You *#!*#* - Speaking Old Marlow

One of the most amusing aspects of reports of Victorian court cases and also the (few) letters we have been able to read written by Marlow people in the same era is the opportunity they give to us to glimpse the everyday language spoken by Marlow residents, recorded as it was without filter or correction.

Here's our little guide to fitting in in Victorian and Edwardian Marlow =

1.) Swear like a trooper, and then some. On numerous occasions police constables had to explain to flustered magistrates that the terrible words used by Marlow people in the dock were in everyday use in the town and didn't mean quite so much here as they would in most places. One unnamed word quoted by a Marlow witness managed to cause a sensation when used in the (you would think) hardened and heard -it- all-before High Court in London. This again was explained as a normal word in Marlow. Officers from elsewhere were flabbergasted during WW1 by the effing and blinding capacity of Marlow recruits. Quite literally as the F word was familiar in the town long before it was so elsewhere, at least in male-only company. Marlow ladies were also prosecuted for using "indecent language" on a regular basis however, usually directed at their husbands during a row. Ladies of Dean Street and Chapel Street I'm looking at you. The guiltiest parties amongst the men for cussing were bargemen and chairmakers.

 2.) Use "be" in front of many verbs. You didn't call someone you "becalled" them. This was used to mean simple calling out to someone and also calling them unpleasant names, depending on context. And in terms of thinking you "bethink" and "bethought" not think or thought. Going anywhere meant "becoming" there. And if you wanted to say that you are not something you would say "I Be Not" or more commonly "I b'aint" whilst "I am" was "I be". To "belabour" someone was to attack them. This way of speaking was widely used in the nearly villages such as Stokenchurch and Lane End and probably in the general wider area too.

 3.) The town was not pronounced "Mar-low" but "Marler".  Failing to pronounce the town name correctly instantly marked you out as an "foreigner" - that is born beyond Marlow Bottom. It still did when I was a child. There are still a (very) few elderly people alive in the 2020s who keep to the traditional pronunciation. The use of "Marlow upon Thames" to refer to the town became briefly quite common in late Victorian times, almost always by newcomers and produced eye rolling and sniggering from longer-standing residents rich and poor because of what was seen as it's pretentiousness.

4.) Sprinkle your speech with these expressions, all of which I have recorded in use more than once in Victorian or Edwardian Marlow :

Blackguarding someone=  calling them names. Pronounced "blaggarding".

Bread and Cheese = hawthorn leaves. This was very old usage and common in Southern England as a whole. Still used in the 20th century.

Bullragging = using abusive, deliberately provoking language to someone.

Bumbledom = pomposity. A common word in all of Victorian England.

Coachee= coachman. A dismissive and insulting term similar to calling a maid a skivvy or slavvy.

Chuff something = to throw it.

Collar someone = any laying of hands on a person. It could mean anything from taking hold of someone's arm to grabbing them by the throat. The Buckinghamshire working class use of this expression to mean something other than simply taking someone by the lapels or collar as it did elsewhere caused many judges and magistrates to get confused in court cases by the evidence of witnesses. Note that the use of " to collar" someone as a term for arresting them doesn't seem to have been usual. Instead it was said that someone had been "ketched".

Daughter of Egypt / Son of Egypt = Gypsy. This was also common throughout England as it was wrongfully presumed that Romanies originated in Egypt.

Getting on = tipsy, on the way to being drunk. "Having a spree" meant letting your hair down and having a drink. Often used in mitigation, to imply tipsiness that might have been noisy but was not in danger of causing violence or other anti-social behaviour e.g "She's only having a spree, constable". Another expression used to described tipsiness was "to be a bit elevated". Someone more drunk than tipsy had had a "smart little drop" or just "a smart drop". Someone very drunk was "bursted with beer".

Give someone one or two = beat them up.

Give someone beans = to annoy or pain them.

Have something by you =  possessing something, not necessarily having it on your person though- you could describe your family by saying, "I have three children by me" for instance or your business by saying "I have a hundred cows by me on my farm".

Hot lot = skilled sports team or person.

"Lady or man", used to call the toss of a coin, rather than heads or tails. Lady instead of heads as of course Queen Victoria was on all the coins. Presumably this went out when Edward came to the throne.

Lemon time = half time in a football match. It was lemons that the players sucked rather than oranges in those days. Rather them than me!

Little breeze = an argument. Often sarcastic, referring to a major row in fact.

Look after someone  / to belook after someone =  to be seeking them, or to be keeping a watchful eye on them on suspicion of their going to misbehave, or to be caring for them.

Piece of jobbery = the result of a conspiracy.

Sharp with someone= today being sharp with someone would mean expressing  unkindness or criticism verbally but in this era it was also often used to describe physically harming them. An ill-treated wife might tell the police her husband was sharp with her when she meant that he had hit her.

Son of Crispin = a shoemaker. An old expression and used throughout England.

Son of Galen = a doctor. Used throughout the country too.

Sow bug = woodlouse, this was general Buckinghamshire dialect. They'll always be  Cheese Bugs to me though because my family is from Kent and Sussex originally!

Sweep = as in "You sweep!", an insult. Probably because the devil was traditionally depicted as sooty due to the burning fires of hell.

Treacle seller/ Keeper of a treacle shop (insulting) = seller of low priced, poor quality goods, especially a grocer. General Victorian and Edwardian use in England which remained in some places well into the 20th century.

Weathercock = someone who changed their opinions or loyalties frequently. Strongly insulting. Being steadfast in your principles was a cornerstone of what it meant to be a good person, especially a gentleman, in this era.

Withy tree = willow. Withys / Withies = pieces of willow.

Worth your hire = to be worth a fair wage for the job you do. This seems to have become a common expression in Edwardian times. Used as in "I'm worth my hire, give me a pay rise".

Compiled by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors.

Empire Day in Edwardian Marlow

 Marlow's reaction to royal landmarks such as birthdays, weddings and jubilees could range from polite indifference by the majority to all out take-over-the-streets celebrations that you couldn't ignore even if you wanted to.  So it's no surprise that Empire related celebrations had somewhat mixed receptions too. But if you were a child in Edwardian Marlow, one event was very likely to feature in your annual school experience - Empire Day.  This was especially intended to instil feelings of patriotism in the young participants but it doesn't mean involvement was restricted to the youthful. In this era, Empire day was celebrated on Queen Victoria's birthday of May 24th even though the Queen had died before the event really took off as a national celebration. Marlow's recognition of the day seemed to actually decline as the Edwardian era progressed but it was not one of the towns where the celebrations spread widely beyond the school participants and their parents - the town church service excepted.  However there were always reports of at least some people decorating the outside of their home enthusiastically, and of business people ornamenting their premises for the day. In 1908 it was already noted that only a few homes displayed a Union Jack however. The following year an extra effort was made to build the event with more bunting erected in the High Street. 

One important element was to educate the children about the countries that made up the Empire. This often involved in one way or another the young dressing up as inhabitants of other nations in tableaux- with varying degrees of accuracy! They were on familiar form here as such dressing up was a favourite of Marlow missionary pageants, Sunday school entertainments and the like. 

The day nearly always followed a similar pattern from around 1906 - a procession by all the various schools up and down the High Street to the Causeway, a salute to the flag, a few (or quite a few) words from the Vicar and of course the singing of the national anthem. Generally a small crowd would gather to watch the events at the enclosure. There were sometimes reports that the schools would get their own flag staff and Union Jack but the point was always a public display of patriotism in the most visible place. Often a special effort was made to get the pupils dressed in patriotic colours or to accessorize their outfits with flowers. It would be completely unrealistic to have asked many of the families to provide a colour appropriate costume for the day.  Poverty was a part of far too many young Marlovians lives and the idea of  the children having a choice of smart outfits to choose from would not have occured to the teachers. Instead they tended to rely on cheaper red, white and blue ribbons, hat or cap accessories or sashes made up by benefactors. The good news for those perhaps enduring a speech too many was the half day holiday was generally allowed to the children. 

On the Sunday nearest the event, there were usually special services in the churches in the town. That in the parish church of All Saints was obviously the biggest, not least because invitations to attend were made to all the major groups and bodies in the town. It's fair to say, if your organization wore a uniform you were a shoo in for participation for any civic event and this was no exception.  Groups such as the Church Lads Brigade and the volunteer Fire brigade were present and correct.  Technically this was an event open to all rather than merely the Church of England congregation but the non conformist churches in town tended to have their own parade with the Salvation Army.  This was followed by a combined service often in the spacious Congregational Church (URC Oxford Rd). The non conformist Church Lads Brigade equivalent the Boys Life Brigade headed this "other" parade with their ever popular drum and fife band and of course the Salvation Army musicians. In 1908 the Salvation Army also held a separate outdoor service. 

At Bovingdon Green 

The children of Bovingdon Green school usually gathered on the green there to do their salute to the flag. They often ended with a charming display of dancing round a temporary maypole and so attracted quite an audience beyond the villagers. However they are also recorded as participating in Marlow's Empire Day parade on the same day, so they were perhaps the most active of all the participants! 

Plans Awry

In 1910, the funeral of Edward VII meant the Empire day celebrations were officially muted and recognised in Marlow only in a minor way. A representative group of  children from the church schools  went to the Causeway to sing some appropriate songs such as the inevitable "Flag Of Britain" but the flag waving banner carrying  procession was cancelled. The Bovingdon Green pupils did not come because their schoolmistress was unwell and there wasn't enough hands to marshall them. Those at Little Marlow assembled in their school playground to hear some improving thoughts on "responsibility, duty, sympathy and self sacrifice" - the "watch words" of Empire Day they said. Unfortunately the half day school holiday was cancelled as inappropriate for a country in mourning. It had originally been intended that 1910 would see a larger scale event in Marlow than previous, with sports and a special public tea. 

Then in 1911 it was decided that Empire Day could be marked as part of a combined day of celebration related to the coronation. So for the second year in a row there was no large scale children's parade. But relevant flags were flown on the Overseas League Flagstaff on the Causeway on May 24th and some shops and other premises were "dressed up". This was not the end of event though.  It was revived in 1913, continued throughout the First World War and featured largely in the 1920s and 30s. Some Marlow children received a special medal from the Empire Medal Association as a prize for loyal essays on empire related subjects. These were provided with the financial assistance of local benefactors. I have some of the winning entries from other areas and it will be no surprise to hear that they are not the product of education aiming for a critical or balanced view of the empire for it's members. 

NB The images of Edwardian Empire Day celebrations in Marlow I have been shown have proven to actually be of other events - understandably so given the common decorations, themes and activities. Others do not in fact show the town but I have some more to check and will upload later if possible. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day 

List of posts about general Marlow history including town celebrations such as coronations, jubilees, fetes etc here

To look for a specific ancestor see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Sources include:

A Pattern of Hundreds - Bucks Federation of Woman's Institutes (Richard Sadler Ltd, 1975)

Memories and/or information from Elsie Coster, Betty Wethered, Gus & Dennis Winterbourne, "Vivian", Michael Eagleton and one who wishes to remain anon. 

South Bucks Standard 29th May 1908, 21st May 1909, & 27th May 1910

South Bucks Free Press 8ty may 1908, 21st May 1909, 26th May 1911

Bucks Free Press 14th Jan 1927 

The Dominions Song Book, undated..

©MarlowAncestors 

Former House Names of Station Rise Marlow

 Many of the houses in Station Rise Marlow had names in the earlier 1900s. Marlow street numbering was very poor in the past confusing both the people who lived in each house and all of us who have come later. To the best of my ability, and from varied sources, these are the former names of particular Station Rise houses.

No 1 "Trescoe". Apartments.

No 2 "Springfield" not to be confused with another Springfield and a Spinfield elsewhere in town.

No 4  "Bromleigh". In 1907 the home of Mary Betts. Mary was nee Hawks and the former landlady of the Queen pub in Quoiting Square not to mention a boarding house keeper in St Peter Street before she retired to Station Rise. Read more about her in this post. This property was by 1911 the home of widow Annie White who lived there for some years and let apartments. It is possible that she was letting to Mary Betts earlier and that Mary occupied therefore only part of Bromleigh in 1907 though no other resident except her was recorded in the town directory.

No 3 "Cerene" The home of Henry "Harry" Coles the bricklayer and his family in the 1910s and 20s. 

No 6 "Lochia???" hard to make out.

No 8 "Merolla"

No 9 "Hillgay" Gertrude and Sydney Rye lived from the WW1 period to at least 1934. Sydney was the live-in caretaker come gardener of The Sycamores in Marlow before serving in the war. He was in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. After his war service he returned to his job at The Sycamores but lived here in Station Rise instead. He was one of Marlow's many allotment holders.

No 11 or 13 "Edgecote" / "Edgcote". No 11 was in 1932 the home of Ralph Adams who ran the nearby Co-op shop.

No 15 "Glen Lyn" Elizabeth Gould Slater died there in 1929.

No 17 "St David's" named after the parish of St David's in Jamaica. An early (quite possibly the very first) resident of this house was elderly widow Harriette Vardon Hexter, there by 1907. Her father William Patterson was the long time vicar of that Jamaican parish and though she married her husband (another vicar) in England she grew up in Jamaica. Harriette's husband was a vicar in the Somerset village of Cothelstone His death aged 82 precipitated Harriette's move from there to Marlow. She herself died in 1928 while on a visit to one of her daughters at Cothelstone. Another daughter Muriel Hexter was still in Marlow in the 1920s when she worked as the secretary for Doctor Downs. His surgery was in the High Street. Muriel lodged with another family in Station Rise at that time. 

No 19 "Crossways". This house is by the junction of Station Rise, Institute Road and Beaumont Rise hence the name. In the later 1910s and 1920s the home of retired Marlow police Inspector George Summers. More on George in the future.

Compiled by Charlotte Day from research by both Charlotte and Kathryn Day.

Some Sources:

1907, 1915 and 1920 Marlow Town Guides and Almanack.

"United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920", , FamilySearch.  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBR-5JLN : Sat Mar 09 17:21:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Sydney Charles Rye, 1915

Correspondence notecard of Doctor Downs.

1901 census of England and Wales transcribed from microfilm by Jane Pullinger. National Archives,Kew.

1911 census Of England and Wales for Sydney Charles Rye and Annie Elizabeth Flint UkCensusOnline.

1853 wyc district "England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DSY-FX8 : 13 December 2014), William Betts, 1853; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1853, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 589, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England

Maidenhead Advertiser Feb 8th 1890.

Bucks Free Press 29th June 1928, Wycombe Libraries 

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

Edwardian St Peter Street / St Peter's Street

 Marlow St Peter /St Peter's Street residents in the Edwardian era (taking the popular definition for the era as extending 1901-1914). Some earlier and later incidents in the lives of those mentioned are also given to give a rounder picture.

EDWARDIAN PROPERTY NUMBERS (used here) ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS THOSE OF TODAY. Some of these properties no longer exist. A few people may be missing here, we will work to get them added. 

Odd numbered properties=

The Old Parsonage - Mrs Fanny Havell  Morgan, a widow with her unmarried adult children Alice and William James. William was the manager of the Morgan family draper's shop in the High Street / Market Square. More on this long standing business and William here . By 1915 Mr H L Slocock was the resident.

The Deanery - Heneage Legge, a retired unmarried army colonel from 1907 to 1911. Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds 1906+ and former Conservative M.P for St George's Hanover Square constituency in London. One of the many Vice-Presidents of Marlow Regatta. He gave a speech to the local schoolchildren as part of the Empire Day celebrations in 1909 in which he told them that within the British Empire there lived a total population 90 thousand times greater than that of Marlow. All of the children present should work for the Empire and pray for the King he said. He then warned the little boy's amongst them that they might have to fight to defend the Empire one day and they should be prepared to die as a result. Way to go top of the list of people not to invite to a children's party, Heneage. You can see a photo of him on the National Portrait Gallery website here. Heneage died November 1911. The Deanery seems to have been empty for a little while afterwards.

Catholic Church. Exterior restored in 1904. Interior redecorated 1910.

Catholic Mixed School (infants) This was considered upon official inspection in 1910 to be poorly lit and with too few toilets. Grace Crowther of the Convent School (see below) also supervised this school which had around 90 pupils. Unlike the Convent  School this was not a private school.

No 7 Catholic Rectory  Canon Bernard Smith until his death in 1903 (full biography of him on the blog here ) then Father Squirrell, then from 1909 Father Arthur Tillet (bn c 1875-76). Arthur was the priest at Marlow for many years. He had been a student at St Mary's Roman Catholic College, Erdington, Warwickshire though he was of Norfolk origin. In 1912 he held a mass for those who died in the Titanic disaster.

Convent School (the Catholic Upper School) - supervised by Miss Grace Crowther who also lived on the premises. This school on this site was formerly ran by nuns hence the popular name but they left in the early 1880s. Back then it has been a mixed school for children of all classes but in Edwardian times it had been transformed into a school for girls. Grace had been the head since at least 1886. In 1889 money was stolen from her desk in a robbery by a hungry and homeless Henry Lacey, a boy whose father routinely locked him and his siblings out of their home and refused to let them back in. He wanted to buy himself some food. He was jailed for 2 weeks for the offence but no one seemed to do anything to punish the father, the real cause of the problem. The Convent upper school of the Edwardian era was described as a prestigious if small school for the children of rich Catholics. Four of her pupils aged between 12 and 18 boarded with Grace at the time of the 1901 census and she had two live in domestic servants. She later described herself as working for Buckinghamshire County Council as a teacher, at the Catholic mixed school above. Grace originated from Todmorden. Her date of birth wanders all about in the census but it would appear that it was correctly 1856 and that her parents Crossley and Mary and her siblings emigrated to the USA in 1873 on the Royal Mail Steamship the SS Algeria. Grace was already living away from home in 1871. Nevertheless to be willingly left behind in Britain without her parents or siblings at the age of just 17 must have been quite something. It certainly suggests a spirit of independence. 

Unplaced property somewhere around this point in the street later Victorian times to early 1900s - The boarding house of William and Mary Ann Betts (nee Hawks). Mary was the main head of the business and was assisted by her niece Sarah Godfrey who lived in. The Betts had previously operated the Queen public house in Quoiting Square. Following the death of her husband Mary took her niece and moved away from this street. Her "boarding house" seems to have consisted of two rooms rented out as one piece of accommodation. For many years  Charles Gibbons a commercial traveller for the wine and spirits trade had taken the rooms. He had once had a brewery in St Peter Street but the business collapsed. Though he moved to Maidenhead in around 1876/77 he kept up his friendship with Mary Ann and visited her whenever his business brought him to Marlow. Sadly in 1880 Charles was found dead with horrific injuries on the train line between Marlow and Maidenhead. It was supposed four different trains had gone over him while he lay on the track. Earlier in the day he had been visiting the Betts. Mary Ann Betts gave evidence at the inquest into his death, saying that both she and her niece had spoken to Charles and though he had some new money troubles he did not seem to be in low spirits. An open verdict was recorded.

The Nook - W Gibson then Charles Berry who remained into the 1920s. Not to be confused with Glade Nook in Glade Road.

River Cottage  mysterious. Seems to have been empty or non existent for most of the era but just afterwards in 1915 the home of Mrs Zuccani.

No. 13 William John Hutchins / Hutchings, sometimes known simply by his middle name and his wife Florence. Their ancient cottage consisted of just two rooms. William had worked as a boilersmith for Great Western Railways as well as formerly being the lock keeper at Temple Lock. Florence informally provided food for some of those who camped at the lock or passed through it in a boat. The campers, most of whom were from privileged backgrounds, often rented a spot on the lock island for the whole season and left their tents up whether they were there or not. Back in 1896 a teenage boy presented himself to Florence at the Lock Keeper's cottage and said he had been sent by one of the absent campers to keep an eye on his tent and he was to be kept and fed by her, bills to be sent to the camper at home in London. The boy disappeared after 3 days. Investigations revealed the camper had never seen him before in his life!

No. 15 Mary Butler born circa 1871, a self-employed needlewoman. Her niece Ethel Butler a teacher lived with her. She was appointed to the Infant School in St Peter Street in 1902. Their home was a very old cottage.  Ethel has retired and was still living at no 15 in the late 1930s.

No 17 a very old cottage of just three rooms at this point. Mrs Kezia(h) Corby, a widow, and her sister Caroline Smith. Earlier in the Edwardian era Kezia's children Charlie (bn circa 1873 a hotel barman) and Kate (bn circa 1886 an embroiderer) lived at home too. When Keziah died Caroline continued to live there alone. Both of these women were embroiderers too. Keziah had lived in St Peter's Street for some years with her husband Henry before his death.

No 19 Mrs Sparks early in the era. 

Fishermens Retreat former pub now small hotel ran by Mrs Elizabeth Hoddinott assisted by her daughter also called Elizabeth. Catered for boating and fishing parties. Was seen as a "high class" place of accommodation. More info here

Buckinghamshire Chair Company (behind)- detailed history of this business here.

Weir House let out as apartments 1903 by John Clark(e) Truss (see below). Had been split into apartments for at least 12 years at this point. Members of the Truss family were still hiring out apartments there in the late 1930s. In 1911 Eliza and Hugh Sutcliffe (a bookmaker) seem to have let the whole premises and sublet one or more rooms to a man described as their lodger, Stanley Smith. Jack Langley who was later a very successful bookmaker on his own account worked for him and became a St Peter Street resident himself when he bought Bridge House in 1913. See below. A Miss Lupton by the end of the Edwardian era was also a tenant of Weir House.

The Two Brewers pub Emily Sophia Truss then John Clarke Truss and his wife Henrietta. Like many pubs of the Edwardian era this one had a Slate Club. Pub was popular with early motoring visitors as it had a lock up garage.

Even numbered properties=

The Public Hall / Cinema combined. Both under the management of Horace Lacey of Station Road. A detailed post about the silent era film shows in the building is already on the blog here.

6-8 National School, Girls (built 1871) and Infants School (built 1868) front part of the site had  two houses for the head teachers. National School (Girls) =Miss Elizabeth Hunt head in 1907, previously head of the Infant's school on the same premises. She retired due to ill health in 1909 after 40 years of service to education at the school. In a presentation upon her leaving Elizabeth was given a gift of £35 collected by well wishers. A little more about Elizabeth can be found in this post. The girls' school had been expanded with two new classrooms and additional cloakrooms during the Edwardian era but was still considered cramped. After Elizabeth left she was replaced as head teacher by Mrs Mary Collins. As Mary lived with her husband Henry /Harry in Chapel Street the live in accommodation due to her within the school premises (numbered no 6 St Peter Street) was  instead let out to William and Annie (nee Jesty) Alloway. William was a house painter. / Infants School (built 1868) whose head was Victor Kibblewhite in 1907. In 1905 he became the Secretary of the Marlow Literary and Scientific Institute. He was also a member of the Rifle and Cricket clubs in the town. Victor was later a town councillor. The school heads usually resided on the premises in St Peter Street and Victor, his wife Ella and their children were no different (their living portion was officially no 8 St Peter Street).  When the new Boys' C of E school opened in Trinity Road he transferred there and the family made a new home at St Ronans Claremont Gardens. During the First World War Victor served on the town Food Control Committee. 

Dial House- Mrs Winter and Selina White, at end of era Mrs Ward. I have a post on the blog already about the Winter family of Dial House see here.

Dial Cottage - ?

The Old Malt House Mrs Emma Hoare of next door Bridge House bought this property in 1897 for £1600 from the executors of Mrs Greenwood. It was used as a summer home by some of her children. Rear Admiral Sir Sydney Marow Eardley Wilmot (bn 1847) made the property his home from circa 1909 and remained there till at least the early 1920s with his wife Grace nee Hoare daughter of Emma Hoare above. The property may have in fact been Grace's inheritance from her mother. Sydney was a twice published novelist and the author of two naval history books. One of his novels The Battle Of The North Sea was written during the time he was officially a resident of Marlow however he and Grace often travelled abroad so I can't guarantee that he actually sat down and wrote any pages in Marlow. He was knighted in 1909 for his Naval services. In an accidental explosion during a training exercise he had lost one of his hands.

Bridge House - Mrs Emma Hoare, widow of Thomas Rolls Hoare who had died in 1892. House put up for sale by auction in 1909 following her death aged 86 at her London house. Bridge House was described then as a Jacobean style home with 15 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, a boat house, summer house and tennis court. Emma had apparently lived in Hastings and London jointly prior to moving to Marlow but she had visited the town as a regular summer guest before the move. She bought Bridge House in 1898 and if she was away on her summer holidays let out it out to tourists for the river season. She found the garden prone to flooding and her home to have drainage issues so soon after moving in asked the council to improve the drainage and provide a curbed pavement for St Peter Street down both sides. She offered to demolish the part of her stables that jutted 8 feet into the road to enable this. The council accepted her offer but did not end up kerbing the whole street as she had asked. The was the cause of an inordinate amount of discussion and trouble. 

After Mrs Hoare, Mrs Stephenson Smith briefly kept Bridge House as her summer holiday home. She was robbed while the house was shut up. The teenage thief got away with her fur lined coat, a pearl cross, an ornamental dagger and various other items. Not all those pieces of property were successfully recovered.

In 1913 Bridge House was bought by John "Jack" Langley, the chairman of Marlow Urban District Council. See here for a biography of John and Jack Langley. See above also. 

Sources=

Regatta Programme 1911.

Marlow Directory and Almanack 1891,  1907 and 1915 editions by Marlow Printing Company.

Kelly's Post Office Directory of Bucks etc 1895, 1911, 1915 editions.

1901 census of England and Wales, transcribed from microfilm, National Archives by Charlotte Day or Jane Pullinger except 1901 Erdington Warwickshire which was https://www.rootspoint.com/search/?CollectionKey=UK1901&FirstName=Arthur&MiddleName=&LastName=&BirthPlace=&LivedIn=Warwickshire+erdington+court&BirthYear=&MatchType=defaultex&submit=Search

South Bucks Standard June 1909 and 11th March 1898 from the British Library Archives, accessed via the BNA.

Maidenhead Advertiser clipping March 18th 1914.

Maidenhead Advertiser 12th June 1889, via Baylis Media Archives online.

Wikipedia article on Eardley-Wilmot https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Eardley-Wilmot

Advertising literature, personal letters.

 G.R.O death registrations from the G.R.O online except m of William Alloway which was 

"England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2D6G-DLL : 13 December 2014), William Thomas Alloway, 1909; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1909, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 1554, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. 

Edwardian Cambridge Place Marlow

A now completely vanished Great Marlow address. The Place was formed of just 4 houses off Cambridge Road Marlow (next to where Eton Place is today). It was accessible on foot from both Cambridge Road and Queen's Road.

Edwardian Residents (using the popular definition of the era as stretching from 1901 to 1914)

No 1: By 1907 the Adams family headed by Jemima and John Adams neither of whom originated in Marlow- he was from Middlesex and she from Sussex. They arrived in Marlow in 1892 (in 1891 they were in Taplow). At first the family did not live in Cambridge Place but in West Street. John was a domestic coachman, whilst also being the official licensee of the Saddlers Arms pub. As was common at the time a husband would take legal responsibility for a pub business but his wife actually ran the pub on a day to day basis while he followed another trade. A word of warning- There was another Marlow man with the name John Adams, a confectioner, fancy bazaar keeper and toy seller in West Street. If you are interested in this other John Adams and have come to this post by mistake don't worry- there is a full biography of John the shopkeeper on our blog here. The John of our post today gave up the Saddlers in 1903 and by 1907 his family were living in Cambridge Place. John died just after the Edwardian era in 1918, Jemima in 1941. She had moved to Flowerdene Oak Tree Road Marlow (after 1921 but before 1939) to live with her married daughter Edith and Edith's carpenter husband Edward Heatley.  There were various other children born to Jemima and John. Elizabeth (a domestic cook), like Edith lived at home in Cambridge Place or at least part of the Edwardian era. Daughter Annie had come third in the girls' running races held at Remnantz West Street as part of 1897 Jubilee celebrations. Son Charles may have worked as a waiter at the Compleat Angler hotel in the late 1890s.

No 2: Stroud family from 1902 headed by Annie and George. Later, towards the end of the era W Mitchell. George Stroud was a bricklayer. He was formerly the landlord of the Traveller's Rest pub in Dean Street (though Annie was the one behind the bar most of the time because George was working as a bricklayer. Annie took in lodgers too). The couple had had a tough time on those premises. You can read more about that here.

George while working as a bricklayer at a house in Chapel Street for Mr Wellicome in 1908 overheard the juiciest piece of gossip in the town at the time - that the wife of his work colleague John Harvey had been seen walking arm entwined with another man. This piece of gossip was being relentlessly spread by the landlord of the Chair Makers Arms in Dean Street and led to him being sued for slander by Mrs Harvey. George was one of the witnesses in the resulting 1909 court case, as was his cousin Robert Stroud another bricklayer. More on the case here.

No 3: A property with a lot of turnover= John and Harriet Janes in 1907 (gone by 1911), then Florence and Litton Smith, then at the very end of the era Emily Mead and her children.

The Janes family had previously lived in Chapel Street Marlow. John was the caretaker of the Literary Institute (now the Library) in Institute Road. He played for the Institute cricket team and for Marlow Football Club (having been poached from their big rival Maidenhead in 1896!), was an occasional rower for the Rowing Club and acted as the the escape foreman of the Marlow Fire Brigade. A busy man! The couple seem to have left Marlow about 1909 / 1910?

Litton Smith was a bricklayer who had moved from the village of Bisham across the Thames. He and Florence were a young couple with a baby daughter Flora. After his time in Cambridge Place Litton worked at the town gasworks in Cambridge Road.

Emily Mead was a young widow who worked as one of the chamber maids of the Crown Hotel. She had previously lived with her husband Arthur and various children in nearby York Road (where Emily gets a passing mention as a witness in a court case when one neighbour was said to have poisoned another's pet cat!) and then as a widow in Potlands / Portlands off West Street. Her daughter Grace in 1909 won a prize for her cooking as a Bucks Educational Committee cookery class pupil. She looked after the family while her mother was at work in the hotel. Arthur Mead had managed the grocery shop of Mathew Clifton in Marlow High Street and probably also for James Gray who took over that business in 1901. In 1904 Arthur became fatally ill despite efforts to treat him at St Thomas's Hospital in London. Collections were made locally for the support of his wife and children as they had been left without any income since the start of his illness.

No 4: Elizabeth and William Stacey, a couple who had had 19 children! Moved to this address by 1907 having previously been at Dukes Place, Oxford Road and Eton Place. William was at this point blind and unable to work any more as a bricklayer. Elizabeth was one of Marlow's midwives and thus would have touched the lives of many Marlow households. She would not have been medically qualified but with nineteen births behind her she was certainly experienced! Elizabeth and William's adult children Herbert, Harry and Ada all lived at home at some point during the Edwardian era. To read about a case when much earlier in his life William had been in trouble for fighting in nearby Eton Place see this post.

More posts on specific Marlow streets in various eras from the 1700s onwards are indexed here.

See the A-Z Person Index for all mentions of any individual on this blog. Thousands of people are mentioned.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Some sources:

Marlow Directory and Almanack by Marlow Printing Company 1907 and 1915 editions.

England and Wales census Great Marlow / Marlow Urban National Archives, 1891-1911.

"England and Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCH-SFWC : 2 November 2021), Jemima A Adams, 1941.

Graves of John and Jemima Adams Marlow Cemetery.

1897 Jubilee celebration notes, privately held.

"England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZG-S68N : 8 October 2014), Edith Adams and null, 1923; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1923, quarter 2, vol. 3A, p. 1920, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. 

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire etc 1939.

South Bucks Standard Jan 22nd 1909 and 29th January 1904. The first from the British Library Archives and accessed via the BNA.

Edwardian Pedlars In Marlow

 Here's a rundown of some of the items that could be bought on the door step or from wandering street sellers in Edwardian Great Marlow. To sell in this manner required a licence though plenty of pedlars did not actually have one. With the exception of fruit and veg sellers most would not have been Marlow residents but far ranging travellers who had a very hard life on the road. If caught trading without a license they were usually fined. This was often remitted if the pedlar agreed to leave the town immediately. Some "pedlars" were really door to door beggars who carried a few items like pencils in their pocket for cover. These aren't included here. Unless otherwise stated all the sellers were male.

Edwardian pedlars sold the following:

Pencils

Chalk

Confetti 

Paper and envelopes 

Brushes and combs

Books (probably secondhand ones)

Fruit and veg (often. Cherries were a local gypsy speciality in particular. The cherries themselves in this era came from Flackwell Heath and Cookham Dean mostly)

Postcards 

Sheet music (one of the most popular things to buy from pedlars in Edwardian England)

Toy windmills

Packets of lavender

Linoleum (female seller)

Shoelaces 

Services offered:

Mending mats (female mender).

Mending pans (traditionally a gypsy speciality but I cannot prove any of the pan menders who visited Marlow were gypsies in this era).

Compiled by Charlotte Day from court cases, postcards etc.

Posts related to other occupations and general Great Marlow history can be found in the index here

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

Two Dedicated Victorian School Mistresses

This post is dedicated to two Victorian ladies who devoted themselves to the children of Marlow, working in sometimes difficult conditions, only stopping when their health failed. Both were the head mistresses of the National schools in St Peter Street in the late Victorian period. 

First we have Harriet Thimblethorp(e). Harriet was in charge of the girls school. She arrived in 1881 to a school building less than 20 years old. It was not however in good condition, and regular reports were made of a  leaking roof and smelling toilets. The school was also crowded by modern standards, with about 50-60 girls per class. Average attendance for the school was about 143 pupils a day, which was actually as few less than the buildings were designed to deal with however. 

Image courtesy of ©Colin Groves

 Harriet also suffered the closure of her school on a number of occasions because of outbreaks of disease. Scarlet fever and measles reared their ugly heads sometimes, and a nasty outbreak of small pox in 1893 caused a break in lessons of several weeks. As a result when the school inspector came round that year, he was willing to make some allowances for a lack of progress in the young girls education. The inspector concluded however that the main reason for unimpressive attainment in the children was that the particular intake of children it had lacked natural intelligence! He did mention their nice sewing and singing at least. 

Singing was an favourite activity of Harriet's. It is nice to think of those walking down St Peters Street in the Victorian period catching the happy sound of the girls' singing through the open windows of the school. She may have been described as naturally reserved but she was able to show affection and kindness to her girls and it seems to have been reciprocated. She was also described as absolutely devoted to her charges and always just in dealing with them.

By 1898, Harriet was not well. She refused to give up her work, though that was the advice she received. Sadly her condition deteriorated and it was clear she was suffering badly. She received news that her condition was now deemed incurable but it seems she wished to carry on at work as long as possible. In June 1898 however she was so ill that she had to give in and resign. She left Marlow for the sort of places people went in the hope of improving their health, or delaying it's decline. But a little over 2 months later, she died at Brighton. During the time of her funeral, the children sang her favourite hymn at the school. It's hard to imagine she would have preferred any other farewell. 

Our second devoted teacher is Elizabeth Harriet Hunt (AKA Lizzie) who was born in London in 1847. She was the head teacher at St Peter's Street School infant's department by 1876. She had accommodation provided for her in St Peter's Street, along with Harriet and the mistresses of both schools. 

The South Bucks Standard in 1893 said she deserved "the highest praise" for her work at the school. Her assistants then were Miss Evans and Miss [Florence] Nicholls. Between them they educated an average of 131 children each day. There would have been pupil monitors too.

Ill health forced Elizabeth to teach her last lesson on Tuesday 27th July 1909. That evening in the schoolroom local dignitaries and school teachers gathered to thank her for her years of service. She was praised for the "love she displayed for her work and for her children". A purse of £35 was presented to her by way of thanks.

Elizabeth went to live with her brother in London where she died in 1917. Thankfully she got to enjoy something of the retirement that Harriet never did. 

To find all mentions of an individual here, use the A-Z person index on the top drop down menu. For other posts about St Peters Street use the Specific shops, streets etc option there. For a list of 75+ historic schools in Marlow see the post here. A fuller list of Victorian/Edwardian teachers for the national schools will follow. 

Sources

GRO Birth and Death Registration Indexes by the General Registry Office.

National Union of Teachers report 1888, 1893. 

Kelly's Post Office Directory 1883 (Kelly's Post Office Directories Ltd)

South Bucks Standard 3rd March & 12 December 1893,1 September 1899, and 30th July 1909. Copies held in the British Library archives. Accessed via the BNA March 2021.

Harris Royal Country Directory 1876.

"England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YB-P1F : 20 May 2019), Elizabeth H Hunt, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

Researched jointly by Charlotte (Elizabeth) and Kathryn Day (Harriet)

©Marlow Ancestors. 

An Edwardian Christmas In Marlow

 

A Victorian Christmas in Marlow was the subject of a previous pair of posts. So this one is about how the Edwardian Marlow residents enjoyed their festivities but I recommend you read the Victorian posts too as much remained the same. 

The streets still sound with the music of carol singers performing their rounds. The Church choir was only one of many to tour the streets. Most were making collections for charity, but a few reports show that children formed impromptu groups and went about hoping to part generous minded adults with their spare cash to be used as pocket money. Some of the less well off have more money than usual thanks to the annual share out of the Slate Clubs which continue in most of the pubs and some of the chapels. The Slate Clubs were a savings club and a kind of friendly society. In exchange for paying in a regular weekly sum, workers could access sickness and unemployment benefits paid out of the funds recieved. Payments were usually made to pay doctors fees and for funerals of the member (and sometimes their spouse). Anything left over in December was then shared out between the members. The share out was a big event, and was usually accompanied by a celebratory dinner or "smoking concert" or both. Many of these have now been running for decades in Marlow but show no sign of loosing popularity. On the contrary, many report higher levels of membership than they did during the previous century. Some of those definitely having a slate club that was active in Edwardian times include the Clayton Arms, Greyhound, Prince Of Wales, White Hart, Verney Arms, King's Head (Little Marlow), Bricklayers Arms and the Jolly Cricketers and Royal Oak in Bovingdon Green. The Verney club was now one of the biggest, with 216 members in 1910. (You can read more about Slate Clubs and poverty in Victorian and Edwardian Marlow here)

A "rather young looking Santa Claus" was said to be stationed in the somewhat unlikely location of poulterer Mr Rippington's shop in 1908. This was presumably a figure in a window or other display. Father Christmas does not seem to visit Marlow very often in the run up to Christmas during these years. During the children's parties run by schools and clubs the children tend to get invited to pick a small gift directly off the tree or are handed a small bag of modest (in our eyes only)  treats by a benefactor hosting the event. (Standard gift bag offerings seem to be an orange, some nuts and a piece of cake.) 

Although Marlow has always been well supplied with dedicated toy shops, during the festive season other businesses introduced or expanded their own range of toys and festive novelties. This especially applied to drapers and stationers. Morgans the draper in Market Square for example bought in a range of dolls and toys to tempt shoppers. W B Langston's* (William Bradley) the boot and shoe warehouse open a "Christmas Bazaar" inside their already crowded premises in the High Street. Inside can be found "mechanical toys, picture books and dolls in great variety." Elsewhere in the High Street Timberlake's, who sell bicycles and phonographs, also have a special Christmas "department" offering more mechanical toys, and magic lanterns as well as "talking machines" and records. (A selection from 1905.) C J Bateman, the cycle depot in West Street (now also describing themselves as motor engineers) was one place to go for model steam trains, priced at 6d and above, as well as models of Bleriot, Wright and other planes. 

By now the shops are all closed on Christmas Day and most but not all are also shut on both Boxing Day and January 1st. The fact they are closed is something of a source of pride for some traders who want their customers to know that they follow their religious and social duty, as they saw it. Of course for those in domestic service, and in many other roles, the festive season included much less free time than average. 

Now for some of the delights available in the Marlow grocers and other shops. Alfred Ilsley in the High Street offers ready made mincemeat from Chivers, as well as the most plump fruit for making your own puddings. He had home cured smoked hams on sale too. Ready made Christmas cakes could be picked up at Carter's (now Berger's) and also at Browns in the High Street. Browns also offered Christmas stockings, perhaps not the obvious place to look for the latter! They made "Marlovian Shortbread" from 1910, a snip at 8d a lb. And Carter's could supply mince pies and plum puddings if you didn't wish to make your own. "Why bother about making puddings and mincemeat this Christmas time when Carter supplies some of the best at reasonable prices?"

Above, the former Morgan's store. 

But for those that did, Christmas pudding charms in solid silver could be bought at Rowes the jeweller for just a shilling a set. Mr Rowe, who could probably sell sand to Egypt, said they were selling by the hundreds and "great fun". 

The tradition of shops holding "Christmas shows" over one of two days to showcase their very best goods continues. The butchers and poulterers sometimes decorate the outside of their premises with animal carcasses (or imitation ones) for these events, but this is less often mentioned in Marlow specifically compared to other towns such as High Wycombe. The best quality meat is not put outside to get dusty in any case, it can be viewed in relative comfort inside. Some of the customers may have been a spectator at the Fat Stock shows held near the train station just before Christmas. The animals now lying on the butchers slab were paraded before them. All animals entered into the show are auctioned off at the end, and the butchers try to outbid one another for the animals that win their classes. They advertise their success so prospective buyers will know where to head to buy the best beef for example. The members of the Christmas Fat Stock Show Association include most of the dairy, mixed and beef farmers in the neighbourhood. They have an annual dinner hosted by the Crown, and held in the old assembly rooms. This is a big event at the time, with the numbers attending reminding us of just how many local families continue to be involved in agriculture. (More than 100 attendees in 1905) And for every farmer and landowner attending their dinner, there are many farm employees both casual and full time. The prizes from the show are distributed at the event. Afterwards there is music from a band performing in the minstrels gallery, and dancing. Here's a sample menu from 1903 - roast turkey, roast beef, boiled mutton, ham, boiled cod (yes, boiled), cauliflower, boiled turnip tops (greens), three types of potatoes (roast, boiled and baked), soup, Christmas pudding, mince pies, apple tart, cheese and celery. But no sprouts.

Many families would have dreamed of such a spread. The Salvation Army** did not forget the less well off. They hosted special Christmas teas and entertainments for the youngsters belonging to the large number of poorer families in town. In 1903 they hosted 200 of the poorest children for tea followed by an entertainment for 400 youngsters. Each child left with a bag of cake and an orange. The SA congregation was relatively small and the amount of fundraising they must have done to cater for such numbers is large, even if some goods were donated by kind hearted shopkeepers. In addition Sister Cole at the Cottage Hospital in Cambridge Road organised a Christmas tree for the patients there. In 1909 she was also organising a little party not just for any young patients spending Christmas there, but former ones who had been discharged as well as the children of current patients. All this with the help of Emily Dickson the untiring fundraiser and wife of Dr Dickson. 

All of the churches were decorated in their own ways, with evergreens, and if they were lucky, with the flowers forced in the hothouses of the larger gardens. Little Marlow Church used bunches of white chrysanthemums. In 1908, the Catholic Church of St Peter's was garnished with holly, ivy, and other evergreens as well as a host of blooms. Midnight mass was a full house so many could enjoy the display. Five years later, the children attending the Catholic day schools had a particularly fun treat. Not all of the young scholars were Catholic incidentally. The children had a Christmas tea with lots of cake, followed by dancing. The more eagle eyed of the guests may have noticed a large "curtain" partitioning a certain portion of one end of the room. After the dance, this curtain was whisked aside to reveal a tree with a branch bending under the weight of little gifts. There was "an elaborate collection of toys of every description." Once these were distributed the fun was not yet over. Father Arthur gave a show as an illusionist and then the children were lined up to receive yet another gift - a bags of nuts, sweets and oranges. 

 Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts:

Victorian Christmas in Marlow part 1 here and 2 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

*More about William Langston's boot stores here

**The Salvation Army in Marlow here

©Marlow Ancestors

 

Meakes and Eddowes Ironmongers

Joseph Meakes started an ironmonger business in Spittal Street circa the late 1860s. He went into business with his son George so the business was called "J Meakes and Son". Previously Joseph had worked as a whitesmith. The Meakes family were very heavily involved in the smithing trade, including his father Thomas who faced bankruptcy in 1830. More on that here. In the past ironmongers manufactured themselves much of what they sold in their shops.

In 1874 Joseph and George advertised for an additional assistant for their shop. The successful applicant had to be able to help with their bell hanging and gas fitting sidelines. 

As local agents for the Silber lighting system (oil fuelled) they also fitted out the new Marlow Station building and platforms with lighting in 1873*. 

Joseph died at Windsor in 1880, two years after the sudden death of his wife Elizabeth. George carried on the business. His customers included Wethereds Brewery in the High Street for in 1890 it was reported that his employee William Night or Hight fell off a ladder when descending from the brewery office roof and broke his leg.

George was a busy man- he founded the Meakes and Redknapp Marlow boat building business in the 1886 too. Tickets for the occasional river excursions put on by Meakes and Redknapp were sold at the Spittal Street shop. He was also a founder member of the Thames Boat Builders Association.

George's son Joseph George became a marine engineer and boat builder. 

John Eddowes managed the ironmongers for several years in late Victorian times because of George's declining health and the fact he had two businesses to run. 

George died in 1903 at the age of 68 with his funeral being held at Cookham Dean. He had been living at Grove House there for some years.

John Eddowes took over the shop entirely in March 1904 and traded under his own name thereafter. 

John and his wife Lillian came originally from Staffordshire. Soon after taking over John was already winning work from the local council. He supplied them with equipment to water the dusty roads and repaired street lamps for them for instance.

John's adverts pushed the use of gas for heating the home as a cheaper and less bothersome method than a coal or coke fire. Interested customers were invited to view his gas fires in operation. John hired a barn in nearby Crown Lane for extra stock storage.

Before taking over the business the Eddowes lived in Chapel Street. They later lived off premises again, at Kenton House, Victoria Road.

Above, advert from 1907. Ironmongers, engineers, bell hangers, gas fitters, builders merchants etc. They say they have the largest showroom for mantle pieces, tiled stoves, hearths, ranges etc in the district. 

Note: there were a lot of Meakes about in Marlow including multiple Josephs. The Joseph who founded the ironmongery business is not to be confused with the Joseph a blacksmith and publican of Fingest / Lane End for whom see here or Joseph Meakes, blacksmith of Little Marlow. Joseph of Fingest / Lane End was the nephew of Joseph of Little Marlow however.

Related posts:

Joseph the ironmonger's brother Henry Thomas Meakes ran the Cross Keys pub, see here.

For more Spittal Street related posts including other shopkeepers see this index.

History of the gas works and supply in Marlow here

**More about the building of Marlow Station can be found here

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Above 1905 advert for Eddowes. Reused in 1907!

Sources include:

Reading Mercury 31st January 1874. British Library Archives via the BNA.

Censuses transcribed from microfilm by Charlotte 

Marlow Guide 1903, 1907. 

Marlow Almanack and Directory 1907. 

Marlow Almanack and Guide 1915

Bucks Free Press 10th October 1873. 

Kelly's Directory 1913

Early History Of Dedmere Road and Field House / Field House Farm

Dedmere Road, Marlow existed as a rough way through the countryside  as "Dedmere Highway" [Deedmere, Dedmore, Dudmere, Dadsmere....] in the 1600s (access to Common Fields) but its residential development was mainly from the early 1890s onwards. One earlier exception was Dedmere House also known as Field House which existed as the home of James and Sarah Webb and their children by 1871. It was a small distance off of Dedmere Road.  They had moved there from West Street. 

James was a farmer of 20 acres on the 1881 census, employing one man. Two years previously a tame goose and some ducks were stolen from them.

In 1886 the Webb's son in law Charles Fisher a butcher of Harrow was charged with coming to the Webb's house and trying to shoot their guest Mrs Sarah Holm in an effort to force her to produce his wife Mary (known as Polly) who was there with her parents. Sarah had never seen Charles before in her life and seems only to have been confronted by him because she was in the house and opened her window upon hearing banging at the front door in the hope this heralded the arrival of a telegram she was expecting. She seems to have been out of the loop in regards a delicate family situation involving the Webb's and Fishers. The rest of the household, alarm raised by Mrs Webb, in recognising the door knocker had decided to studiously ignore Charles and not let him in to speak to Polly. He fired shots at both the front and rear of the premises. Charles ended up breaking down the door, assaulting a male house guest and asking another to fight with him out in the road. At his trial Polly was excused by the judge from "the pain" of testifying against her husband though she was called as a witness by the prosecution. It is a fallacy that women could not testify against their husband in court- look at court reports and you will see that they did so regularly, but judges and magistrates would be seen as ungentlemanly if they asked a wife to do so if other witnesses could do the job as well. As not everyone in the house had heard any shots and the accused had no reason to wish to harm Sarah Holm the case was dismissed with the option for the Webbs to decide to press charges for Charles breaking into their house or their guest to prosecute for being assaulted but it seems in neither case this happened. Polly was back living with her husband in Harrow at the time of the 1891 census, hopefully with some peace and happiness in her life and this embarrassing incident swept under the carpet. The case seems to have been poorly conducted with the bench ignoring the fact that Charles having a lack of personal animosity towards Sarah Holm was hardly the point on which the probability of his guilt of firing at her hung. She was shot at because she was being intimidated as a person, any person, in the same house as Polly with the aim that Polly would be forced to agree to see him. There is no question that Charles had a gun with him that night, though he initially lied to police about that fact. That poor Sarah Holm had had sufficient motivation to crawl, terrified, in her nightdress along the landing to get help was given no importance by the bench.

Note that Polly's sister Elizabeth was married to Charles's brother William.

The Webb's often seem to have had a house full of guests or lodgers. In 1874 one lodger, Harcout Hardy, who had made his money as a tea merchant in Shanghai, died at the Webb's home from the long term affects of less temperate drinking- several bottles of sherry a day plus whisky. He was only 37. The presence of a live in male medical attendant come servant was insufficient to stop his drinking. The inquest was held at the new Railway Hotel in Marlow. No mention is made in any report of where his wife Amy was living while Harcourt was trying to recover his sobriety in Marlow. The couple had a son Frederick together. Harcourt's will has as beneficiaries a James Hardy and John Gray Hill.

Of long standing farming stock the Webbs would have been quite at home in the then largely still rural vicinity of Dedmere Road. Yes there was the nearby railway station from 1873 with its busy goods yard, and later a chair factory and saw mill in Victoria Road near the junction with Dedmere Road but mostly there were fields all about them.

As was typical in Marlow housing development when it did pick up in Dedmere Road soon far outstripped the ability of the powers that be to keep up with adding the necessary infrastructure. There was no gas main in the road in 1901. A small extension was made that way in 1903 to allow a few street lamps to be provided but five years after that the whole road still did not have the privilege of a gas connection. Nor did all the houses have access even to their own cesspit. The road remained unsurfaced until 1909. The local unemployed were roped in to do the labour for that job.

Flooding from the river could be a problem. Mr P Nelson Smith lived at Field House in 1904 and fumed to the council that the land around his home and the lane leading up to it was under a water for a third of every year. The same year the property was put up for sale by its owner along with 27 acres of accompanying land, pasture and orchards. The advertising stressed the "convenient arrangements" of the "well built house" but naturally did not mention the somewhat aquatic nature of its gardens. 

Previous flooding of the farmland may have been a factor in the business failure of a Mr Hutton Stallworthy farmer of Field House Farm (and Spring Gardens Bourne End) in 1893. He had been at the farm since around 1891 and returned with his wife to Oxfordshire following his insolvency. From there they moved to Hampshire, to Northants and finally via possibly a few other places back to Waddesdon Bucks.

On the plus side all that nearby water helped firefighters quickly quench a fire that broke out on part of the farm in 1892. This part was being used by farmer Mrs Morris so must have been let or sublet separately from the main farm which was then in the hands of Hutton Stallworthy and his wife Emma (nee Dodwell).

On the time of the 1891 census Hutton and Emma had 19 year old Ernest Coltman with them. He is described as a visitor but he was in fact a paying pupil learning farming from Hutton at a cost of £90 a year. Hutton borrowed £100 from him to help buy a traction engine but couldn't keep up with payments and it was seized. Ernest found it difficult to stick with any particular trade, or to stay out of personal debt and  he burned through an inheritance he had received at a rapid rate leading to him too being declared insolvent in 1894. Numerous Marlow tobacco sellers were left with unpaid bills.

Hutton and Emma's son "Earnest" born at Field House Farm in 1893 may have been named after Ernest Coltman as he lived with them at the time.

WW1 touched every part of Marlow including Dedmere. The Reading Mercury on 25th September 1915 reported that Private A Ayres of the Border Regiment, late of Dedmere Road, had died of wounds received at Gallipoli. I have not been able to trace his military service otherwise.

From 1899 to the middle of WW1 Field House Farm was occupied by Keziah and George Barrett who operated it as a dairy farm. It had by then increased in size from the 20 acres James Webb had had to 30 acres. They had bought the farm from the executors of an Alfred Webb in 1899. On the 1911 census the Barretts had a 20 year old servant girl Florrie Yates living with them but perhaps either servant or mistress was unhappy as a few weeks after the census Keziah advertised for a new servant girl - wages up to £11 a year.

Keziah and George both died in 1916 and the farm stock was sold off. Coming in after them was the rather shady Edward Fenner Fennel, horse dealer and dairy farmer, who went bankrupt almost immediately. He had a string of aliases making straightening out his financial affairs a challenge. In 1919 he was given 6 months hard labour in Kent for forging a reference.

After the war there was increased development in the Dedmere area. Though still mainly residential in character the neighbourhood included the Greenwich Saw Mill in Victoria Road which had replaced the earlier chair factory come saw mill as mentioned above. Dedmere Road residents were amongst those who went to the Council in 1946 to complain about the amount of sawdust from it that blew their way. The council did not consider much could be done about it.

From (at least) the 1920s to at least the late 1950s Field House Farm was used by the Pinches family as a stud specializing at first in cart and van pulling horses then later in quality riding horses. It was also a riding school and I believe a livery stable too. It was sometimes then called Pinches Farm. Mrs Pinches who ran the riding school was Margaret nee Morris whose family were at Barmoor Farm in Marlow.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Related Posts:

For more history posts about specific Marlow Streets or named houses see this menu. There is a lot for instance on the people of nearby address Glade Road.

Over 4,000 people are mentioned on this blog. Search for all mentions of anyone on the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. You will find plenty more Webb family mentions amongst many other people.

Everyday life in old Marlow post index: Here

Sources Included:

Reading Mercury 12th August 1911 and 17th July 1886. British Library Archives, accessed via the BNA.

The Timber Trade Journal and Saw Mill Advertiser Volume 77 published by De LA Rue.

"England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJ3-3DBS : 30 August 2018), Harcourt William Hardy, 16 Oct 1874; citing Probate, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .

Census transcription by Charlotte Day except 1891 Harrow which was by Jane Pullinger.

GRO marriage registration index, GRO online.

Marlow Directory and Almanack 1907, Marlow Printing Company.

Kellys Directory 1915 by Kellys Directories Limited. 

Slough Eton and Windsor Observer July 17 1886 - Slough Library

Maidenhead Advertiser 29th July 1904. 

South Bucks Standard 30th June 1893 and July 13th 1894. These two editions British Library Archives, accessed via the BNA.

Bucks Free Press 10th November 1916, Bucks Free Press Archives.

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

The Limes, Glade Road

The house immediately after the Baptist Chapel in Glade Road, if walking away from the railway station. On the side of the building a large "built 1884" plaque is unmistakable so it was erected the same year as the Baptist Chapel. A house on the other side of the road now called "Lime House" [number 1] is not the historic "The Limes".

Historic occupiers I can identify:

1890-91 John and Mrs Lily Mentor. John's tragic death by suicide is examined in Kathryn's post here.

1896 as summer renters and 1897-99 as actual residents= Conrad Dressler, sculptor and potter and his wife. Conrad was a member of the Arts and Crafts Exhibitor's Society. He operated later from Medmenham Pottery at Marlow Common. Conrad and his wife moved to live nearer to it at Bovingdon Green. To read about trouble Conrad got into see " Artists In Marlow History" here and a full post about his pottery at Marlow Common here

1899 - Mrs Greenwood. 

1900= house is again a seasonal holiday let.

1908= Alice and Henry Gray. This couple skipped about a bit in Glade Road, occupying various properties. Henry bought Clifton's stores grocery and off licence shop in the High Street early in 1902. This was on the corner of Institute Road. He had previously been manager of a similar shop in Staines but was of Marlow birth. His brother James was a mortgage broker / insurance agent based in the Old Vicarage in the High Street who soon came into the grocery business with Henry too.

1911-24 Mrs Moore.

Our blog focuses on Pre 1930s Marlow People.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this content for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here.

Sources Included:

Mapping the practice of sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951. University of Glasgow and HATII. http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk .Accessed 23rd October 2021.

South Bucks Standard 17th April 1891 and 22nd May 1896. British Library Archives copies.

Kelly's Directory of Bucks 1911 and 1924. Kelly's Directories Limited.

How to have fun in Edwardian Marlow

This post is about some of the more unusual options for entertainment available to our Edwardian Marlow forebears. You can find links to posts about the more conventional options for fun at the bottom of the page. 

I think our first stop may be the Duke Of Cambridge in Queens Rd to see land lord William Plumridge. Nothing unusual about having a pint you might say. But in 1904 William has given us an unusual reason to stop by - his monster apple tree. He is very good at growing fruit but this year his tree of Peasgood Nonsuch is producing individual apples the largest of which weighs over 1lb 1oz. Marlow takes horticulture seriously and the biggest fruit is on display in the High Street at Mr Fields. Strictly not for sale, or not until everyone has come to marvel enough at it. This might strike you as a not very exciting exhibit but Marlow celebrates the victories of her sons and daughters, however minor. 

If that exhibit did not satisfy you, perhaps you would like to see something that was a genuine item on display at the 1889 L'exposition Universelle in Paris. The very same that gave us the Eiffel Tower. It won a gold medal no less, the only one in its category. You will never guess what it is. To find out we must go to April 1907 and the Wesleyan Chapel fundraising bazaar. They are trying to pay off the cost of their new Sunday school buildings. The star exhibit is...a piece of blotting paper. But a Paris Exposition prize winning piece of blotting paper!  It was made by Messrs Soper at the Kings Mill in Loudwater. Time for a selfie perhaps? Marlow knows about paper making thanks to the mills here so there are probably a few people around who have a professional interest in this sort of thing and who could explain the finer points of just what makes an exceptional piece of blotting paper. On second thoughts, perhaps it's time to leave. 

Above, crowds heading to see the Bucks blotting paper at the Paris Exposition. Marlow has to wait until Edwardian times for her turn.

Moving on to June 1908 we can enjoy an up to the minute entertainment. And it definitely doesn't involve either paper or apples. For this we need to go to the boys school room, which is what we call the church hall in The Causeway. This is the venue for the grand gramophone entertainment in aid of the Church Lads Brigade. For this we will take a seat, and enjoy a concert played on the gramophone. It's going down well and several pieces get an encore. It might seem strange to see no musicians but how much more of an occasion it is to go out nicely dressed and listen to music with our friends and neighbours, and with refreshments to hand. If you enjoy it, there's plenty of similar events, and even radio based ones later on. 

For a completely different kind of performance we can stroll to the river to enjoy one of the river based dramas that are performed from time to time. We don't mean the constables chasing the "young savages" who like to streak along the river banks after a naked swim. These are proper dramatic endeavours, usually put on or at least hosted by the Marlow Rowing Club. In 1910 their invitation swim-meet ends with a water "pantomime". The following year there is a full on extravaganza or "water drama"  called "The attack on the Settlers Camp". Maidenhead String Band are in attendance and provide the accompaniment. No wonder they sometimes need a calming exhibition of blotting paper. 

Other quirky sources of fun include the Bicycle Gymkhana, 3 hour long musical and gymnastic performances in the Music Room, and the more unusual obstacle course type races to creep in at the Regatta. 

For posts about other sources of fun see: 

Marlow Fair (ceased to be held in the streets after 1903) here

Bathing in the Thames - here

Cycling including bicycle gymkhana and bicycle polo - here

Cinemas of silent era: here

And general posts about Marlow life in the past - here

Selected sources: 

South Bucks Standard 16 September 1904, June 12 1908 - British Library Archive, Accessed via the BNA. 

Bucks Herald 6 April 1907. As above. 

© Marlow Ancestors except Paris Exposition photo which is used under a creative commons licence. 

 

The Energetic Smiths of Beaufort Cottage

 Reuben Nereus Smith and Mary Ann Smith lived in Beaufort Cottage from at least 1874 when their baby son Henry Bernard was born there. Sadly the infant died the next year.

Reuben was the collector of rates and assistant overseer for Marlow for many years, the agent for the Harleyford estate, the Managing Director of the Marlow Water Company, Chairman of the Wycombe Chair Company, Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Chair Company based in Marlow, a house agent and the clerk of the Great Marlow Parish Council. He had many of these roles at the same time. When did the man ever sleep? More on the Buckinghamshire Chair Company and Reuben's involvement here

Reuben started off his working life quite humbly as a teenage shop boy working in London. He was born circa 1834 -36 - according to the census this was in Marlow. Reuben may have worked as a tax collector in London too. He spent the years c1854-1862 in Australia before returning home with a good amount of money behind him. Five years later he was appointed inspector of nuisances for the Wycombe board of guardians, and in 1872 he became the collector of parish rates, only relinquishing this role in 1899. 

His brother Robert Hayes Smith** was a hairdresser come printer/ bookseller/ newsagents who had premises in Spittal Street Marlow, then later the High Street. 

We can presume Reuben's youthful leisure activities did not include skinny dipping as he was one of those, along with his father, getting into a flap in Marlow in 1877 about the younger generation's way of bathing in the Thames. There was he said "an infestation" of young men running along the riverside at Marlow without a stitch on. It was still a problem decades later so Reuben didn't win that round. (More on the swimming here!)

Lawrence Joseph Smith son of Reuben and Mary Ann was also bookseller and stationer by 1893 when he applied for a alcohol license for his premises and became a spirit merchant too. Those Smiths liked to keep busy! Did I mention that he also later had a role in the Wycombe Chair Company and the local parish too just like his dad?

Angela* Theresa their daughter was a student at Northampton School of Sciences and Art. She was an art student, their best pupil in 1893, and passed examinations qualifying her as an art teacher, though I have found no evidence she actually took on that role.

In 1899 the fact that she, as a female, was one of the winners of a football results prediction competition ran by a local paper generated an incredulous (but good natured) article from that said paper.

Angela was Reuben and Mary Ann's second daughter. Their eldest Celestina died aged only in her 30s in 1902. Against social norms of the day she had set herself up in business -as a furniture dealer and coal merchant- and headed her own household as a young unmarried woman. She lived as such in Dallington Northampton on the 1891 census with her younger siblings Angela and Reuben junior as her assistants. Angela had quite an unusual career path then. There can't be too many young women who went from assistant coal merchant to art student! On the 1901 census Angela had no listed occupation probably as she was about to be married to William Davis of Northamptonshire.

Celestina is on the same census as a resident in an Isle of Wight boarding house living on her own means. So no more furniture or coal dealing. Given that she died a year later it is possible her residence on the Isle of Wight was for reasons of poor health- it was a popular destination for that. She died at Beaufort cottage and is buried in the Catholic churchyard.

Reuben died in 1915. I am unsure as to Mary Ann's death. Unfortunately I can find little about her as a person except that she came from Inverness-shire Scotland.

* Name registered at birth as Angela but she is referred to elsewhere as both Angela and Angelina. Unusual names ran in the Smith family- Reuben's mother was apparently called Ledger. Angelina is a name that is predominantly Catholic in use at this period. 

** Read about a theft at Robert's shop, and the surprising perpetrator here and more about Robert here

Some research Sources:

Censuses my transcription of images on microfilm.

Newspapers held by the British Library and accessed from the BNA August 2020: South Bucks Standard 10th February 1899, 10 March 1899 and 25th August 1893. [Football competition, Angela's art success].

As above but accessed March 2021: Bucks Herald 23rd June 1877. [Nude bathing].

Marriage certificate and birth certificates obtained from the GRO. Death registration indexes on the GRO website, death certificates.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. Additional research by Kathryn Day. 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse this research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and link here.

Hayes Place, Great Marlow

Earliest name "The Hayes". 

This is a very short street off West Street. None of the cottages wherein your Marlow Ancestors may have lived survive. Picture above shows the street in 2020, looking out towards West Street. Residents there would have had foot access round to Quoiting Square the other way and can also be given the address Quoiting Place as Quoiting Square was then known. Though in the heart of town in terms of being near to the river, High Street and main shopping areas Hayes Place was less than 10 minutes walk from open countryside going up Oxford Road or West Street. Though the homes there were crowded together there was just enough space for most to have small  gardens.

The first mention I have of homes on the site is 1832. In 1833 there were 15 households in "The Hayes". This was generally a poor address, though not grindingly poor or rough in the way areas like Dean Street were considered to be at the time.

Most of those who lived in the street had always been amongst the less well off but Hayes Place also provided refuge for some who had known better things- Robert Smith who had had a successful hairdressing business in Spittal Street became insolvent and went to live at number 13 for a few months in 1845 for instance.

On the 1833 assessment the properties in the street range from probably a one room very tiny cottage - that  occupied by "late Jane Moore" with an assessed annual value of only £1 10 shillings up to three houses valued at £6 10 shillings a year each, in the occupations of " late George Ward" [a butler whose wife Patience was a dressmaker. They left the town for Taplow in late 1832*], "Robert Reid" and "late Hunt". Note that these three houses appear to have been set off back from Hayes Place proper, and could be accessed just as easily from Quoiting Square. Jane Moore may have moved away from her tiny cottage recently at the time of the assessment but she was back later. She was a middle aged unmarried woman who worked as an laundress and a lace maker at different times.

Involvement in the lace making, satin stitch, laundry and paper making trades (as rag sorters in the latter case) plus domestic service were the most common traceable occupations for Victorian and Edwardian female residents of the street while involvement in agriculture, paper making, wood related crafts and brewing (most of the brewery workers will have worked at Wethered's brewery only about 5 minutes or so walk away) was common amongst male residents.

Someone not keen to gain employment or look after his responsibilities was 1833 resident Richard Lodge. Repeatedly in the 1840s he was fined or jailed for having abandoned his two sons John and William in Marlow.  There is no mention of their mother. John and William were together in the Marlow parish workhouse at the time of the 1841 census. They were both said to be 8. Could be twins but ages on censuses can be hazy and were rounded up and down. After the boys were beyond the age of being his legal responsibility Richard still found himself regularly before the courts for absconding from the Wycombe Union Workhouse. 

Talking of not taking responsibilities seriously - as the years went by properties in Hayes Place were not kept up to standard by their owner. In 1901 their sanitary condition was considered by Marlow Urban Council's medical officer as being likely to injure the health of the tenants with poor quality drains and cess pits too close to the homes.

Not enough had been done to remedy the situation by 1910 when drain water had seeped through the floor of the scullery of one cottage. Five other cottages [from other sources numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6] shared two improperly built cess pits. The yard soil at the back of the cottages there was badly contaminated by waste water. It was decided that some of the outhouses had to be rebuilt and all the drains replaced plus the yard properly surfaced. It seems that this work took several years to actually happen.

In 1913 the council again inspected the area and found that five of the eight cottages were not in a fit state for human inhabitation.  At last action was properly taken. All 8 had their sculleries rebuilt on the order of the council because they were damp and unsanitary. The same year the residents had three wash houses built for them to share. This was for the common use of all 8 households. The yard was paved, cesspits removed, and new drains put in. 

It needs to be pointed out that the owner of these cottages was the very wealthy Sir William Clayton who had more than enough means to remedy the situation for his tenants but it took years of asking him and his agents for him to do so.

The road itself, originally a private road, was taken over by the council in 1906 / 07 and paved for the first time.

Given the conditions it is not surprising that some residents of the Place dreamed of moving far away. Robert and Edward White Shaw [Aka just Shaw or just White] who lived in Hayes Place with their widowed 45 year old mother Marion [AKA Mary Ann] in 1901 did just that, emigrating to Canada. Marion worked as a chair caner in 1901. She died at Hayes Place the next year. 

*In 1830 the their two year old daughter Patience junior died. The Reading Mercury of 26th July that year described how the child's father was away on an excursion in the country when little Patience became ill. She died swiftly leaving her mother "inconsolable with grief" and unable to tell her husband about their loss because she had no address for him. Married butler's usually lived in with their employers while their family lived in a nearby cottage. There is a reasonable probability given that George Ward worked for the Claytons in nearby Oxford Lane.

 

*****

*To read about Victorian Hayes Place residents Charles and Charlotte Flint (he an embroider) and Charles' family see this post here. I don't want to repeat myself by dealing with them here when I have already done a post featuring them.

To find posts about other historic Marlow addresses see the "Specific Shops, Streets...Etc" index here.

All mentions of a person on this blog can be found on the Person Index on the top drop down menu. 

Researched by both Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day. Pic by Kathryn, words by Charlotte.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this research or image for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here.

Sources: 

1833 parochial assessment working notebooks, in custody of our family, transcribed by Charlotte.

Census transcribed from microfilm by Charlotte. Census information always remains Crown copyright.

London Gazette, Volume 3, 1845. Published by T Neuman and digitized by Google.

Buckinghamshire Council Report for 1913. 

South Bucks Standard 7th June 1901, April 8th 1910 and 8th May 1913 British Library Archives via the BNA.

Death certifications, GRO.