Blacksmith's Arms Handy Cross Landlords /History

Updated August November 2025

Compiled from adverts, censuses, court cases, property records, and more. Original source spellings retained. 

This was "a very old inn" when it was knocked down and rebuilt in 1897. Not to be confused with the Blacksmiths Arms at Well End near Little Marlow (post about that one here)

The pub was used many times to hold Coroner's Inquests.

1843 - Joseph Earis (An Earis family were at the Blue Flag, Handy Cross 1833 which also operated as a shoeing forge - the two premises exist at the same time so this two different businesses in separate premises and not just a name change for the pub) NOTE: Earis can also be rendered as Ayris and later Ayres / Eyres. For more on infamous blacksmith  burglar James Ayris / Ayres of Handy Cross see here

1847 - Joseph Earise. In 1850 Joseph Aris/Earis of Handy Cross, beer-seller is fined for keeping his premises open during the hours of divine service on a Sunday afternoon. Joseph says that while there were people on the premises at the time, he hadn't drawn beer after the 3pm cut off. Unfortunately this isn't enough to escape punishment as the beer-shop is supposed to be emptied too. He does however receive a reduced fine (22s including costs) as he states he is going to give up beer selling shortly. 

1853- 96 Charles Augustus Rixon who also operated as a blacksmith. By 1894 the premises were being managed by his daughter Ada Emma Rixon on a day to day basis. In 1857 Charles and his wife were beaten up and their premises vandalised by a group of people from High Wycombe for unknown reasons. The "riot" involved the group trashing the premises up and down, breaking even the window frames. 

1896-97 Frederick W Lyell. Wife Dorothy also served behind the bar. Frederick was formerly a police officer in High Wycombe.

1897- Gilbert Ferguson. Inn knocked down and rebuilt as larger premises with 6 bedrooms. Intended to function as small hotel [South Bucks Standard December 3rd 1897].

1898 Gilbert Ferguson transferred licence to William Johnson.

1899 William Johnson transferred licence to Alfred Dunnett / Dunnatt.

1899-1900 Alfred Dunnett / Dunnatt.

1900- 1908 George Lavender. Wife Barbara. 

1908-09 Owen Herbert. Ran a Slate Club on the premises.

1909- Arthur Davis.

1910- George E Coles (holdover). 2. William Thomas Kimber. 3. Edgar Cole. 

1911 - George E Cole again (holdover) then Sydney J Edwards. 

1915 - John Harper.

1920 - William Dunham.

1939-42 at least Ralph Standage.

At Handy Cross. Address sometimes given as Wycombe Road. 

Compiled by Charlotte Day 

To find all pub related posts, see the menu here. 

To find other posts relating to Handy Cross and nearby, see the menu here

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

1833 Parochial Assessment Great Marlow Part Five West Street

 I have in my family the original copy of the working notebooks of the men who made this along with some of their correspondence but they are old and fragile so I thought I would transcribe some of them on my blog. They contained some scribbled updates up to circa 1839, if any are present for this section I will add it in and flag it as such.

Transcription by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. Please give credit to this blog if using my transcription or research notes but you are very welcome to do so.

Formula of transcription is:

Name

Property

Annual value of property.

Any notes of mine are in square brackets.

West Street Continued [this is Ship Inn side of road]

William Allum [see photo of this cottage here

Cottage

£5

*****

John White Camden [more on him and premises photo here]

Cottage

£5

*****

Thomas Bowen senior [father of below, had the Red Lion before his son. His will has been described by me and is on the blog here. See his home here]

House and garden

£8

*****

Thomas Bowen junior [More here]

The Lion public house [Red Lion], yard, stables and garden 

£12

*****

Mary Horniman [resident in the same house 1825. It was then also a chandler's shop but no mention of that here. This property no longer exists].

Dwelling house and garden

£9

*****

Daniel Walker [this house no longer exists]

House and garden 

£6

*****

Widow Wyatt [probably the widow of Moses Wyatt who occupied the same property in 1825. This property no longer exists] 

Cottage and garden

£5

*****

William Lloyd [a butcher. Beaten and robbed by ruffians in nearby Potlands Alley in 1840].

Cottage and garden

£4

*****

Charles Herbert [property recorded out of order, he was in the first house after Potlands Alley turning, walking out of town. He was there 1825. This property no longer exists].

Cottage and garden 

£5

*****

James Hinton [later worked in brewery, may already have done so. In same house 1840. Witnessed multiple Marlow wills. This property no longer exists].

Cottage and garden 

£5

*****

Thomas Costar

Cottage and garden

£5 10 shillings

*****

Widow Walker

Cottage and garden

£5

*****

John Hackshaw [a saddler and harness maker. Died 1869]

House, workshop, shed and garden

 £11

*****

Widow Lovegrove [Harriet. Running a school for girls. Modern number 81. See her stepdaughter's will transcribed here]

House, garden and shed

£10

*****

Thomas Wethered [house is Remnantz]

Mansion with offices, coach houses, stables, yards, kitchen and pleasure gardens, summer house, green houses etc 

£100

To be continued.. 

To find more West Street content including previous parochial assessment posts see the Specific Shops, Streets Etc option here here