Life in 1950s Marlow Part Three Transport and Childhood

Part One covered sport and leisure, Part two dealt with homes and employment.

Post by Charlotte

Transport 

Car ownership while not uncommon was far from universal in the 1950s so bus services and trains as well as cycling were important to local people trying to get from A to B. Currall's Garage in the High Street offered repairs and sales for those lucky enough to have their own car and of course there was Platts garage too. Platts was a Morris and M.G dealer. The Maple Garage in Little Marlow Road was an Esso and Ford dealership. Unusually for the times it opened for the sale of petrol on a Sunday.  Petrol rationing continued into the 1950s meaning careful thought needed to be made about whether any journey was necessary. A couple of  petrol pumps stood ready outside Comptons cycle shop in West Street for any motorists who pulled up kerbside. Marlow Bottom wasn't to be left out, Witches Barn Garage still operated in the village.

A Mr or Mrs Cook of Marlow had a red upholstered 1953 second hand Austin A30 for sale as advertised in the Reading Mercury 1958 for a bargain £415.

See a pic of the A30 on Wikipedia here.

Daniel Gibbons of 19 York Road had previously operated as a secondhand car and other vehicle dealer but I haven't found any reference to him still doing that in the 1950s. He was definitely still operating as a rag and bone man however, which was previously his sideline.

George Bason of 18 Wycombe Road sold secondhand motorbikes and offered repairs.

Mr Sylvester of 41 West Street was a driving instructor, possibly the only one in town at first. 

Driving could have its hazards then as now. Heavy snows of February and early March 1958 saw buses unable to reach High Wycombe and the roads out of town to Henley and Stokenchurch were blocked for all traffic.

More bizarrely the road at the foot of Bisham Hill was covered in jam for hours following a collision involving a truck carrying several tons of the sweet stuff in 1958. What a sticky situation.

Concerns about the weight of the traffic crossing Marlow Bridge have dogged the structure since the 1800s. Increased weight restrictions on vehicles using the bridge and emergency structural repairs to it were both needed in the 1950s. Thames Valley services from Maidenhead stopped crossing the bridge in 1958 because of new weight restrictions. Instead passengers got on and off in Quarry Wood Road.

Other bus services connected Marlovians to Reading and High Wycombe. The Marlow-Little Marlow-Bourne End service however came to an end in the 1950s because too few people were using it at a time when petrol rationing meant bus companies had to ensure every bus they sent out on a journey had earned it's share of the limited petrol supplies available.

Bicycles were available to buy from C. A Boddy in the High Street. Like quite a few other cycle suppliers in this time period he also supplied prams. Well, they both have wheels, I suppose. The Boddys also sold toys. Another cycle agent was Comptons in West Street, also a motorcycle seller and as mentioned above a petrol supplier 

Marlow still had a full sized railway station in the 1950s.

Childhood 

Schools

The 1958 Marlow Town Guide lists the Girls' school as being in Oxford Road and the Boys' one in Wethered Road as well as Sir William Borlase School (then just for boys and both a boarding and day school) in West Street. They obviously hadn't updated themselves from their previous edition as the schools had in fact been totally reorganised in 1954. A good lesson in treating all historical sources even very official seeming ones with caution. Back to school for the guide authors we say! The boys' school had been transformed into a unisex secondary school known as All Saints Secondary School. The future site of Great Marlow School was purchased by the council in 1957 though it would not be developed into a secondary school for several more years. Bigger premises were sorely needed as All Saints Secondary School was bursting at the seams. Until further schools opened in Stokenchurch and High Wycombe children from Lane End and Cadmore End had to attend the Marlow school. Overcrowding meant that the school was not able to offer the G.C.E exam, as extra classes for the pupils who wished to study for it could not be physically accommodated. Any children who wanted to pursue post 15 education elsewhere would be helped to find avenues to it where possible however. 

Reach for the stars, kids

As well as not having to take exams the pupils of All Saints weren't required to do homework - until the teachers got the unwelcome idea to try it in 1955. At first only some classes fell victim but from September 1956 the whole school was told to expect compulsory homework unless they had a parental letter of exemption. Such exemptions might be because the child helped in the family business, looked after younger siblings or simply because the family did not believe that school work should be allowed to encroach in family together time (this latter was a common sentiment). 

At their speech day in 1956 the speaker was an Air Vice marshall who told the children that they were lucky to be growing up in the Atomic Age as there would be lots of exiting opportunities for them. He predicted interplanetary travel might be an established fact by the late 1980s or early 90s.

In 1958 at the Borlase School speech day the guest speaker was t.v personality and criminologist John Watson who told the boys that in order to be happy men they would need two things- the right job and right wife. He warned them that a "safety first" attitude in life would be dangerous to them (not necessarily in reference to choosing a wife). 

Borlase converted part of the original school building into a flat for the caretaker and a recreation room for the school masters during the 1950s. Mr Hazelton, the Head in 1957 said that in the next year there would be around 350 pupils at his school including 80-90 boys in the Sixth Form. This he felt represented a school that had grown too fast to keep up with itself.

The 1958 Town Guide  also makes no mention of Foxes Piece School which was built between 1954-56, initially just as an infant's school with only three classrooms. The rest of the grounds were used as sports fields for other Marlow schools. Foxes Piece was only meant to be a temporary school at first. However it was extended and became a full junior school for 5-12 year olds in the 1960s. More on the early days of this school and the history of the Foxes Piece area is available in my post here.  

Another point upon which the Town Guide was well out of date on was the fact that the Oxford Road school was then functioning as another infant school. A premises in St Peters Street (which had also previously functioned as the Girls' School) was in 1954 turned into a mixed junior school (middle school). There was a mixed Catholic school in St Peter Street too. At Medmenham children attended the village school. Danesfield was of course yet to exist.

Dial Close, a private school for girls operated from the Causeway.  Another private girls school Wycombe Court was located at Lane End but put on buses to bring in Marlow pupils. It had a unisex kindergarten.

When they weren't being drilled in the three Rs or receiving questionable life advice from a criminologist, there were numerous leisure opportunities for our younger Marlovians.

Hobbies, toys and clubs 

Owning a television was becoming increasingly common in the town. British children with a set might already be watching 2 hours of television every day according to research quoted in the book A Century of Childhood. A t.v show detailing the adventures of American Davy Crockett led to a mass childhood craze of wearing a Davy Crocket style mock fur hat. I haven't been able to find evidence of these on sale in Marlow but Bonners Superstore in High Wycombe certainly offered them and was only a bus ride away.

Model airplanes and games could be bought from Moretons (primarily a bee keeping supplies shop!) in West Street. The children of the secondary school and if the former boys' school kept bees on the premises and produced their own honey so they may actually have enjoyed browsing the bee keeping supplies while they were there. Toys were also available from the Woolworths in Market Square, from the Boddy's BTC toy shop in the High Street and from Jane Ann's in West Street which offered Meccano, Dinky, Triang and Hornby ranges amongst others. The small department store W.J Daniels in Market Square had an upstairs toy department.

The Marlow Sea Cadets , just for boys, formed in 1956 though they did not yet have their own premises and met initially at All Saints Secondary School. A Boys Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides already existed. The latter met in a hut in Quarry Wood Road. 

Higginson Park, Riley Park (usually then called Riley Recreation Ground), Gossmore and Seymour Park were all open spaces available to play in while a children's paddling place was set up in an enclosed section of the River Thames in 1958. This was in addition to the official Bathing Place Marlow then had in the Thames at Quarry Woods for both adults and children.

Not all the outdoor activities of 1950s Marlow children would meet our approval today. Butterfly and bird egg collecting were still quite widely practiced by some children, mostly little boys. I used to have a 1950s children's butterfly book previously owned by a local boy in which the young reader is given detailed instructions as to how to use poison to suffocate a trapped butterfly and warned that sniffing or accidentally consuming the recommended poisons might kill him too. A repurposed soft drinks bottle was recommended as a carrying vessel for such poisons. Fail! Though Mr Watson the safety-last criminologist probably approved.

For sources for this series of posts see Part One. Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

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

Life in 1950s Marlow Part Two Employment and Homes

Employment 

Major employer Wethered Brewery off the High Street, celebrated a bicentenary in 1958 with two garden parties for employees. Other larger employers in the town were the local council, Poppets Beads and the building trade in general. 

Poppets beads were plastic costume jewelry items. The company moved into the former cinema in Spittal Square in 1953. The old projectionist's room was used as the manager's office and the old seating area for production. Many of those employed by the company actually worked from home, only visiting the factory to collect the beads which they then strung into necklaces and other pieces. Both men and women were involved in the bead making. The same company also made aircraft parts as a sideline! In 1955 this division moved into its own Chapel Street premises with only a tiny bit of work still taking place amongst the bead making in the old cinema. Soon the cinema was deemed too small also and Poppets left to take over a nearby disused lamp shade factory. The former cinema was eventually acquired by the local council who intended to demolish it and use the site for housing, though this did not end up happening.

On a smaller scale in terms of employment there was Sunnydene and Quarry laundries, the newer cinema in Station Road, Toy Works Limited a toys, games and sporting goods factory in Court Garden (established 1943), the Victoria Engineering Company in Victoria Road, the Greenwich Saw Mill, the Marlow Coach Building Works in Newtown Road (which mainly built caravans such as the Marlow Tudor), C.C.K Limited at 53 High Street which produced women's scarves etc, Dairymaid Ice Cream Supplies in Crown Lane (commercial supplier, run by S.A Hawken), Mines and Putnam high class furniture makers in Station Road, Arnold's factory in Marlow Bottom which made wooden needlework boxes and automatic bottle wash machines plus possibly furniture, the Westhorpe sand /gravel pits and the various local schools, shops, pubs, cafes / tearooms, hauliers, and farms.

Toy Works as mentioned above proudly stated that though a few parts had to be imported from France or Germany most of their products were made with local labour only. Many of their toys were traditional wooden ones like bagatelle boards. The packers were usually female.

C.C.K Limited had moved to Mill Road Marlow from London because of the Blitz and chose never to return to the city after the war ended. Their products were made of plain or printed silk, rayon and wool. As well as fashion scarves they manufactured practical aprons in plastic or woven materials. I haven't been able to find out if their products were actually stocked by any shop in Marlow itself or whether they were all sent elsewhere.

I am aware that a Louisa Dereford and George Dereford ran "Marlow Mosaics" in this era but whether this was their own artistic enterprise solely or whether it was a business that employed additional mosaic artists I am unable to say at this point.

Employment opportunities in the 1950s could still be much constrained by the gender of the job seeker. It worked both ways of course- no one would employ a male nanny or maid but women had especial difficulties. The local press routinely carried job adverts that specified the gender that the successful candidate would have to be, and for the majority males were what was being sought. Some roles you might not predict did go to women more than men however. The traditional assigning of poultry on farms to the care of women for instance is reflected in the desire expressed by the owners of Bencombe Farm at Marlow Bottom in an advert for a female employee to run the poultry and turkey deep litter system there.

It was not uncommon for it to be specified that a prospective female employee who directly engaged with the public would need to be good looking as well as professionally competent. For example when Mac Fisheries in Marlow High Street wanted a female shop assistant in 1955 their advert in the Bucks Advertiser said that she must have a "good appearance and attractive personality". They do however get marks for specifying that the delivery van driver that they also found wanted at the same time could be male or female. That would have been quite unusual.

Marlow's first female police officer, W.P.C Ellington, arrived in 1954 after she transferred from High Wycombe.

Female workers doing exactly the same job as men were paid less than them. It was reasoned men had families to support so needed more money however this reasoning was of course nonsensical as thanks to the recent war the number of households with a female breadwinner had probably never been higher. Pay rates for those doing the same job also varied by age in many industries. Younger workers on farms, in most shops or in certain Post Office roles for instance whether male of female were paid less than those of the same gender over 21 or over 32 depending on the job. 

Get the right position and you never knew where it might take you. The Reading Mercury of 16th August 1958 reported that  Angela Chalk of Marlow and another former stable girl at Pinches stables in Field House Farm had the previous year won jobs working in the stables of a wealthy countess in France.

Those seeking a new situation either locally or further afield could make use of the I.H.B employment agency at 92 High Street Marlow or the government labour exchange. Under the Notification of Vacancies Order 1952 employers in most categories had to recruit only through scheduled employment agencies or the labour exchange. This was intended to mean the government could prioritize filling jobs in critical industries ahead of any others. Understandably, it was not popular with those employers who were de-prioritized. They could advertise a position in the newspaper but applicants had to go through official channels to make any application and stood a chance of being refused permission to contact the advertiser if it was thought they could be of better use to an essential industry or service. Men over 64 and women over 59 could apply for jobs without restriction as presumably they were considered too "old" for the essential industries. The order was rescinded in 1956.

Though the farming industry was less of an employer than it had been previously, it was still an important part of the national economy. A Young Farmer's Club had been formed in Marlow by 1954. Farm hands worked from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and half days on Saturdays. Increasingly other workers were getting their Saturdays off and a couple of weeks of paid holidays a year too. This coupled with the low agricultural industry pay and the long daily hours involved meant the abandoning of land based jobs by country people. Between 1948 and 1954 the number of female farm workers in the Marlow District fell by three quarters and that of males by over half. Mechanisation could only make up for these losses to a certain degree.

General labour shortages generally meant employers had to think of other ways to attract staff. Fines and Putnam the furniture makers of Station Road advertised that their employees could enjoy music while they worked as well as a canteen. Those wanting domestic staff in Marlow often reassured prospective candidates that they would be included in fun outings as part of their job.

Homes

The 1950s was still a notable era for the building of social housing. The council put out tenders for the building of 14 new council houses at Westhorpe Road for instance in 1954. In 1959 the last 38 older houses remaining in Dean Street were ordered to be demolished as the long standing Marlow slum clearance schemes first stage finally drew to a close. Multiple homes in Queens Road were similarly declared unfit for human habitation and compulsorily purchased for future demolition at around the same time. By the end of the decade the council was the biggest landlord in the town. 

The former Carriers Arms in Wycombe Road (now demolished) was used by the council as a hostel for those who had nowhere else to go in the early and mid 1950s. They took over the premises from the Ministry Of Housing. It is possible that originally evacuees or refugees had been put in the building. There was a critical shortage of even this temporary type of accommodation. There were still families living in metal shacks early in the decade at Beechwoods and in converted wooden sheds at Marlow Bottom (as owners and as tenants). The Marlow Bottom situation incensed Wycombe Rural District Councillor Mrs McKelvie who lambasted her colleagues for dragging their feet on providing new homes, rental or to buy, for those living in such structures. The situation was more complicated than it seems. Planning restrictions from on high meant people who had bought land in the village and had put up a temporary home on it while they raised funds for a more substantial structure were prevented from completing their dream despite having sufficient money to do so. In other words it wasn't only poverty (though it certainly could be) that forced people into living in such structures. Home owners could be ready, willing and able to make their shack a comfortable home but were told such work would contravene new planning regulations curtailing fringe developments. In a hope of exceptions or a governmental change of heart people clung on in their shacks or tried to sneakily extend or improve them without being noticed.

For private buyers in Marlow two estate agencies come auctioneers were available in the shared premises of no 37 High Street, Simmons with Gray and co, at no 84 there was George Kendall estate agent, valuer and auctioneer and at no 3 auctioneer and estate agents Lawrence and Laird. New homes were being thrown up everywhere possible in the Marlow urban area during the 1950s once materials and labour shortages caused by the war had eased, including the Wycombe Road and Oak Tree Road area, at Highfields, Lock Road, Chiltern Road, Riverside Drive, Gypsy Lane and Spinfield Park. While shortages of materials did remain private homes could only be built with a (hard to come by) licence from the council, Under rules set down by the Ministry of Housing priority was to be given to social housing on all potential urban development land.  

Bungalows remained highly desirable homes. A small 4 room bungalow in Wethered Road with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room could be bought in 1954 for £1750. Most homes were in the £2,000 - £4,500 bracket however.

Not every home yet had electricity in the 50s. Some of the older pre-war council houses for instance received electric lights and sockets in 1957 but others remained without it. Certain Chapel Street homes would not install electricity until the 1970s. The Electrics Company (Marlow) Limited in Market Square despite its name sold many calor gas appliances. These were not only stoves but lighting apparatus, gas powered fridges and gas fueled irons too. Many people kept oil lamps in case of winter power failures. Where electricity was present it was not necessarily installed in every room of a house. In any case in the early 1950s winter electricity demand often outstripped supply and Marlow users could expect one, even two, scheduled days a week when their supply would be turned off. These were notified of in advance as colder days drew near. The southern Electricity Board had an office and showroom in the High Street.

Coal and coke for fires were supplied by amongst others G.E Stevens of West Street and George Deane and Co (who had taken over the business and name of old Marlow company W.T Porter). Deanes were also one of the town's removal companies so very useful to have around! Early in the decade coke and coal supplies were not sufficient for the town needs due to nationwide problems. This left families having to severely ration their use of hot water at times.

By no means all Marlow homes had a bathroom in the 1950s, or even an indoor loo. Indeed there were houses without bathrooms in Wycombe Road in the mid 1960s, and in South Place even later, in the 1970s.

Antique furnishings were clearly popular amongst 1950s Marlovians. Bishop Limited in West Street specialised in antique silver, Sheffield plate and fine porcelain and there were at least two further antique shops on the town. There was also Walker's Antiques in the High Street. Secondhand but not antique furniture was sold by Taplins in Oxford Road. Buying secondhand furniture was seen by many as preferable as pre-war items were regarded as better quality. 

New furniture, carpets and other home furnishings could be bought from Norman Heals at 44 High Street as did Alan Hunt's Market Square shop. Mr Hunt's wares could be bought by way of a hire purchase scheme with payments spread over a period of up to two years. He also sold bedding from his second premises in Spittal Street. Hines and Putnam of Station Road were high quality upholsterers early in the decade who proudly made and marketed the "Marlow Suite" of sofa and armchairs. They moved from Marlow later in the decade but seem to have continued to make the Marlow suite. 

Washing machines could be purchased from Platts radio and television shop but there was still laundry services in the town -Quarry Laundry offered a free sock darning service to their customers - and hand washing in tubs wasn't yet quite redundant. Older people thought it superior! 

Pretty much every little usual item for DIY or home maintenance could be bought from the packed Chalk's ironmongers in the High Street, which under different but related families had a long heritage in Marlow. See my post here for the history of this building.

Not every home had a telephone by any means in the 1950s but the public call box provision in the town was expanding. The hamlet of Munday Dean got its first box during the 1950s.

For sources for this series of posts see Part One.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

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

1700s Spittal Street People

It is very difficult to find home or business addresses for anyone in the 1700s so all references are precious! Look too at my post on 1700s Chapel Street people here as the two roads are a continuation of one another and our Marlow ancestors made no effort to properly distinguish between them. They sometimes used "Chapel Street" or "Chapel End" to refer to the entirety of Spittal Street and Chapel Street and vice versa.

John Carter  - tenant of a cottage 1721-31. A man of this name was sentenced to death for highway robbery in 1730 but a public appeal lead to a reprieve. More on this here.

Anne Garnett - widow tenant of house 1700. This came with a plot of land and barn but she may not have had access to them as the barn at least previously had been separately occupied from the house.

John Gibbons - tenant of a cottage 1721. Gone by 1731.

William Gunnell - owner and occupier of cottage 1710. He also owned the cottage next door occupied by Peter Silver. Wife Mary. I don't seem to have recorded his baptism when I looked at the original parish records but Find My Past has a Bishops Transcript record of a "William Gonnell" baptised 1674 to a William and Elizabeth which MAY be the baptism of this William  him https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FBUCKINGHAMSHIRE%2FBAP%2F000823538. A William Gu(n)nell senior died at Marlow in 1727 and a William junior in 1760. Probable marriage of William of Chapel Street is to Mary Wye 1705 Great Marlow .

Robert Malday - tenant of a house 1761.

John Phillips - tenant of a property 1721.

J Phillips - could be same as above. Paid £4 a year rent in 1731 for his cottage in Spittal Street. Next door to the property John Phillips above was in earlier. A John Phillips lived in a "Chapel Street" property owned by Abel Bird in his 1733 will. This may be the same property due to the perpetual confusion between Spittal Street and Chapel Street in the past. A John Phillips was an innholder in Marlow 1742 but Phillips was a common last name so the two Johns may not be the same man or even closely related.

1710 Peter Silver, gauger. A tenant of a cottage 1710. Next door neighbour of the Gunnells. Probably died this year.

William Weedon tenant of a property 1717. 

Compiled by Charlotte Day. 

To find posts about the 1700s residents of other Marlow streets, a recreated 1700-99 trade directory and other 1700s Marlow material see this index.

Edwardian residents of Spittal Street, household by household Part One and Part Two

All mentions of any person on this blog can be found on the Person Index pages on the left hand menu.

Compiled by Charlotte Day. ©Marlow Ancestors. 

Will Of Bridget Manning Of Great Marlow 1735 and Manning research

Will written 1734, proved 1735.

Spinster.

Asks to be decently buried. 

All her goods, chattels, plate, jewell's, rings, ready money, debts, credits and all the rest of her personal estate to her loving cousin Samuel Manning of Great Marlow who is also made sole executor of the will.

Witnessed by Jane Gibbons, Francis Hone and Mary Lethieullier. Drawn up by Thomas Stephens, notary public.

I transcribed and then summarized this p.c.c will from the original held at the National Archives, Kew.

Notes:

Samuel Manning, Bridget's cousin, was the Marlow gentleman and brewer of that name who died in 1745.

Mary Lethieullier was perhaps the daughter of William Lethieullier of Sutton at Hone in Kent. In which case her mother, his first wife was born Mary Manning. She died in 1717 and William remarried. The Lethieullier family came to England as Huguenot refugees and it is suggested that the Mannings were originally from Germany before they settled in Kent. Samuel Manning was the brother of the Mary Manning who married William Lethieullier and the son of Nicholas Manning of Westerham, Kent. Bridget was the daughter of Ranulph alias Randulf Manning of Westerham, Kent (seemingly by his first wife). Ranulf / Randulf and Nicholas were brothers. There were two further brothers- Thomas and John.

Bridget's uncle John, a draper, also lived in Marlow for a while. Though he was of Westerham Kent at the time of his death he asked to be buried at Marlow with his wife. John's 1728 will left Bridget Manning his niece an annuity of £10, a gold brooch and some of his best books. He also mentioned his nephew Samuel Manning and niece Mary Manning. 

This isn't an easy family tree! Bridget's father was married to Catherine Missenden (seemingly his second wife) by whom he had sons called both Ranulf and Ralf as evidenced by the son Ranulf's will. His brother Nicholas was married to Catherine's sister Mary. The women's father was a merchant adventurer based in Hamburg, Germany so you can see how the idea that the Mannings were German of origin may be correct. Others believe them to be in fact an old Kent family. The first name Ranulf was once quite common in England but would have been very out of date here by the late 1600s /early 1700s. Randulf has never been anything other than rare.

Samuel Manning of Marlow's daughter Sarah features in this post.

See the Wills Transcriptions Index here for other similar posts. All mentions of any person on this blog can be found on the A-Z Person Index. Thousands of people are mentioned.

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

Robinson Wills

 1.) Will of Nicholas Robinson, gentleman of Great Marlow. Written 1837. Proved 1840.

See notes below.

Nicholas says he is of sound mind but of bodily infirmity. 

Debts and funeral expenses to be paid.

All he has to dear wife Elizabeth for the term of her natural life then at her decease it all to be divided equally between his sons and daughters (not individually named).

Mr Richard Stephens of No.12 York Place, City Road, St Mary ....don, Middlesex to be sole executor.

Witnessed by Thomas Rolls junior draper of Great Marlow and Solomon Green draper of Great Marlow.

Notes:

Nicholas Robinson was a retired London merchant who lived at Seymour Court, Marlow by 1831. In 1838 he witnessed the will of Hannah Webb of Marlow Bottom Farm. He died on the 7th April 1840 but I could not see him amongst the C of E burials in the town.

Elizabeth died on October 16th 1847 at Great Marlow aged 72 as announced in the relevant issue of the Gentleman's Magazine. The Reading Mercury of 23rd October 1847 (British Library Archives) called her "much and deservedly lamented". The couple had at least 4 daughters: Hannah who married into the Gibbons family of Marlow, Mary whose will is below, Sarah, and Rachel plus at least 3 sons.

Thomas Rolls was in the High Street.

2.) Mary Robinson will. Written 1840. Proved 1848. Spinster. She was the daughter of Nicholas above.

All she has to her three sisters Rachel, Sarah and Hannah equally.

Sole executor her friend Richard Stephens esquire of York Place, City Road, Middlesex. 

Witnessed by the curate of Little Marlow and Thomas Rolls of Great Marlow.

Notes:

Probate was granted to Mary's sister Sarah Robinson as her appointed executor died before he could prove the will. 

Mary was born in 1805. Hannah in 1815, Rachel in 1803 and Sarah in 1811. For some reason most were baptized as adults.

These P.C.C original wills held at the National Archives, Kew was transcribed by me Charlotte Day and then summarised here.

More wills from Marlow transcribed and indexed here.

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

1833 Parochial Assessment Great Marlow St Peter's Street

 

I am gradually transcribing the original 1833 handwritten parochial assessment working notebooks of the assessors which my family own along with related correspondence. The purpose of the assessment was to calculate local taxes for 1834. The books were updated with additions and corrections up to circa 1839. Any such updates are highlighted in my transcription.

Format of my transcription:

Name

Property occupied

Annual value of each property

Any comments or research by me in square brackets

By Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. Use this information if you wish but please credit this blog.

Duck Lane [Also called St Peter's Street which is it's modern name, sometimes in the past called Old Bridge Street too. The name St Peter's does NOT derive from the church as this was not built until the 1840s. The name St Peter's Street was used alongside Duck Lane much earlier]

Thomas Clinkenbury 

House and garden

£5

*****

Timothy Chance [two men of this name headed households in this street. The other in a smaller cottage was a bargeman.]

House and garden

£5

*****

Richard Oxlade

The Blue Banner house [Pub, premises there till at least 1862 before becoming a house. This was very close to the River Thames and the water's edge. There was another pub of this name in Marlow in Henley Road later in the 1800s] and yard.

£8

*****

Christopher Copas

House and Garden

£5

*****

Aaron Oxlade [shopkeeper aged about 67. In St Peter's Street by 1830 when Pigotts Directory lists him. He had married Mary Truss at High Wycombe in 1800. She took over the shop after his death. She was specifically a grocer, Aaron just "shopkeeper". The shop was later licensed to sell beer as well. The Richard of the Blue Banner above was their son]

House and garden

£6

*****

Samuel Barnes [He owned this and other property in the street which was all sold 1850 after his death. His friend Richard Gibbons below was one of his will executors].

House, yard, garden, stable and lofts

£20

Malthouse

£15

*****

Thomas Gibbons [he was a coal merchant. Brother of Richard below]

House, yard, garden, stable and chaise house

£20

Orchard

£5

Wharf at Bankside

£15

*****

Richard Bye [Had recently moved from Abbey Farm Little Marlow. He moved again by 1841. He married the year of the assessment Mary Hewett, by her first marriage Mary Hawkins, some years his junior but she left him two years later. More on this couple in a post here. Mary's first husband had also run the Two Brewers in his time].

Two Brewers house [pub], yard, stables and garden

£12

*****

Samuel Carter

House yard and garden 

£9

******

John Shanks [journeyman blacksmith. In 1833 a court case to get back his alleged ancestral property Finnemoor, a farm near Marlow from Joseph Townsend failed. 1841 blacksmith Church Passage. 1851 blacksmith St Peter's street, 1861 St Peter's Street Blue Banner]

Cottage and garden

£3 10 shillings

*****

George Easley

Cottage and garden

£2 10 shillings

*****

John ?Fusten

House ["and garden" crossed out and "woodhouse" added later]

£6

*****

Thomas Gardener [a market gardener]

Cottage [the words "and garden" later crossed out]

£5

Garden [not attached to his cottage, further down the assessment]

£4

*****

George Newbery [Tailor. Still in street 1841 when aged about 75]

Cottage

£4

*****

William Coleshill [died prematurely in 1837. Widow Martha continued to live in St Peter's Street]

Cottage and garden

£4 10 shillings

*****

Richard Heath [labourer, in street since at least 1823]

Cottage and garden

£4 10 shillings

*****

Richard Gibbons [had a small brewery and also made rope. Sent to Newgate Prison in 1842 after giving false evidence to an inquiry into one of Marlow's many dodgy parliamentary elections. Brother of Thomas above. The property occupied here was inherited from their dad. Richard later rented Samuel Barnes' malthouse listed above as well. Richard was a friend of Samuel's and one of the executors of his will].

House, garden, mill house, counting house, yard, stables, lofts, store rooms, large yard, store house, brewhouse with malt lofts etc

£35

*****

The following people occupied cottages with an annual value of £3 each:

James Downing [labourer. Still in street in same cottage 1841]

John White [bargeman, see below for another John White]

Timothy Chance [2nd person of that name in Street. This one was a bargeman, wife Ann who continued to live in the Street in the 1840s]

Widow Neighbour

Widow Moore [Jane Moore widow of John Moore bargeman who died 1814]

Robert Corby [painter?]

William Lewington [on 1841 census he was said to live in "Mill Yard"]

George Hawes [labourer]

Joseph Gimmet

James Harding

Henry Clark

*****

Occupying cottages each with an annual value of £2 10 shillings:

George Collins

John Hawes

*****

Each occupying a cottage and garden with an annual value of £4:

Widow Butler x2 [could be an accidental repetition of an entry or two Widows Butler occupying identically valued property]

*****

Each occupying a cottage with an annual value of £4:

Henry Clark

Robert Oxlade [probably the shoemaker of this name]

*****

Each occupying a house and garden with £5 annual value:

William Croxen [usually spelt Croxon]

John White [seems to have started as a bargeman but became a beerseller here by 1838 until at least 1852. Wife Eliza. Cottage no longer exists. Name of his beer house is currently unknown. Note that there was a different John White, also a bargeman in St Peter's Street at the same time, see above].

Elizabeth White [the first name originally left blank, name Elizabeth added later in pencil]

*****

Occupying cottage and garden with an annual value of £4 10 shillings:

Samuel Hobbs [Later at the two Brewers]

*****

Cottage with annual value of £1 10 shillings [an exceptionally small value. This must have been a one room hovel]:

Ann Clark [lacemaker]

*****

Robert Gudgeon [also occurs as Gudgin. He worked in the paper mills. His wife Charlotte's grave is here. In 1843 he lived in St Peter's Street in a rented "newly built" stone house erected a few months earlier so he had moved within St Peter's Street]

House and garden

£5

*****

Late Bradshaw [no first name]

House, lawn, stables, yard, coach house, large garden and orchard

£25 [In 1837 a Mr Bradshaw a poor man of Duck Lane, that being an alternative name for St Peters Street, suffered a terrible fire at his cottage that left it completely destroyed. He was much burned when rescuing his children from the blaze. The family lost all their possessions. Two neighbouring cottages were badly damaged. This must be a different Bradshaw as the man called Bradshaw in the assessment above is far from poor if in a £25 house. This earlier Bradshaw he has either died or moved from St Peters Street in 1833, 4 years before the fire, as his recorded occupation is as "late Bradshaw", though the two Bradshaw men may be related] 

*****

John Morgan [draper, premises High Street. More here]

House, yard, offices

£10

*****

Ann Bond [widow. For more on her, her husband and an odd burglary Ann suffered in this house see here]

House, yard, garden

£25

Coach house belonging to Badger

10 shillings

*****

Martha Badger [likely widow of William]

Cottage and large garden

£5 10 shillings

*****

John Badger

House and garden

£4

*****

James Brown

Cottage and garden

£6

*****

Brown [no first name]

House and garden

£7 10 shillings

*****

Robert Jonathan Oxlade [in 1813 a man of this name was a shoemaker. Son of Robert Jonathan Oxlade senior who sold up his business -of an unknown nature but he owned a malthouse- and left Marlow in 1787. Obviously Robert junior had decided to return to the town]

House and two gardens

£9

*****

William Davis [could be the man of this name who was a Marlow beer seller in 1831, though presumably now of different trade as his premises are not noted as a beer shop or inn]

Cottage and garden

£4

*****

George Davis

Cottage and garden

£5

*****

John Collins

Cottage and garden

£5

*****

Thomas Frith

Cottage and garden

£4 10 shillings

*****

Transcribed and researched by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors.

Will John Piggott Of Great Marlow (proved 1695)

 Transcribed by me from a copy of the will received from the National Archives, Kew and then summarized here.

Transcription ©Marlow Ancestors. Use it if you like, with credit to this blog.

JOHN PIGGOTT, BARGEMAN OF GREAT MARLOW. WILL WRITTEN 1693.  PROVED 1695.

Weak in body but of perfect mind and memory.

Commends soul to God.

To be decently buried at executor's discretion.

Beloved wife Margaret three houses in Great Marlow: the house they now live in, the adjoining house in the occupation of Thomas ?Canplyn? and another in the occupation of William Beckford and their appurtenances to pay for her own maintenance and that of their youngest three children. This for the term of her natural life and after that the three premises go to testator's eldest son John Piggott of London, cooper, in trust that he will sell them and the money raised from that sale to be divided into five equal parts. One part to John himself. The other parts to testator's other children William, Elizabeth, Richard, and Mary. 

If any of the children die before the money is divided, and have no children of their own, their share to be divided between the children that are still living.

If John himself dies other son William to do the selling and division. If he also dies then any of the surviving children to do the same.

Rest of personal property after debts paid to wife Margaret who is the will's sole executor.

Witnessed by William Beckford, Henry Williams, John Gibbons.

A tribute to our bargemen here

To find all mentions of an individual here, use the A-Z person index on the top drop down menu. There's over 3,250 people mentioned there and new content is added daily currently. 

Link to list of other Great Marlow wills transcribed here on blog here

Recreated 1600s trade directory for Marlow: here (lists other Great Marlow and Little Marlow bargeman) and 1700s here

Part 2 1820s Marlow Trade Directory

After exhaustive trawling of wills, property records, court cases, adverts etc I have put together a trade directory for Marlow in the 1820s. It will never be complete, especially for women who make less of a mark in surviving records, but it may be interesting to you anyway. For some of those listed the exact premises are known, and some of the traders have dedicated posts about them already on the blog. See the A-Z Person Index for any mention however small of any particular person or Biographies of Individuals for full length dedicated posts only.

This is ongoing work. I have lots more names to add.

Part one contained occupations Auctioneers to Insurance Agents alphabetically and is available here

Can't find your ancestor? Look at my 1820s Street Directory of Marlow. This lists for every street not just those with a known trade but anyone we have found as a tenant of land or property there but for whom no known trade has been identified.

Ironmongers

John Henry Badger. 1822+ High Street.

Lydia Lane, West Street. To death 1844. More on Lydia here.

Lace Makers

Samuel Washbourn (business owner). Probably Chapel Street, was later.

Lace Merchants

John Glover. Dean Street. 1822

Henry Lovegrove. West Street. From pre 1820s. In 1822 Henry was injured when his gig was run into by the Greenwich stage coach. He received £10 compensation for his injuries and the damage to his vehicle.  

Lawyers / Solicitors

Henry Allnutt. Died 1821. Keen amateur gardener whose detailed notebooks of his success and failures in his Marlow kitchen garden were used by grandson Henry to produce "A system for Cropping a Kitchen Garden" published 1867. 

Henry Goldsmith. Chapel Street. 1823. Started as clerk to Robert Goldsmith, in Marlow.

Ralph Spicer 1826 to after 1820s. Biographical post on him here.

Mr Wright. Pre 1820s. High Street 1822-29. Probably John.

Liquor Merchants

Charles Wethered. 1820+. High Street. Earlier described as a malster.

Malsters

Samuel Barnes. St Peter's Street.

James House. Medmenham.

Thomas Webb.

Millwrights

Charles Moss. 1828.

Papermakers

John Dell. Will proved 1821.

John Jacques.

Francis Pepper. From pre 1820s.

Joseph Wright. From pre 1820s.

Pawnbrokers

James Clark from at least 1806 to at least 1823.

Daniel Humphries 1821. Will written 1826. Also a substantial landlord. Market Place. Someone tried to sell him a stolen velveteen waistcoat in 1822.

Plumbers

Mr Cox. Market Square. 1826.

George Goldsmith. Dean Street. 1823.  In business to at least 1836 but not necessarily in Dean Street. 2. George Wilmer Goldsmith, plumber and glazier, died July 1834.  

John Rance Lovegrove. West Street. Also glazier. Pre 1820+. Died 1827. Will proved 1828. First wife was Susanna. Second was Henrietta. Third wife Harriet (all as per will). Business left to his son James Thomas Lovegrove who worked with him by 1823. John witnessed the will of fellow West Street resident William Sawyer. See  here. Will summary of John's daughter Mary is available here

Joshua Phillips. Little Marlow. Also Publican etc. See here

Postmaster 

James Field, also insurance agent. Also teacher, see schools below. Will here

"Publicans", Innkeepers, beer sellers etc - for more on all these pubs and publicans see our Pub Related Index of posts here NB publican as job description was not in common use at this time, it is included to aid modern readers. 

Thomas Archer. White Hart number 2 (Spittal Square) see Mary Fletcher below. 1823 to post 1820s. 

James Biddle. Unknown premises. 1826.

Thomas Bowen. Red Lion. 1823 to post 1820s.

William Bowles. Greyhound Inn. 1825. Greyhound landlord listing - here

William Bowles. Six Bells. 1823-24. Probably same as above.

Richard Clark. Jolly Maltsters. Dean Street. More here The name Clark has a very long pub / innkeeping heritage in Marlow. Later at Rose and Crown Dean Street.

William Clark. The Ship. West Street. 1823-24. Wife Ann.

Robert Collins. Victualler. Will 1826. Premises unknown.

William Cresswell. 1823 to post 1820s. Complete Angler/ The Angler(s), Angler Inn. Read more on him here

George Davis. The Chequers.High Street.

George Phelps Dell. Barge Pole, to into the 1830s. See the grave of him and some others of his family here

Mary Fletcher. White Hart number one (Chapel Street). To post 1820s. There were two White Hart pubs at the same time.

Richard Furnell. Upper Crown. Died on premises of a fit of apoplexy 1820.

John Green - at the Three Horseshoes, Burroughs Grove. 1826. More on him.and his family 

William Harding. Throughout period. Turks Head. High Street.  Also shoemaker.

George Hawkins. Two Brewers 1823. Wife Mary. This may be a mistake for John.

John Hawkins. Two Brewers. Died 1826. Wife Mary then ran.

Mary Hawkins (nee Hewett). Widow of John above. Two Brewers. 1826+. 

William Hoare. Three Horseshoes Gun Lane. 1823+

William Lloyd. The Roebuck, Causeway. 1823+ A man of the same name was a butcher. Probably not the same man though many beer sellers had other occupations at the same time.

Robert Mossenton. Greyhound Inn. Started 1819. Left 1825. Also a horse dealer. Went Uxbridge. Coach from his premises to and from London Piccadilly via Maidenhead. Only a five hour trip each way! For more than on this and other stagecoach services, see here

Joshua Phillips. Kings Arms, Little Marlow. See here.

John Pierce / Pearse. Coach and Horses. West Street. 1823+ There was another man who was a butcher with this name in town at the same time.

Richard Ruddle.1829. Was a few years later at the Hare and Hounds and was most likely already there in 1829 too. Earlier in the 1820s was described as a tallow Chandler.

William Sparkes. Black Boy.

Richard Westbrook. Upper Crown. 1823-24. Mr Westbrook 1826.

Robert White. The Swan. 1823.

Thomas Wyatt. Horns Inn. 1823 to post 1820s. Much more about him and his family here 

Rope Makers

Richard Gibbons. From at least 1822. Also Hemp and Flax Merchant. In the 1840s Gibbons of Marlow provided ropes for ringing the church bells at Hambledon on several occasions. Lived St Peter's Street. Also brewer etc 

John Muspratt. 1819+. Labourer rope spinner.

Saddlers 

Hackshaw and Son. (And harness makers) Thomas and John. Partnership dissolved 1821 (insolvent) West Street. Thomas provided ropes for ringing the bells of Hambledon church 13 times between 1803 - 1839. He may be the parish constable mentioned here. John was again insolvent 1823. See under harness makers for more on him.

Sawyers

Robert Rose. 1828+

Shoemakers - see Bootmakers and Cordwainers. 

School Teacher's see the Education section on the General Marlow History menu here for more on these schools and teachers.

Misses Bond. West Street. Perhaps Mary Ann and Elizabeth who were apprentice teachers early in the 1800s to Sophia Tylecote at Albion House set up their own school later.

George Cole. Day School for boys Chapel Street. 1812 to post 1820s.

William Faulkner. Great Marlow School at Prospect House. 1826 to post 1820s.

William Francis. Borlase.

James Field. High Street. Also post master. To post 1820s.

Misses Field. West Street. To post 1820s. Probably Matilda and her sister.

Mary Garland Lovegrove. 1829+. West Street. Day and boarding g school for girls. Her will on the blog and more on her here.

Misses Rolls. Brampton House. High Street. 1823 to post 1820s.

Henry Terry. Prospect House. 1823-26.

Servants (selected)

William Hackshaw. 1822.

Skewer Makers -more on this trade in Marlow here

Mr Robinson. 1829. (Business owner)

Mr Todd. 1829.

Stone Masons

Theophilus Clifford, High Street 1823 to post 1820s. Post on him here

Surgeons

Robert Colbourne. Started in town in 1823. Also apothecary. To post 1820s.

John Creighton. 1828. 

Henry Riggs Goodman.  1825-27 at least. By 1831 he was living in Portland Place Islington and was the Surgeon for an orphanage. Looks to have emigrated to Canada with his second wife shortly afterwards.

John Goodman, High Street 1823,24.

William Hickman. Pre 1820s to post 1820s. See here for more on him.

John Shaw. From pre 1820s. Will proved 1823. Also apothecary. High Street. See his grave and will summary here. Robert Colbourne takes over his practice. 

Robert Colbourne : see Shaw above. 

Tailors

James Allum. 1821.

William Allum. Through period to at least 1840s. High Street. A Mr Allum senior tailor died 1830. Perhaps a father to William?

Henry Clark, West Street 1823

Samuel Clark. West Street. To post 1820s.

Joseph Grey. 1824+. In High Street 1830s, may already have been.

William Massey. 1820.

Tallow Chandlers

John Gibbons. See Grocers above, same man. 

Mary Horniman. West Street. 1825.

Richard Ruddle. 1823. By 1829 was a publican at unknown premises and by 1833 ran the Hare and Hounds pub. 

Thatchers

William Higgins. Died 1829. Well End near Little Marlow. 

Tinplate Workers

William Harper. West Street. 1823.

Turners

George Ball. 1828.

James Ball. 1826.

George Bavin. 1825. Brother of William below.

William Bavin. Chair maker and publican later. See here

Henry Hawes. 1823+

James Pusey. To 1822.

Watchmakers

Mr Costar. Chapel Street. 1829. May be same as below.

John Coster. Chapel Street. 1821

Edward Jackson. West Street. Pre 1820s to 1823.

Wheelwrights

George Butler. 1820.

James Cox. 1826+ Probably working for Thomas below.

Thomas Cox. Oxford Road / Quoiting Square. To post 1820s.

Stephen East. 1823 to post 1820s. Was later in Spittal Street running the Wheelwrights Arms pub too.

John Green. Chapel Street.

Wine Merchants

Charles Wethered. High Street.  Earlier described as malster.

Wire Manufacturers

John Washbourn. Bankrupt 1822.

Wood Cutters

Francis Friar. 1827.

Related Posts:

Recreated 1600s trade directory Part One

Recreated 1700s trade directory here

Index of posts related to specific shops and businesses here

Call the Apothecary! here

 

To find every mention of a family or individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

By Charlotte Day. Additional research Kathryn Day. 

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

Robert Shaw - King of the River

 It's sometimes hard for us to understand just how famous Marlow was as fishing resort, throughout all of the Victorian period. Many many people came here to enjoy the then abundant angling opportunities, and there is as a result numerous people who immortalised their experiences on the page. Throughout dozens of reminisces, one name is consistently recalled with affection above any other - Victorian "fisherman" Bob or Robert Shaw. 

Robert, later of Robert Shaw and Sons* boatbuilders, was born in 1831 in Watlington, Oxfordshire, to butcher William Humphrey Shaw, and mother Susannah. When Robert was a boy, the family moved to Marlow, first to Dean Street then to the riverside St Peters Street. 

Robert at The Angler

As a young man Robert came to work at the Compleat Angler at Bisham. This was directly opposite St Peters Street and an ideal place to employ a keen swimmer and angler. On the 1851 census, Robert is listed as a live in servant but it's likely he was already assisting with the lucrative side line of the Angler even then - catering to fishing parties. The visiting gentleman needed a guide to show them the best (and legal) places to fish, and also to handle the boat/punt and provide the live bait. A number of well known Marlow families were working as "fisherman" in this sense and while some were independent, others more or less attached themselves to serving the needs of a particular hotel or inn.  The Compleat Angler was premier of these (or The Angler inn as it was more usually known then). Robert would have been the junior of the fisherman at that point, but he must have already stood out for his talent at "reading" the river. Because in 1850, he was appointed the water bailiff for the local Anglers Preservation Society. This was a responsible position and a huge sign of respect to receive it at such a young age. It meant he policed the river to make sure no one was taking fish when and where they shouldn't. He held the position for 34 years.

 Although he later became famous as a boat builder and punt proprietor, Robert still was at pains to correct the 1881 Thames Preservation committee he gave evidence before, when they defined him only as a boat builder. He told them proudly he was also a fishermen. He was there to describe how fishing was protected on the Thames, among a wide ranging enquiry. It was the sort of job that could be difficult but a 1867 fishing guide described how his intelligence, love for the river and zeal had "earned him the respect and consideration of not only members of the club but that of the inhabitants of Marlow and it's vicinity who speak of him with praise." Others spoke of his handsome appearance, loud and cheerful voice, and polite and patient manner.  Another account joked that "Bob" could be summoned at the Angler if you made the sound of a cork coming out of a bottle! 

 A carp weighing 8lbs and caught by Robert, was stuffed and put on display for a number of years at the Angler for guests to marvel out. It was one of a number of trophies gracing the Angler's walls. 

At some point Robert seems to have began hiring out punts directly. It was a small start for what would become a big business very quickly. Robert did extremely well indeed financially. 

If It Floats, Bob's Got It

In 1872, Robert, now married with a number of children, moved from Bisham to a new built house on the other side of the river. (He married Elizabeth Jane White in 1854)  This was Ryepeck House, on the river front near the Bridge. (Later usually rendered as Rye Peck and converted into a private residential hotel in 1895). A ryepeck is the name of the poles that punts are moored against and which are used to mark the end of a punting race. A very appropriate choice. He had started his boat building on this side of the Thames, and a little later he took over the Haynes boat builders premises immediately next to Marlow Bridge. He expanded steadily, and employed a number of workers, many not originally from Marlow.  Not only would he hire you a selection of river craft by the day or hour (with or without a skilled person to pilot it for you) but he could build a pleasure boat or punt to your exact requirements, repair an existing boat, or house it outside of the river season. Are you a gentleman with a boat house at your residence that looks a little shabby? Robert could repair and varnish these too. Soon he could offer steam launches and house boats for hire, from Marlow or his Bourne End base also. And by 1904 you could charge your electric launch at Shaw's charging station. He could not build the larger vessels offered by his nearby rivals Meakes and Redknapp however, and workers from the two seemed to have had something of heated rivalry at times!**

A view towards the former location of Shaw's Boathouse, where Tierney Court is now. 

A series of tragedies

Robert was sadly the person directly responsible for recovering a large number of bodies of the drowned from the river. Some he saw himself, others he found after being approached for help locating a victim with his dredgers. This can't have been a pleasant task, but Robert never refused his help. Tragically, in 1898, Robert's own 23 year old son Reginald and Robert's son in law Hedley Foster* were drowned near Medmenham. A third person with them, Lewis Slade, a Maidenhead auctioneer, managed to swim the 10 yards to the bank. The men were bringing the small sailing yacht of Lewis back to Marlow from Reading. Conditions were described as "squally" but were not considered too difficult for the two experienced sailors Robert and Hedley.  Although reports initially said the boat capsized after it had been suddenly turned round, it seems that in fact it survived this initial accident. Some water was let in, and it appears that as the men attempted to deal with this, they were pitched over board. Reggie Shaw was a strong swimmer but Hedley could not swim at all. Reggie knew this and immediately went to his aid. Unfortunately Hedley panicked and grasped Reggie so strongly that both were dragged under and drowned. Their bodies were not recovered until the next day. 

The George & Dragon above, where the inquest into the death of Reginald Shaw and Hedley Foster was held..

Robert was away at Eastbourne at the time, watching two of his other sons play for Marlow FC. (Edward and Charles) A telegram describing the terrible accident was waiting for them there. Only a week later, another of Robert's sons, Albert recovered the body of a dead man from the river near Marlow bridge. Such events were sadly much more common in the old Marlow. 

The joint funeral at Marlow was a big event. The bridge was so thronged with bystanders that it was impassible to traffic. Reggie Shaw had been a member of the Bucks Rifle Volunteers and so the funeral procession was lead by their band, and nearly 130 officers and men.  Their members carried his coffin, and at the close of the funeral, fired a "salute" over the grave. 

In 1901, William Button of Reading, employed by Shaw as a waterman, drowned almost outside the Marlow boat house. He was bathing with two colleagues, when he suddenly disappeared beneath the water and never resurfaced. Robert recovered his body a little later. How painful the reminder of his sons death these incidents must have been. 

Not all bad news for Robert

Robert was sued for slander twice in 1900/1901, both times by London tobacconist Frank Bateman. Frank was a regular visitor to Marlow for a number of years in his house boat Kismet. He and Robert Shaw fell out over a disputed bill. Robert charged Frank for the repairs made to a skiff belonging to Frank but damaged in Robert's care (or not depending who you believe.) Robert put aside his legendary politeness to say Frank was trying to swindle him and not pay his debts. Frank sued and the first case was settled when Robert apologised and paid the court costs. But Frank said Robert continued to repeat the statements about swindling practices and so the matter went back to court. Robert denied saying anything of the kind. The court believed him and the case was dismissed. 

 

Above, advert dating from 1907. 

I'm pleased to say the last year's of Robert's live were not all doom and gloom. Now a widower, 70 year old Robert remarried 34 year old Christina Gibbons in 1902. Sadly Christina was widowed shortly afterwards but not before the couple had two children. For Robert died of bronchitis in 1908 aged 77. His funeral at All Saints was another that bought the town to a virtual standstill. It truly was the end of an era! 

We have not delved into Robert's many other roles in sporting and cultural matters or the post will be just too long! I will just add that he was an early member of the Bucks Rifle Volunteers and stayed a member until he reached the upper age limit. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Notes

* Hedley Turner P Foster was a London solicitor. He had married Robert's third daughter Frances at Marlow in November 1889 and they had two children. Reggie Shaw was an articled clerk for him. The inquest into the drowning was held at the George and Dragon, the bodies laid at Ryepeck for inspection. Reginald was praised for his bravery at attempting to rescue Hedley. Hedley and Frances were living at Caldwell Lodge in Station Rd at the time of the tragedy.  Reggie was a member of Marlow Football club, the Rowing club and Institute cricket teams at various times.  

The "and sons" of Robert Shaw and Sons were William Thomas, Edward, Sydney Logan and Charles Arthur Shaw in 1912 when they dissolved their partnership. They continued without William Thomas, better known as former proprietor of the Chequers Hotel who had suffered bankruptcy. Eldest son Richard or Dick had died at home in Glade Rd in 1906, after a painful illness. Albert or Bert also worked as a boatbuilder for his father.  The Shaw's boathouse at Marlow was eventually taken over by Meakes and Redknapp boat builders of Bisham. Ryepeck house was sold in approx late 1891 to Mr Percival Harter who was responsible for building Stoneyware at Bisham. 

** Robert and his son Richard were summoned for assaulting George Meakes and William Redknapp in the summer of 1887. General Williams had formerly owned all the land along the towpath from the bridge to Court Garden but he had recently sold most of it to the Shaws including the camp-shedding. When Meakes and Redknapp arrived with a launch outside the Shaws boathouse, Robert refused to allow them to land passengers and some scuffles ensued. He said they had no right to use his land. The court agreed and said any minor violence was excused by the fact the Shaws were maintaining their legal rights! Case dismissed. (Meakes & Redknapp said they had landed and taken up passengers there many times before without seeking permission and did not know Robert Shaw now owned the land. The former is certainly true, although General Williams agent John Tudor said everyone had had to pay tolls to do so and they had apparently not done.)

Related Posts:

William Humphrey Shaw here

Bellows, bricks and brandy - reviving the drowned here

Little lives lost in the Thames here

Picnics and Punts- Summer leisure in late Victorian and Edwardian Marlow here

History of Compleat Angler in 1900's here 

Marlow hero Charles Bonny - the grandson of Robert Shaw who lived with him at Ryepeck.  (Son of his eldest daughter Elizabeth Jane) - here

This post on Hurley Flour Mill mentions another death that occured at Shaw's here

Fellow boatbuilder James Haynes - here and amateur barge builder Richard Harding here

To find all mentions of a family or individual here use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

Other posts about general Marlow history can be found here

Sources include:

Ashby-Sterry, Joseph. Tiny Travels (Tinsley Bros. 1875)

Carter, John Henry. Thames Guide 1881. 

Fennel, John Greville The Rail and The Road or Tourist Anglers  Guide to Waters and Quarters  (H Cox 1867)

Highly, Samuel Where to Fish Around London. (D Brogue, 1880)

Taunt, Henry A New Map of The Thames from Oxford to London Taunt, 1872)

Parliamentary Papers, Vol 16 (Great Britain House of Commons, 1881). Digitised by Google 2019. 

Fish, Fishing and the Aquarium,  October 1886. Digitised by Google.

 Fishing, Fish Culture and the Aquarium. May 1886, Harvard University library, digitising by Google. 

Berks County Paper 22 July 1865

Berks Chronicle 20 July 1891. 

Bucks Herald 26 October 1889

Henley and South Oxfordshire Advertiser 15 April 1898

Henley and Oxford Standard 17 May 1901

London Gazette 20 September 1912. 

Maidenhead Advertiser 19 April 1893

Reading Observer 16 April 1898

South Bucks Standard 17 May 1901

Census 1841, 1851, 1861,1871,1881 - transcript from microfilm by Jane Pullinger. 

The Sportsmen 3 December 1908. 

"England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JBG-QKR : 31 December 2014), Elizabeth Jane Shaw, 1896

 

© MarlowAncestors. 

Copy Farm Marlow Historic Occupiers

Copy Farm at Copy Green. Not to be confused with Charity Copy Farm which was much smaller (though I suppose they were originally one) which was left to charity by Benjamin and William Loftin in 1759. (Or rather money was left for the purchase of land to provide an income for the charity). The latter also called Loftin's Charity Farm at times.

Description: 1844= 106 arable. 1854= 112 acres with 2 workers cottages, stable and 3 barns 1861= 112 acres. 1910= 110 acres. 1919= arable and pasture 112 acres. 1927= Under 100 acres.

1798- Mr Johnson.

1833- John Gibbons occupier, owned by Mr Hammond. 107 acres. At that time Copy Charity Farm amounting to 60 acres was occupied by William Goldswain.

Owned by Robert Hammond certainly between 1845-55. Likely remains in that family ownership long after.  Unknown occupier - believe to be John Gibbons still in 1847 but uncertain.  Robert in his will proved 1855 asked for it to be sold after his death. 

1861- William Greenwood. Wife Alice. 1861 census says employs 3 men and 2 boys. Sold up his stock and left town 1865.

1871-91 Thomas King. He also occupied Widmere Farm. He was a churchwarden of Marlow. Wife Mary. See previous post here on Widmere Farm for much more on his farming life.

1891-95 Emmanuel William Plumridge. Leased from Mrs Hammond whose agent Mr Lawrence allegedy  would not let him leave lease early after Emmanuel suffered the expensive death of all 9 of his farm horses during an agricultural depression when things were already tough. Emmanuel was ruined as a result of being unable to get out of his loss making farm. He seems to have been illiterate and thus unable to understand what rental agreement he was signing (with just an X). (He does seem to have been very confused about the circumstances in general, and at first said he'd signed no rental agreement, then he stated that he hadn't recognised the document for what it was.) According to Emmanuel he'd transferred his stock from Field Farm in Marlow to Copy Farm to make way for the expansion of Captain Marshalls Menagerie. He thought he'd taken Copy Farm on for three years but at the end of this period he was told he must give two years notice to quit! You can read more about Emmanuel and especially his wife here

1900- J Wheeler. May be mistake for Leonard J Wheeler.

1901- Leonard John Wheeler. Had been publican at Royal Oak Bovingdon Green, 1893-95. Prior to coming to Marlow had been a farmer at Wargrave Berkshire like his dad. Left Marlow by 1911.

1910. For sale.

1910-16. Arthur Hawes. In 1901 he lived with his parents Thomas and Mary at nearby Charity Copy Farm [not same as Copy Farm] though he seems to have been the farmer there rather than them. He and his dad worked at Charity Copy as labourers and the whole family lived there long before that.

1927-28. Fred Lee.

Occupation compiled from property records, adverts, wills, court cases, agricultural journals etc.

Ongoing research, more will be added if possible.

To find all mention of your ancestors here, use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. For other farm related posts, see the Specific Streets, farms, schools etc option on the same menu. Happy hunting! 

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

Will Summary For Thomas Gibbons of Great Marlow 1824

 I obtained a copy of this will from the National archives, transcribed it then produced this summary for the blog: You can see the grave of Thomas on the blog here

THOMAS GIBBONS GENTLEMAN OF GREAT MARLOW WILL PROVED 1824

Says he in good health with a sound mind and memory.

Son Thomas:

Newly erected messuage or tenement with its yards, gardens, and appurtenances in St Peter Street which he already occupies.

£500 out of the £6,500 stock testator has in Consolidated Bank annuities .

Son Richard:

Messuage or tenement with yards, gardens, warehouses and appurtenances to it in St Peter Street which he already occupies.

Also 5 messuages, cottages or tenements in St Peter Street with their yards, gardens and outbuildings. In occupations of Joan Sparkes, James Downer, William Cresswell, ?Thomas ?Grovenor and Richard.....

Also messuage or tenement near Marlow Bridge called Limbrook with its counting house, outbuildings, gardens, yards, warehouses, rights and ... members and appurtenances. (Note this is refering to the old Marlow Bridge, not the suspension bridge)

Daughter Elizabeth:

£6000 out of the £6500 stock in annuities mentioned above to her and her heirs. These are held in trust for her by her brother Richard with her receiving the interest of the sum during her life. Also she has all testator's other personal property after debts, funeral and probate costs are paid.

Witnesses George Ellison, John Ralphe and John Ralphe Junior all of Great Marlow. 

Three children all executors. Richard and Elizabeth went to prove the will. Right to execute was reserved to son Thomas too. 

Note: Thomas' wife had predeceased him. Her grave marker can be seen here. To find all mentions of a family, or individual on the blog (3,000 people and counting!) use the A-Z Person index in the top drop down menu. 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to quote from or use this summary with credit and a link here.

I have transcribed this will and summarized it here to the best of my ability! A copy of the will can be obtained from the National Archives, Kew.

You can read the 1833 parochial assessment description of Thomas junior and Richard's properties when that section of it has been uploaded to the blog as soon as time allows.  I have such a wealth of material and research I have posts written and scheduled far into the future.

Researched, transcribed and written by Charlotte Day.

Will Christopher Pepper of Great Marlow

Christopher Pepper, silversmith. Will written and proved 1807.

A very simple will:

All freehold, copyhold and real estate he owns [not described] and all else he has to his two brothers Thomas and Francis Pepper. These two are appointed executors.

Christopher made a mark rather than sign.

Witnessed by:

Thomas Lee, Thomas Gibbons and  Green.

Two days later Christopher had his will witnessed again. This time he signed it, perhaps feeling stronger than at his first attempt. Witnesses above signed again.

Francis Pepper the brother MAY be the paper maker who had the lower mill at Marlow and died 1832.

For more of my Marlow will transcription summaries see here. All mentions of someone on this blog can be found listed on the Person Index on the top drop down menu. 

Will held at the National Archives, Kew.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse my transcription summary for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.

Pay For My Funeral You Miser! Will Catherine Allnutt

 The will of Catharine Allnutt. Written 1819. Proved 1820.

Says she is in ill health but of sound memory. 

To dear brother Zachary now of Henley Upon Thames her one third share in three cottages and gardens in Bovingdon Green which was left to her by her friend Mary Stevens. They are in the occupations of James Wheeler, Mary May and Thomas Frith. If it is not in her power to leave this to Zachary as it is supposed to descend to her dear sisters Ann and Martha then he does not need to give the £20 mentioned below to her sister Ann after all.

If Zachary can inherit the cottage share then he must pay their sister Ann £20. 

Also to Zachary the £100 navigation bond left to her by her dear friend Mary Stevens which is in her father's possession. Tells Zachary to give £20 to "my poor Aunt Argles" and £10 to Miss Sarah Fields and £10 to Miss Ann Fields who were her dear and loving friends in her painful illness.

Dear sister Ann all wearing apparel, poultry and the few books and goods she had of Miss Stevens.

Brother Zachary appointed executor as doesn't want her dear and aged father to have the trouble. She hopes Zachary will not grudge her funeral expenses as they are the last thing she will ask of him and she has for years been a faithful servant to him for pay not sufficient for necessaries in her station in life. He has plenty of property himself and a long life ahead of him in which he will enjoy it so need not take any out of the little estate she leaves behind to pay for her funeral.

Topaz pin and best earrings to "my sister Zachary Allnutt of Henley or Charlotte the wife of my brother" [Possibly meant to say "my sister MRS Zachary Allnutt also known as Charlotte the wife of my brother Zachary"].

Witnessed by Sarah Puddifant, Ann Bond, Mary Gibbons.

Notes:

Ann Bond was the wife of William Bond senior the builder. More about her and her family here.

Biographical post on Sarah Puddifant here.

Catharine and Zachary etc were children of Henry Allnutt who died not long after Catharine herself.

Transcribed and summarized by Charlotte Day from a copy of the PCC will obtained from the National Archives, Kew. Additional research also by Charlotte Day.

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

Man The Barricades- It's Sarah Bliss Hammond

 

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

Sarah Bliss Hammond lived at the above house in West Street, Great Marlow for many years. At that time it was named The Heathers and had formerly been used as both a school and private residence. Sarah was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Bliss Barrett [Elizabeth née Waters]. She was born in 1828 and baptised in 1831 in Moulton Northamptonshire. Her father was a miller and coal merchant. Her mother died prior to her daughter's baptism at the age of just 27. Sarah was baptised on the same day as another child to the same parents, Elizabeth but given the fact that Sarah was a late baptism there is no reason to think that the two girls were twins.

 It looks as if the girls' father had some financial difficulties. In 1830 he took a partner into his business, William Wood, but the partnership lasted only a matter of weeks before being legally dissolved. Two years later William was selling up much of his household furniture. What happened to him I am unsure- there is a possible death in 1841- but regardless Sarah was adopted by her uncle Daniel Sharp.

She married her husband Robert Hammond in Cheltenham on 18th November 1848. Her uncle Revd H Barrett was allowed to perform the ceremony though he was not the local vicar, in a traditional mark of courtesy. The wedding announcement tells us that Sarah was also the niece and adopted child of Dr S Sharp esq of Keynsham Bank, Cheltenham. 

Robert was a Navy man and a local.J.P. He had been born in Penshurst Kent where his father Jonathan was the vicar but the Hammond family were of Marlow origin and owned Marlow property. In a will written 1818 and proved 1819 Jonathan had left The Heathers to Robert along with two neighbouring cottages and other Marlow property and land. Robert intended to follow a long navy career but the unexpected death of three older brothers meant fate had other ideas and he was required to take over the management of the family estates on his father's death. He was perhaps as strong willed and stubborn as his wife according to later reminisces, or as the local paper diplomatically put it, he was a "straightforward, outspoken man".

By 1850 if not right away Sarah and Robert had settled at The Heathers. They took time to re-decorate and modernise the house. A painter at work there had a narrow escape in 1850 when, during a lightning storm, a fireball knocked down the chimney and travelled down it, through the flue and out into the hall where he was working. It missed him by a foot. The local paper bemoaned the loss of one of the "highly decorative chimneys". 

In 1853 Sarah gave birth to their daughter Eliza at the house followed in 1855 by a son Robert. Just a few months later her husband died. He was just 56. Eliza too would die young, in 1875. 

Peter Borgnis of the house Highfields in Marlow was one of the guardians appointed for the children in the will of Robert, which he also executed.

When her son was 4 Sarah formally changed his last name to Hammond Chambers to meet a condition of inheritance set out in the will of the child's great aunt Elizabeth Sparrow, formerly Chambers.

In 1860 while she was attending church Sarah's silk umbrella was stolen by Ellen Gibbons. Rosa Cannon had her own silk umbrella stolen at the same time by a different girl in what was obviously a jointly planned theft. You weren't safe from thieves even in church in Victorian Marlow!

In 1868 Sarah had a serious falling out with her neighbours the Fowlers of Western House. Two years previously she had decided to create herself a kitchen garden. She negotiated the giving up of some extra land which the tenants of Western House rented from her. This land was used for farming purposes being part of a rickyard with also pigsties and other outbuildings upon it. By enclosing this kitchen garden and also adding a front wall to her property she cut off sufficient access for herself to the garden for her dung cart. She believed that no one would object to her coming in with the cart across other land occupied by the tenants of Western House. She was wrong. Western House got new tenants the Fowlers. Words ensued. Sarah at first acknowledged that she had no right of way but said she would take it as a kindness if she could have occasional cart access across the land in order to get to her garden. She thought the Fowlers had not behaved well by complaining but did not wish to argue with them as one of the Fowlers was dangerously ill at the time. After a while matters soured further however. I won't go into all the tiny details but to summarise Sarah came to believe upon legal advice that she did in fact have a protected right of way through the land.

The Fowlers disagreed. Charles Fowler, son of the tenant Maria Fowler, paid a carpenter to erect a wooden barricade on their land to stop Sarah's cart from using it. Sarah demolished said barricade (herself apparently!) and carried on. The Fowlers began legal action.

The judge felt unimpressed by both parties calling them ridiculous and petty for arguing over a 15 yard strip of land. He awarded the Fowlers damages for the destroyed barricade but advised the parties to settle the access matter out of court instead of wasting his time. It does look as if that is what happened. I have a feeling Sarah's slowness to erect a new barn as promised on the land rented to the Fowlers was the real cause of them deciding to object to her continued access to her garden across their property. Sarah had also been petty about them having stacks of wood on their land visible from her house.

The case is interesting because it shows us that there were two sides to Sarah- the genteel lady taking a silk umbrella to church and the other lady who'll tear down your barricade if you stop her dung cart! 

This was not Sarah's first brush with the law when it came to defending her property, or so she saw it. In 1862 she had been in a long running dispute with Lieut General Higginson of the neighbouring The Croft (Gyldernscroft). This related to a right of way she claimed through Higginson's land. One day Higginson's staff put some posts in this path to stop animals straying. Mrs Hammond objected and immediately sent her family servant of over 30 years standing William Bradshaw* and her woodman Richard Holloway to remove the posts. The Higginsons put them back. And yes, you guessed it, Sarah's servants removed them again. They were spotted in the act by Higginson's employee Thomas Harris who threatened the digging pair with a pitchfork which he said he would plunge into their hearts! He actually lunged at them with the fork, knocked down Bradshaw, and grazed the wrist of Holloway who grabbed at the fork to save a prone Bradshaw from being stabbed. Harris was summoned for assault but it could not be proved that there had been any injury, there being no outside witnesses, and the case was dismissed. The lawyer for the defence suggested that "rich people should take such cases to the assizes and not send their servants to fight their battles". Harris was also cautioned not to fight on behalf of his master again.

Not long after he turned 21 Sarah's son Robert bought Beech Lodge not far from Highfields and decided to rebuild it. He is described as resident at the Heathers however in 1882. He was a barrister at law.

Sarah remained at the Heathers. 

In 1894 a fire in some outbuildings (reports differ as to exactly which) threatened not only Sarah's home but nearby properties too. Though some damage was done the fire brigade had the flames under control before anything serious could occur. Sarah wrote a warm letter to the South Bucks Standard afterwards to offer her thanks and to praise to the skill and intelligence of the firefighters. She also wished to give "sincere and hearty thanks" to all other "kind friends" who had stepped in to help at that time.

Two years later at the age of 68 Sarah died at the Heathers after some months in decline. The property was sold by the family in 1908 following the death of her son Robert. She was buried with her husband and daughter in All Saints churchyard. 

NB Stratton House was referred to as "formerly known as The Heathers" several times especially around 1909-1910 although the adjacent Stratton House / The Strattens qv was used as an address in its own right earlier than that. 

*William Bradshaw was famous in Marlow for his stories of selling milk from the cows belonging to the Hammond's to the poet Shelley while he stayed in West Street. The Shelleys were apparently regular customers of his. William would not hear of criticism of Shelley or his morals. The poet was he said, "a sight better than a good many who spoke agen' him", with a polite manner and no hint of snobbery. 

Photo by Kathryn. Post researched  and written by Charlotte Day, with updates by Kathryn.

For more posts like this see Biographies Of Individuals on the menu. For more on residents of specific Marlow houses or streets see the menu option "Specific Shops, Streets ...Etc".

All mentions of an individual on this blog can be found on the Person Index. Hundreds of people from or associated with Marlow are mentioned.

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

Sources:

Wills of Jonathan Hammond and Robert Hammond, transcribed by me from wills held at the National Archives, Kew.

Censuses my transcription from microfilm. Census information remains Crown copyright.

South Bucks Standard 23rd November 1894. South Bucks Free Press 14th June 1860. St James Chronicle 21st November 1848. Bucks Gazette 25 November 1848,  British Library Archives.

Dutton, Allen and Co's Directory 1863.

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

Post Office Directory 1869 by Kelly's Directories Limited.

Inns of Court Calendar 1877 by Charles Shaw. Digitized by Google.

Moulton baptism from Jane Pullinger. Thanks Jane.

The Gentleman's Magazine, February 1848. Digitised by Google. 

Blounts / Blunts Farm Marlow

Historic occupier list. Occupiers are not necessarily the owner. Dates given are where I find firm evidence of someone being in occupation at the farm, they may have been present earlier or later too. 

Note= the name of the farm may spring from William Blount who was present in Marlow in the early 1400s. Perhaps he or his family owned or rented land that was or would become this farm.

Updated April 2026.

1587 Thomas Ponde sold it to Brinkhurst of Lane End, his relative. The later will of Thomas is on the blog here. 

1640 - John Langley.

1783 & 1788 William Brookes. Tenant to Nathaniel Micklem of Hurley. 

1815-18 Joseph and William Brooks. Probably brothers.

1833-1850 John Gibbons. Tenant to a Mr Micklem in 1833. Blounts then consisted of 173 acres. John also occupied Copy Farm in 1833. He retired from Blounts in 1850. Also at Widmere Farm. See here. At the time of John's retirement, there is a grand sale of stock. The animals on offer include "7 short legged powerful cart-horses", a 4 year old "well bred brown nag" who is a good roadster and hunter, and two handsome heifers. Also available to buy are 4 market waggons, 3 strong dung carts, a market cart, plough and cart harnesses for 8 horses, and the usual selection of ploughs, ladders, troughs, hurdles, turnip and chaff cutters etc. 

1854- Richard Blackwell, bailiff to the non residential owner who I think was still a Micklem.

1857-60 "Messrs Hewett", that is John and William. In 1857 sheep and corn stolen from them in different incidents. In 1859 their ploughman was charged with horse cruelty. William died aged 68 in 1860 on the farm. 

1860-67 John Hewett above. John died age 67 in 1867. Wife Sarah. Their daughter Sarah later married James Curtis of Wood Barn Farm, Little Marlow. Sarah senior died in 1893.

1869-76 William Thomas Bird. In 1871 summoned his carter John Edwards for allegedly stealing a pint of beer from him [Henley Advertiser 8th April 1871]. William moved to Abbey Farm Little Marlow but went bankrupt 1878. Note that earlier occupiers Joseph and William Brooks were related to the Bird family.

1883- Thomas Elliott? Kept sheep on the farm but was he the farmer?

1886- J and E Micklem owners but not living there. Bailiff Richard Sumner.

1888-89 Farm and the stock on it up for sale.

1889- 1899. Dr Francis Laking. Knighted 1893.  Resident only during the summer. Runs very exclusive West End doctors practice, with royal clients. In 1892 bailiff is John Warren. In that year a temporary worker on the farm George Cellam died from his burns after a fire there. George came from a Mr Mitchell of Burnham with a threshing machine hired to thresh barley at Blounts. He and other workers went drinking in the Royal Oak Bovingdon Green in the evening then returned to the farm to sleep the night up against the barley rick. Some of them had pipes and it was thought later that hot ash from one of those must have ignited the rick. That and the threshing machine were destroyed. George was taken to the Royal Oak and from there in a cart to Marlow Cottage hospital but died. [Some details from South Bucks Standard 26th February 1892]. There was no water sufficiently nearby to douse the rick and without that the Fire Brigade could not assist. In 1894 mains water was ran up to the farm for the first time. 

In 1893 Francis hosted a children's athletics sports event, with "useful" prizes such as cruet sets and teapots which perhaps does not strike us as the most exciting gifts for the youngsters. However each also recieved  a silver coin minted that year. Guy Laking is the starter. Over 200 children enter the races. A sumptuous tea is provided thanks to Mr Carter of Marlow and the Town's Drum & Fife band also attend. 

Dr Laking also raised pigs and heifers and grew oats and wheat on the farm. He purchased Clarefield, Maidenhead Thicket, on leaving Blounts. 

Gardener to Dr Laking  - Alan Axten 1894. (Lived Blounts Cottages.)

1899-1926. Walter Wethered. His farm manager and gardener was James Platt from at least 1903. James was still the farm manager in the late 1930s but I am unsure if this was for Walter or someone else.

1940- Mrs Heath. Lives with a butler, cook and other servants so property perhaps more of a home with land now.

Farm occupancies are compiled by me from advertisements, trade journals, censuses, court cases, property records and more. As I sort my research notes mountain I will probably add more information.

To search for other farm posts like this see the Specific Shops Streets Etc option on the top drop down menu. To look for a particular person use the Person Index.

© Marlow Ancestors. If using this research credit this blog and link here but you are welcome to do so.