as it was noted that £10 raised towards this was sitting untouched in a bank account. A plea was put out to raise the remaining amounts needed in order to save the schools the ongoing cost of room hire. 

A few months after opening, the Boys British School had 71 pupils, a number that had exceeded initial expectations. This encouraged the supporters to move quickly ahead with the girls branch. They were confident it would meet with equal success. In April the list of potential female pupils was fast filling up. Then in August 1853, a fundraising "aquatic excursion" to Medmenham Abbey was organised in aid of the girls, with 500 supporters gathered in the grounds. I believe the girls branch opened shortly after. Jacob Bell addressed this meeting too. Miss Garrett is the first schoolmistress I have found record of as having charge of the young ladies. By 1857 she had been succeeded by Mrs Fincham, the wife of the master of the boys British school. At that point the girls school was located at Albion House of which see below. Mrs Fincham promised a well rounded education including vocal music, water colour painting, drawing, plain and fancy needlework plus all the usual academic subjects. In addition the Finchams offered short courses of lessons in a wide variety of subjects in the form of evening classes at Albion House. For example evening scholars could learn double entry book keeping in 16 lessons or do a short course in higher maths or chemistry. "Terms exceedingly moderate."

Sir William R Clayton gave some medals to the first scholars for good attendance in the first few months of the school's life as well as medals for making good progress in their studies. I wonder if any have survived? 

The mentions of the activities of the schools while they lasted, create an impression of a happy bunch of scholars kindly treated and taught with an enthusiasm that extended beyond teaching them the bare basics of the 3Rs and scripture. For example, the school started a choral society which provided free vocal and instrumental training to the children. This was quite extraordinary for a school catering for working class children and suggests that initial financial support was good. The children's Choral Society met every Thursday to pour forth "beautiful strains that are calculated to gladden and enliven the heart." The children gave a number of performances to the public. Other subjects the children were examined in include history and geography. Rev Thomas Styles of the Independent Chapel took care to test the youngsters religious knowledge. (The first examination took place in the Wesleyan Chapel and endearingly the musical pupils began with a song, and performed another between the tests for each subject. No doubt this provided a happier atmosphere for their equivalent of exam day! The readiness and accuracy with which the youngsters have their answers was regarded as "truly astonishing". The day ended with the choir singing the National Anthem followed by a public tea. The conductor was Mr Teale, organist at the Roman Catholic church who provided his services each week entirely free of charge.)

In September 1857, the boys enjoyed two treat days. On the first they gathered at the "large rooms" in Albion House (known as the Albion Rooms, used by the breakaway congregation of the Salem Chapel, a Catholic School and Borlase at different times, among others. As mentioned above it was in use by the girls British school at this time). Here they gathered for a "bountifully provided" tea accompanied by much laughter and singing. The boys are said to have enjoyed a large helping of cake in particular. They then gave cheers of appreciation for those providing the goodies. Later the boys gathered in Mr Middleton's meadow to play a cricket match. They marched there carrying a flag and a school banner. This seems to be the favoured method for the children arriving anywhere, ideally accompanied by song. It is nice to see how happy many of the occasions enjoyed by the little pupils were. They seem to have played a number of cricket matches, and also went, as a school, to watch others -  yes, marching all the way. 

The last mention I can find of the schools, as yet, dates from 1858. The children were giving their traditional summer recitation to an approving audience, with a prize giving afterwards. Then things go quiet. Thorough listings of existing schools in the 1860's do not mention either of the British Schools. I think a possible explanation is the fairly recent opening of the Oxford Lane infants school, which expanded general schooling provision in the town, although this was a National school and ran along side the British for several years.  There was also a possible indication of falling numbers amid a disagreement among families supporting the British Schools. In 1855, at a celebration tea at the Salem Chapel following the public examination of the pupils of both schools, one of the speakers told the audience to pay no heed to those who would find fault as they seldom contributed anything in their own right and so would not be missed if they left. The school had prided itself in considering applications from teachers of any denomination, including the Church of England. In January 1857, this lead to the appointment of Mr Fincham of London University as master of the boys school. There had been 15 applicants, and Fincham was regarded as the best. But he was a member of the Church of England. This may have upset some parents. Perhaps they thought their children may as well attend the National schools, although Fincham was bound to respect the broad base required for the religious teaching at the school. Nine months later, a different master is recorded, a Mr Baxter*. Another indication of turmoil? Perhaps there were not enough families to support the schools long term in any case. In 1857, when Mr Milne of the Borough Road Institution came to examine the boys, he spoke of the credit that should reflect on the master "for the care taken in providing under great disadvantages a liberal and unsectarian (qv) education" to the youth of the town. The disadvantages spoke of might be lack of sufficient support or perhaps no permanent classroom. The schools clearly had their struggles. 

As a footnote, newspaper reports from 1865 reported a rumour that a British School would again be brought to Marlow.  It was said that land suitable for the erection of a school house and masters residence had already been purchased. Unfortunately there does not seem to have been any truth in this. However a night school was established by the Congregational church in the same year, with 40 pupils enrolling on the first day. Another newspaper in 1868 mentions the want of a British school in Marlow and says it's long been talked of.  There's also a passing reference or two to a day school at the Wesleyan Methodists chapel, separate to the Sunday schools, started about 1858 and still running in 1870. This then might have started around the time the British School was fading, but mentions of it are slim and again it appears in no local guides or directories I've yet encountered. The Primitive Methodists also started a night school for boys and men in 1867, running 3 days of the week in winter only. 

Notes - 

A meeting to set up a Bucks Association of Teachers in British Schools in 1839 listed a teacher from Marlow amongst the attendees, a Mr Greenwood. He was presumably working outside of Marlow, unless there was another short lived British School at this earlier decade? Food for thought. 

The Commitee appointed to organise the foundation and erection of the school were as follows: 

W P Gaskell, J Wright, F Wright, J Meakes, W H Mane, Richard Gibbons, Thomas Fullicks, W Wigginton, Thomas Butler, W Almond,Thomas Wellicome, H C Curtis, Ralph Spicer, George Brangwin, Henry Stallwood, T Ware, W Humphreys jun, G Kidd, J Morgan

* I have traced three further teachers, Mr George Verney, Mr J N Nash and Mr Ringsell. Mr Verney may well be the same man who opens a boys day school in 1856. The Mr Verney of the British school resigned at the same time.  For more see here

To find other education related posts, see our listing here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

 Sources include:

The Education Magazine - Vol 2, 1839, digitised by Google. 

Report of The British Schools Society 1856. 

Berkshire Chronicle 26 February 1853. From the British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA. 

Reading Mercury, 26 February 1853, 6 August 1853, 18 August 1855, 10 January, 25 July & 12 September 1857, 26 June 1858, as above. 

South Bucks Free Press - 30th January & 30th March 1857, November  1865, 20th March 1868 

Mussons & Craven's commercial directory 1863. 

©Marlow Ancestors

Books, Billiards And ..Beer? Marlow Institute

In January 1853, a group of Marlow citizens decided to solve a problem in the town. Marlow was known for it's sporting success they said, but when it came to matters literary and scientific, other towns were ploughing ahead. It was time for Marlow to catch up and form it's own literary and scientific institution. The new boys' school room had opened in the Causeway the previous year so it probably seemed the right time to turn everyone's attention to adult education. The school room became the venue for the meeting which ended with the resolution to set up an Institute. The idea was enthusiastically received and promises of donations were made immediately. Harleyford's Sir William Robert Clayton became President. 

By December the Institute was ready to give it's very first lecture. While there was obviously a delay to allow funds to be raised, it was also the intention to offer the lectures mainly during the winter season. Marlow's regency Adult Institution for promoting adult literacy had also offered classes mostly during the winter, because the long dark evenings were when the working man was mostly likely to be able to attend. Long hours of daylight meant longer working hours and less time and energy for attending lectures. The Institute did have the express purpose of providing education and recreation for artisans and workers. How successful they would be in this aim would be the subject of contention. 

What the Institute didn't have at this point was a designated Institute building. The lecture was therefore held at the Town Hall. Local scientist, mathematician, inventor civil engineer and amateur astronomer Edwin Clark was the first speaker. He was sure, he said, that the Institute would provide an opportunity for self improvement within reach of any who chose to take the opportunity. Edwin's father had been pillow lace manufacturer but suffered a great deal of financial ups and downs and appears on census returns as a grocer later. Edwin probably knew more than some of the other speakers about what it meant to take charge of your own education - he was apparently a bit of a reluctant scholar himself as a young man. He credited a boyhood lecture on electricity held at the same Town Hall as an inspiration that set him on his own path of learning. He apparently constructed his own "electrical machine" afterwards to make demonstrations to his young friends. The text of Edwin's inaugural address to the Institute was published and available from local booksellers as a memento. 

As well as lectures, the Institute established a library and reading room in the High Street. (In the former classroom of Mr Fields school, almost opposite Cromwell House. Mr Field was also the postmaster)  In 1862 it was said to have 950 volumes. Previously Marlow had a number of subscription based circulating libraries located in the various stationers and booksellers around town, such as Calcutt and Elgie in the High Street. The Institute library would also be available to subscribers only. It was open to ladies but few were reported to have joined in the first year.  

For those who could not afford the annual Institute subscription, there was from 1859, an alternative for men at least. The Night school, set up by the Vicar of All Saints (Rev Frederick Bussell), hosted lectures and classes during the winter season. It was aimed at working men and although the lectures encompassed religious and moral subjects, this was not the limit to their scope. The teaching was done by the Vicar himself, assisted by his curates, the Sunday School teachers both male and female, and their friends. These classes seem to have been very popular, especially with youths and agricultural labourers. In 1861 the programme extended to summer activities to keep the young men suitably occupied, with the formation of the Night School and Juveniles Cricket Club. Bats and balls would be provided. The school struggled after Rev Bussells sudden and untimely death that year but continued for a number of years. 

There was also a Mutual Improvement Society which offered lectures. They were usually held in the Lecture Room in St Peters Street (now the Masonic Centre) but when the Institute got a building of it's own, it was intended to be shared with the Mutual Improvement Society. The two organisations then merged. However, there were other Mutual Improvement societies at later periods, usually based in one of the churches and chapels. (The main MIS as mentioned above started in 1877 and was chiefly aimed at young men)

Is there yawning at the back? 

Back to the Institute. Reports of their first events invariably mention an enthusiastic audience. But it seems the subjects chosen did not please everyone. The South Bucks Free Press said in 1862 that lectures were now far from the rage in Marlow with large audiences unknown and "desolate benches are frequent." Other reports of a popular entertainment, as opposed to an educational one, noted a fuller audience than normal and the fact the onlookers did not for once look bored. Musical evenings do seem to feature more often as time goes on but I'm sure the supposed torture suffered by early attendees was  exaggerated. The Institute was self funded and no doubt would have folded if it consistently failed to interest anyone! Of course there were ups and downs financially, with a particularly difficult time in the mid to late 1870s when funds were described as "somewhat attenuated". In 1875 the Bucks Herald went as to far as to say the Institute was retrogressing at such a rate that it would soon terminate in "utter collapse". They added that "one finds no plausible pretext for keeping it alive". This was because the membership was relatively small and declining and the number of leisure events was starting to outweigh the educational ones in their eyes. The library was in a poor state too - "dilapidated and exhausted." The paper was especially annoyed that the playing of dominoes would be allowed in the Reading Room for two hours an evening - such frivolous behaviour was the beginning of the end as far as they were concerned. 

An appeal was made in 1879 for Marlow residents to donate newspapers, magazines and similar publications to the library once they had finished with them. Sir William Clayton took the lead by offering a loan of his copies of the Saturday Review and the Public Opinion during the 6 months he expected to be away on a Mediterranean cruise aboard his yacht. "Members will doubtless exercise due care in their use". 

The Institute gains a home

As it is, the Institute grew and thrived. There were some blips such as a reported waning interest in the lectures in the 1880s, causing then to be moved from weekly to fortnightly. Readings and debates were dropped as part of the regular programme in 1888.  Plans to have their own permanent home for activities were often floated, and in 1887, it was decided to make a definite fundraising drive to this end. The building would be a lasting memorial to the Jubilee. Some £200 of excess funds raised for those celebrations had been kept back as a start for the fund.  Colonel Williams donated land for the build, in what is now Institute Road and within an area he was developing. A new headquarters for the 1st Bucks Rifle Volunteers would be built alongside, the two buildings joined by a high arch. (Read more about the dramatic first year of the Armoury here) Construction did not begin straight away, as time was needed to raise part of the building cost. (It was originally stated the Institute building should not cost more than £1200 but the lowest tender for the accepted design was priced at £500 more than that.) It was constructed by Marlow builder YJ Lovell and his workforce.  The architects however were not local, which seemingly broke the rules set for determining the winner of the building design competition by the Trustees.  The Building News considered the new Institute and the Armoury to look like "a pair of second rate suburban villas"!  Nevertheless, the foundation stone was laid by Thomas Somers Cocks of Lymbrook (Thames Bank) in 1889 with Col Wethered doing the honours at the neighbouring HQ. Lovell was unfortunately unable to attend the formal opening due to ill health. 

In June 1890 the buildings were finished, and the Volunteer HQ and Institute were opened on the same day in September of that year. This official opening was a big event in Marlow and the town was decorated with flags and bunting. A half day holiday was declared by many shops in town. Even those Marlow citizens hard at work during the Wednesday ceremony could not have missed the fact it was happening. The Volunteers Drum and Fife band paraded around town followed by a procession of Volunteers, the volunteer fire brigade and the towns friendly societies. They announced their arrival outside the HQ and Institute with bugles. While they were parading, the trustees of the Institute had been hosting a celebration dinner in the boys schoolroom. (Now the Church Hall in the Causeway.) A lucky few were offered a tour of both new buildings although the library and recreation rooms were not finished and were opened the following month. (The room dedicated in the plans to library use was however initially set up as a temporary reading room as the permanent Reading Room was acting as the stop gap Recreation Room! Only the Classroom was ready in it's proper place when the building opened. The proper Reading Room was not actually fully fitted up until 1892, as the South Bucks School of Cookery and Domestic Science hired the room for 6 months, and in doing so installed an oven and sink etc which were subsequently removed.) Next there were speeches, and the official opening ceremony. Colonel Wethered, addressing the crowd from the upper orderly room of the Volunteers HQ, also refered to the Institute which he had been involved in setting up. He remarked that the Institute had been erected for the benefit of the working man and artisan and he sincerely hoped it would live up to it's ambitions. He had, he said, developed a sense of "love and interest" in this class of person who made up such a large number of the men under his command in the Volunteer Corps. 

Within a few years, disappointment was expressed at how relative few of these working class people had in fact become members. There were more than one class of membership, with first class membership unsurprisingly costing the most. All members had the right to attend events however. While some of the language used may seem patronising now, it seems many were passionately interested in opening the Institute to a wider range of people. But sadly even the cheapest subscription would have been out of reach for Marlow's poorest families, payable in advance as it was.  (In 1889 the subscription was £1 1s per year for first class membership, 10s for second class, and 5s for third.) Attending a lecture or class also involved paying an extra entrance fee. Those who were not members themselves were able to attend some of  the events as a guest of a member while others were open to anyone, with subscribers paying a lower admission rate. Visitors to the town could also apply to become a temporary member during their stay.

 Woman were allowed to become members in their own right and while there were female only classes, woman could also attend the general ones. This was far from a given at the time, and a source of pride for forward thinking trustees such as Dr. Dunbar Dickson. At the grand opening the Dr reminded those present of the opportunity for women to join and hoped those doing so would by their example "improve the minds of the male sex."  (You can read a post about the doctor here). 

Third class members of either sex were not originally allowed to vote at the meetings of members, which caused much tumult at the 1878 annual meet. The disenfranchised third class members tried to change this, by proposing an amendment to the society's constitution and voting amongst themselves to adopt it. This was of course not considered a valid amendment but after "some discussion" it was decided to end the discrimination. Four members of the third class had always been part of the management committee, and this was subsequently increased to six. 

Inside, the Institute consisted of a library and reading room downstairs, with a recreation room above the former, and a class room over the latter, with a small connecting room to use with either. Outside, the building was fronted by a small "tastefully planted garden" and at the rear was a large area originally intended to house a hall to accommodate bigger events but funds ran out before it was built. It was later laid down as a bowling lawn (1908). The town hall or Music Room continued to be used as a venue for large entertainments. 

 Donations had not just came in cash but in the form of books, furniture and fixtures for the building. For example, Reuben Nereus Smith of Beaufort Cottage donated two library chairs and a number of small mahogany chairs, and grocer Alfred Ilsley presented a complete set of the works of George Eliot. (To read more about Alfred see here.) Two mahogany bookcases and a large table in the library were the gift of Colonel Wethered along with much of the flooring. Cork flooring was used in the library to create a suitably quiet walking surface! Charles Miller Footitt offered the old town stocks and gaol door which had come into his possession. They were put on display behind the Institute/Armoury for several years before passing into the hands of the council who displayed them on the Causeway. Charles also donated a complete railway map and timetable for the British Isles. 

The selection of books available was regarded as extensive by some Institution supporters but one disgruntled member writing to a local paper in 1899 thought the fiction section "a marvel of smallness and inadequacy" with two many classic works - and too much Dickens. Dickens was "intensely vulgar" and written for a generation passed away the letter writer said! 

The buildings were open from 10am to 10.30pm every day except Sundays when it opened from 2-6 and 8-10pm, with the reading room closed at one period on Sundays. It had a caretaker who doubled up as the librarian. An ad for this position in 1896 specified the applicant should be well educated, married and perhaps a retired military man. 

 Books, billiards and ..beer? 

When the building was designed, space was allowed for a billiard table. But then the trustees began to doubt whether it was quite the thing  for a Literary and Scientific Institution. Or rather whether it should spend funds on this. A petition was raised to ask them to reconsider and eventually it was decided to allow the table, if a group of supporters paid for it. A charge was made to use the table, and this money was used to reimburse the table buyers and then to maintain the billiard facilities. So no Institute funds would be spent on the divisive table. Initially allowed for a year, it was a big success. The annual billiard competition attracted a large number of entrants and there were also matches between the Marlow and Wycombe Institutes.  The Institute had in fact had a hired recreation room in 1888 before the current building opened. It was open 5 days a week and proved hugely popular with young men. 

Refreshments were available in the building but they were to be strictly non alcoholic. This exclusion outraged a letter writer to a local paper who thought the only reason to exclude alcohol was because the trustees doubted the morals of the members and their ability to moderate their intake. His complaints were to no avail. The Institute did get a bar, but not until the 20th century. 

South Kensington comes to Marlow

Soon after the Institute opened, it began hosting Technical Education Classes under the auspices of the South Kensington museums. Previously these had been held at different venues around the town such as Borlase school. The students took exams and if successful could gain a certificate and attend a prize giving at the Institute. Some 43 students were enrolled in these classes in 1893. The Technical Education committee paid to use the Institute rooms and when they eventually moved the classes back out to Borlase, a large hole was left in the funds. The solution? Install another billiard table! 

The Technical classes were available in subjects such as drawing, clay modelling, French, shorthand and wood carving. A branch was set up in both Lane End and Frieth although some of these classes were subsequently dropped due to low numbers of students. 

They ran both evening and day courses, with the evening option costing more. 

Taxation of bachelors and other debates...

Here is a sample of the activities on offer at the Institute, aside from enjoying the books and billiards. After  much debate, card playing (from 1893) joined dominoes, backgammon, bagatelle and chess as permitted games. But they could only be played in the recreation room and strictly no gambling was allowed. The recreation room was also the only place that you could smoke. Those who were disconcerted by card playing must have been horrified by the gift by Charles Footitt of his Household Artillery game which involved shooting miniature missiles at a target, with bells that rang to indicate a direct hit. Charles had exclusive rights to make this toy aimed at adults, although it had been invented by another man. 

Dr Dickson offered lectures to women in First Aid as well as  those on other medical subjects such as the working of the human eye. Rev Tavender of the Congregational Church gave a presentation on America and the Rev A Thompson of Little Marlow offered a virtual tour of Venice and Russia. You could also enjoy demonstrations of electrical power (1894, Edward Riley) and modern cookery - the latter took place in the Music room, St Peters Street and was presented by Miss Stanfield of the Sheffield school of Cookery. Or perhaps your Marlow ancestor would have enjoyed the illustrated talk on the Land of The Pharaoh by Wycombe's Arthur Vernon (1893), the life and times of Charles Dickens (Robert Hayes Smith,1895), allotment gardening (various times, at the Glade Road allotments and Medmenham School rooms), or oxy-hydrogen lanterns (Rev. S Wilkinson, 1893.) Sir George Higginson gave a talk in 1893 on the time he had spent as Lieutenant of the Tower of London which was especially well attended.

In the Edwardian era subjects like veterinary science were on offer as well as fitness classes conducted by Miss Morley under the Joseph Conn system. Mrs Joseph Conn visited the Institute in 1908 and bemoaned the prevailing "degeneracy" seen in all classes of society, which her brand of healthful exercise would help alleviate, or so she said. 

Debates were conducted on subjects such as whether woman should get the vote (1891, Dr Dickson proposes that they should but was defeated) and whether bachelors ought to be taxed to encourage marriage. (Mr Wethered joked that it would be a difficult tax to collect but if women were employed to do it, then perhaps it would facilitate marriage in more ways than one! The tax was proposed by the happily married Robert Hayes Smith, who was also Institute Secretary. A post about him can be found here)

Less expectedly, the Institute had a successful cricket team. I can see several references to this in the 1860's but it seems to have lapsed as it was apparently "started" again in 1896. They played their first game on Crown Meadow but later they came to an arrangement to play and practice on the Marlow Cricket Club ground. It amalgamated with Marlow Cricket Club in 1901, to become their second eleven. An Institute Rowing Club seems shorter lived, as does a Minstrel troupe. 

Problems a plenty

The initial enthusiasm for the Institute fulfilling (mostly) it's original function was at its peak in the first 10 years after its opening. The literary and  educational aspects gradually declined relative to the social club elements. By 1902 Dr Dickson could call the institute a "disgrace" to the town. Only one lecture had been held the previous year, and one entertainment. It was dirty and dusty inside he said, and shabby looking on the outside with the front neglected and the fencing in need of replacement. A donated portrait of Sir William Clayton had apparently been ruined due to it being left about here and there as a promised picture rail had never been put up. Rev Tavender of the Congregational Church thought the character of the library was not good. The then committee could only admit the complaints were justified. They said the caretaker was uninterested in his work and so did little of it (why he was not sacked if this was so was a question not answered).  It was added that the Hon secretary L J Smith jun, had as a volunteer not nearly enough time to devote to the institution. Dr Dickson was quick to state he wished to reflect no criticism on LJ and said he thought the Institute really needed to employ a paid assistant to help run it. Alas, the surplus funds were nowhere near sufficient for this. Efforts were made to tidy it up (a new oak fence arrived at the front in 1903) and keep an educational element. 

The Institute has seen many uses through time - see our post on Marlow in the First World War for more on this. (Find in the general post index linked below)

It eventually closed in 1959 and became Marlow's Library, a role it still fulfills. 

Above, the Institute today. Image courtesy of Colin Groves. 

To find more posts about individual buildings, streets or similar look under "Specific Shops, Streets etc" on the top drop down menu. All mentions of a person can be found under the Person Index, also on the top drop down menu. 

To read other posts about everyday life in old Marlow see the post listing here

To read about Marlow's first Regency era literary Institution see here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

SOURCES

The Forty First Report of the Department of Science and Art Committee of Council for Education, Volume 41, The South Kensington Museums. 1894. 

Journal of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce, Volume 10. RSA 1862. 

Berkshire Chronicle 22 January 1814, 17 December 1855, 15 June 1861, British Library collection, accessed via the BNA,  November 2020. 

Bucks Chronicle and Gazette - 24 December 1853, as above. 

Reading Mercury 22 January & 30 April 1853, 22 February 1890, 21 Jan 1893 as above

Kelly's Directory of Berks, Bucks, Oxon 1883,1903, 1911, 1915 - Kelly's Directories Ltd. 

 Maidenhead Advertiser December 17 1879. 

Building News, March 29th 1889, digitised by Google. 

Bucks Herald  20 Mar 1865 & April 1878, as above. 

South Bucks Standard 8 March 1901, and 14 February 1902 thanks to Martin. 

©Marlow Ancestors. 

The Adult Scholars of Regency Marlow

 The building that gives it's name to Institute Road now hosts the library. In it's former guise it provided entertainment and education for many of your Marlow ancestors. Before we deal with the Literary and Scientific Institute, I'd like to give credit to Marlow's very first Institute. While this is now almost entirely forgotten, it had a huge effect on the lives of hundreds of local working class people in the early 19th century because it taught them to read. 

There were several groups active in Marlow who gave out Bibles to the poor. But the trouble with this was a great number of labourers were completely unable to read them. Marlow gained their National schools for children in around 1812 but what about the adults who were too old to attend? This question bothered a group of local clergyman who decided to form an Adult Institution, centred on Marlow. The first meeting was held in 1814 in Maidenhead Town hall, when the details of the clergymen's plan was thrashed out. The objective was initially to teach reading to both men and women over the age of 16, with the overall aim of getting them to be able to read the Bible independently. The hope was to establish as many evening schools as possible, not forgetting rural areas. Their system would use central funds and organisation, and would be paid for by public donations. They hoped that there would be enough donations in the towns to pay for provision in the more rural areas around Marlow. 

It may seem an innocuous aim but there was still local opposition. These critics are anonymous and their arguments summarised later by the Institution's supporters. It seems some people could not see why the working classes would really need to read, and others were worried that while the aim may be to teach the workers to read a Bible, what if they used this new ability to read something more seditious? Rev. Goddard replied that it would be wrong to neglect those "whose labour the society to which we belong is supported." The Institute managed to secure a number of high profile patrons and supporters regardless. A few months after the first meeting, follow ups were held at Marlow Town Hall and Lord Grenville became the President and no less a figure than the Prince of Wales became it's patron with a £100 donation. The General Secretary was Rev. Charles Goddard of High Wycombe, and it's he who would seem to have done the most to get the classes going. Although 15 clergymen representing parishes fanning out from Marlow were initially invited to take part, the group later aimed to expand to work throughout Bucks and Berks, and indeed hoped even to become a national institution.

The number of schools they managed to establish in the first year is a testament to Goddard's "zeal and energy." 57 were in place, teaching 1045 adults and youths. The intention had been to pay teachers to give instruction where the local ministers or other trustworthy individuals could not do so. I have not been able to find out for certain who performed this role in Marlow. This decision to employ teachers was also contentious. The Sunday School Repository, reporting on the plans for Marlow's "Adult School Society" (an early alternative name) said that in order to successfully teach adults, only those motivated purely by an earnest desire to educate should do the work. It required "that degree of patience, of perseverance, of kindness, and of attention to feeling and even to the prejudices of the scholars" which could not be expected to be forthcoming from those motivated only by a pay packet! The Institute also considered using the older pupils of Borlase to provide instruction (in return for money). 

Teachers did not work in dedicated premises. Instead the Institute expected them to host classes at their homes, or in Sunday School rooms where they existed. Classes ran 3 days a week during the winter and early spring, with men and women attending on alternate days, from 6-8pm. Why only in the winter and spring? Most of those attending were outdoor labourers who could not work in the dark, and so their evenings were more likely to be free in the shorter days of those seasons. The regular classes were expected to cease each year when longer hours of daylight and the demands of the corn harvest and hay making made evening classes difficult. Instead of a set term, it was recommended that local teachers should try and keep classes going for as long as their local industry demands allowed, with most ceasing between May and June. As many parishes as possible were encouraged to offer Sunday Evening classes throughout the year, and Hambledon was one of the places that did just that. The starting age of 16 was quickly lowered to 10 because it became apparent how prevalent illiteracy was amongst older children. There were rumblings about bad behaviour in lessons amongst some of these younger students and the teachers were told to maintain order, with the help of a magistrate if necessary! 

Although the donations received in the first flush of enthusiasm were substantial, the following years did not produce such levels of support and costs were rising. Initially the Institution offered support and a teacher for anyone that wanted to set up a school. But by 1816 they had to consolidate some of the smaller school groups. They did however decide to offer financial bonuses to some of the paid teachers for maintaining high levels of attendance, including at Lane End. 

In 1816, of the 1,062 adults attending classes, 522 learners had began without any knowledge of their letters at all. Yet many left the classes able to read well enough to follow the Bible. The Institution published details of their methods and experience in order that other groups could follow their example. But their hopes to be the centre of a national body for adult education came to nothing. Funds were too low to pay for so many teachers and the need to pay to hire of school rooms in some places added to the burden. Gradually mentions of the Institution faded away and by 1820 it seems to have ceased to exist in organised form. But some classes probably continued with volunteer teachers where they could. In Marlow, the more wide ranging Literary and Scientific Institution was formed in 1853 and from approximately 1856 there was a night school for men ran by the Vicar of All Saints with his curates and Sunday school teachers as assistants.  (The school was largely instigated by Rev Frederick Bussell who died in 1861. You can read a biography of him here) It catered mostly for agricultural labourers, who could pay a half penny per session. This  included the use of a slate and pencil but not a a copy book or pen. Classes ran on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm. The term was from October to March. Those who had attended at least 20 sessions qualified for the free end of season supper, which in 1862 was followed by a magic lantern show. This was paid for by well wishers. 50 students attended that - a number down on previous years - which shows how many had been learning to read and write there. 

*A night school for boys running on Sundays only, was also instigated in November 1890. About 80 boys were  credited as attending in the first couple of months. 

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

*To find all mentions of your ancestor, use the A-Z person index in the drop down menu. For other Marlow history posts, see the General History Post option in the drop down menu* 

For a list of schools in Marlow (70+) see this post here

Life for boys attending the Blue Cost School (Borlase school) in the 1830s-50's -here

And for other education related posts, see our listing here which also covers posts about every day life in old Marlow. 

Sources

An Account of the origins, principles and results of the Adult Institution - Goddard, Charles. R Griffiths, 1817

The Sunday School Repository, Vol 1, issue 8. (William Kent, 1813)

Monthly Review, Volume 63. Griffiths, George Edward, Griffiths, Ralph (Editors) 1817

The nature of the recent calls on public benevolence in the neighbourhood stated and explained by a member of the Adult Institution South Bucks district - "Nature", 1815

Night School reports. The Church Journal, Vol 2. (Guild of St. Albans,1861, 1862)

Windsor and Eton Express, 25 December 1814, British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA. 

Berkshire Chronicle, 15 June 1861. As above.

Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer 16 December 1890. Slough reference library. 

©Marlow Ancestors.