Early 20th Century Station Road Businesses Part One

NOTE: numbers given here are the numbers as they were then.

Post by Charlotte...

Right Hand Side (St Peter Street side) 

The Marlow Directory And Almanack of 1907 gives the first occupier on this side of the Street as C.H Carter, baker. That is Charles Henry Carter but his was the large corner premises on the Station Road and Causeway corner and these would be more usually considered to be in the Causeway (as that's where the main door was) so we will pass by him for now.

The first proper shop entrance you would come across was instead that of Miss Lydia Heal dressmaker. She'd first asked permission to fit a shop window into the property front in 1899 but she had already been plying her craft as a dressmaker in Marlow for 11 years by then. Many such businesswomen did not have shops, though to do so would be their ultimate ambition if possible. Even though she may not have had a proper shop window in which to display her goods from the start of her career she certainly lived in the exact same Station Road premises and met her clients there by 1891. A 1903 advert in the South Bucks Standard thanked the "nobility and gentry" for their previous business and said that she would now be continuing "the business" on her own account. So it seems that earlier she was in a business partnership with someone else, even though only she is named in the application for the shop front alterations. The advert promises a good fit and moderate prices. Lydia tells us that she sells fancy drapery, millinery, underwear, corsetry, gloves, lace and ribbon as well as operating as a dressmaker. In 1910 lace was advertised as a speciality of her shop. In the same year winter suits are mentioned as being on display there.

We know Lydia still sold ready made underwear in 1906 as a woman pretending to live in nearby Station Villas took some away with her on approval to show an alleged sister but never brought the items back or paid for them, neither did the alleged sister materialize to do so. The same woman defrauded another Marlow clothes retailer around the same time using the same ruse. It might seem remarkably, even foolishly, trusting to allow a stranger to take valuable items from your shop on trust without paying for them but the practice of having clothing items on approval was not uncommon at the time. In order to qualify you would have to appear "respectably" dressed however. 

Passing the residential property of dairy farmer Augustus Creswell at no 9 (who kept some of his cows out back not to the best pleasure of the sanitary inspectors) we next come to James Faulkner the bootmaker at number 11.

A man whose premises seem to move about on this side of the road was photographer Ernest A. Hewett. He was certainly on this side of the street in all scenarios, and in most was given as being at no 17 so we'll slot him in our list here.

Cycle maker, coach builder and wheelwright H. H Mathews lived (at least for a time) at 21 Station Road but operated his business further along at number 35. He was apparently Henry Harold but was often known just by his middle name. There is also a reference to a Horace Mathews cycle agent in the same premises though that may be a mistake. H.H Mathews certainly operated alongside Harold Haine, motor engineer and cycle maker who eventually entirely took over the business at some point between 1915 and 1920. Harold Haine was a Raleigh cycle agent, amongst other things. He came from Egham Surrey originally. In 1907 an Albert Barnes worked for a H Mathews at no 35.

Between the home of H Mathews and his business premises was (by 1903) Mrs Ann Cockayne who let apartments at her home "St Clare", Woodham's Dairy, Walter Lovegrove the auctioneer (who met a tragic end see his biography post here ), a grocery shop at nos 27-29 run firstly by H W Britnell and then by Raymond G Ford and his wife Lily, and Smewings the tobacconist-come- newsagents.

Mrs Cockayne the landlady was in business at St Clare (sometimes given as St Claire) by 1899. She was then in her late 60s and by 1911 had retired and moved out. In the early 1890s there had been 4 apartment proprietors at the town end of Station Road as well a boarding house and two further apartment rental buildings at the station end of the road, all with a residential owner. The private lodgings trade in Station Road had clearly dropped off a lot by the second decade of the 1900s though some of that loss was due to similar properties springing up in Glade Road and elsewhere in the town rather than for a lack of desire for furnished apartments. Ann Cockayne herself became a lodger with a family in nearby South Place.

Annie Smewing ran the tobacconist come newsagents at number 31, with her husband Henry assisting her and being the name above the door but mainly being a gardener and groom employed elsewhere at The Lawn. Henry was one of the committee members at Marlow Football Club and one of Marlow's volunteer firefighters in the Edwardian age. In the 1930s this was Morris tobacconist and newsagent.

Also near to these shops was another dairy in 1907, Hornsby's. Presumably this was connected to the Hornsby's who kept a small dairy herd at Wood Barn Farm, Little Marlow. See here for more on them. Be warned - that post contains mention of serious animal cruelty.

Next along in terms of commercial premises in the mid 1910s was tobacconist C.O Mathews which probably became by 1920 the tobacco and confectionery shop of Mrs Annie Truss (who was definitely at no 37). She was still there in 1924 when she served hot drinks too. Probably she remained in business until her death in 1931. Annie, formerly Bailey, was the wife of Albert Truss, a man jailed at least four times prior to his 1916 marriage to Annie for failing to maintain his illegitimate children by Fanny Louisa Penfold. When jailed he frequently laughed in court. By trade Albert was a boatman though apparently reluctant to work. Prior to his marriage he was "kept" by his brother who was landlord of the Two Brewer's pub in St Peter Street. 

At 39 was the tiny premises of George Gardner AKA George Gardiner the greengrocer and fruiterer by 1920. George did not spend many years in the shop here. He was the grandson of Clara and William Gardner /Gardiner /Gardener of the Nags Head pub in Dean Street, see here.

Our next Station Road businesspeople on this side of the road were the Ways. Robert was a cabinet maker and shopkeeper early in the 1900s and adjoining his premises was the tiny Wheatsheaf pub. This was run by Thomas Way senior until his retirement in 1905 in favour of his son Thomas junior. Thomas junior remained landlord until at least 1921 but was gone by 1939. More on the Way family of the Wheatsheaf, including both Thomas Ways in my biographical post here. 

Finally on this side of the road in terms of commercial property we come to the Railway Hotel across from the station. For a history of this pub / hotel including the early 1900s landlords of these premises see this post.

The other side of the road will be featured in another post in the future along with businesses which we cannot firmly place to one side or the other.

Written and researched by Charlotte Day 

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

Selected Sources:

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

"England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26FV-PWY : 13 December 2014), Albert Truss and null, 1916; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1916, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 1914, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

South Bucks Standard May 6th 1899, April 3rd 1903 and 10th August 1906 British Library Archives via the BNA.

Kelly's Post Office Directory of Bucks etc 1911, 1915 and 1920 editions. Kelly's Directories Limited.

Votes For Women?

UPDATED BY CHARLOTTE OCTOBER 2023

We have mentioned the "no tax without presentation" protests of Mary Sargant Florence of Lord's Wood, Marlow Common and Edith Hayes of Bovingdon Green and Bourne End in our previous Groundbreaking Women of Marlow History post which you can read here. This entry gives a background to some of their work in Marlow - and that of their opponents. 

While campaigning for election as M.P for Great Marlow in 1852 (ultimately unsuccessful) candidate Mr Bell pledged to act to give women the vote and got loud cheers from women and men as a result at the hustings. So support for universal suffrage is older in Marlow and the country as a whole than you might think. Bell of course was campaigning on many other points too.

The first specific public meeting in Marlow dedicated solely to supporting women's suffrage that we have so far found record of was held in 1872. The National League of Woman's Suffrage* was behind this meeting, as well as others in neighbouring towns such as High Wycombe and Maidenhead the year before. This group does not seem to have had as much success with regular meetings in Marlow compared to their activities in these neighbouring places. The meetings took the form of lectures and/or debates, with guest speakers, often from London. Attendance is usually said to be modest, or growing. In 1873 a Miss Beedy gave a lecture in Marlow in support of a proposed bill to remove the "electoral disabilities of women". 

Bring your bells and whistles! 

Things were rather quiet as regards public acts in support of women's suffrage in the next two decades within Marlow. But in the Edwardian era, the cause was invigorated by the determined Sargant Florence mentioned above. In 1908 the Public Hall (now the Masonic centre) in St Peter's Street saw a meeting of the Women's Freedom League to debate the issue of women paying tax when they had no say at the ballot box about how that tax should be spent. The meeting was presided over by a London member, Mrs Holmes. This meeting had been well advertised in advance and so those opposed to votes for women, or general troublemakers came armed for action. As soon as the meeting open, a crowd of young men came in and stood at the back of the room. From there, they did their utmost to disrupt proceedings and drown out all speakers. They blasted tin whistles, rang hand bells and sang a raucous  version of the National Anthem whenever one of the women on the stage attempted to speak. In the end the meeting was abandoned before most of the women had been on the stage. Some went to an ante room to attempt some kind of plan on their tax protests, but the youths followed and forced their way into the room. No one was thankfully hurt.  If the mob thought they'd silence the women for good, they were however wrong. Perhaps it is not surprising that several subsequent meetings of the Freedom League were held in the quieter surroundings of Lord's Wood. The ladies would however soon be back in the town centre. 

The following year the group met there to discuss what to do about the forthcoming Kings Speech. Some hoped it would include a mention of voting rights for women, but should it not, the League was going to protest on the spot. Meredith MacDonald volunteered to be the Marlow groups representative in London. There would first be a deputation to ask for the voting issue to be included in the  Speech, where Meredith would also represent our group.  During their debate, a visiting woman from Australia expressed the view that politics had become more responsible and political debates more calm since the vote had been extended there.

 How many less well off Marlow women attended the meeting we do not know. It was held in the afternoon when many were at work. Reports about meetings tend to focus on those in organisational roles or giving speeches, who tended to be better off. But the issues of course affected all. 

Suffragists in Market Square

The ladies (and their male supporters) decided to have a large scale open air meeting in the Market Square in 1910. The crowd was said to be considerable although the caveat was added that many were curious children. Although some mention is made of cat calls and the like, the event seems to have been more more peaceful than previous ones. Mrs Sargant Florence presided over many of the meetings around this time. It may have been hard to hire some premises due to the fear by the owners that damaging trouble would follow. Another venue used by the women was the now demolished "Duchess Studio" in Victoria Road, which housed a girls club supported by many of the women attending. 

Hands off my property

In 1911 & 1912, Mary Sargant Florence and Edith Hayes had both decided to stop paying their taxes in protest at their lack of voting rights. Their jewellery was seized in lieu, and auctioned off in the High Street by Mr Kendall. The women were prepared to let everyone know their sacrifice so marched through the town, banners aloft, and alerting all as to the turn of events. The secretary of the Tax Resistance League, Mrs Stanley Edwards, joined the ladies - Sargant Florence was a founder member of this movement. Also in attendance were many supporters from far and wide - including London. One member of the Tax Resistance League gave a speech in which she stated that it was "the duty of women taxpayers in this country to refuse payment of all imperial taxes until such times as they are allowed through their elected representatives in parliament to express their opinions as to the way in which these large sums should be spent." During the sale, Mr Kendall might well have felt a little intimidated. He was at pains to stress he was just doing his job. Most if not all of the seized items were bought by supporters of one of the Leagues or the other and proudly and publicly returned to their owners. Auction over, the women took the chance to hold a protest meeting against the seizure and sale. In 1914 the two again had property seized in lieu of unpaid tax, and the unfortunate George Kendall was again responsible for selling it off. A dog cart, silver kissing cup and candlesticks were the purloined articles this time around. 

National League For Opposing Women's Suffrage

This group lived up to its name and was also active in Marlow, if for a shorter period. They were for various reasons against any extension of the vote to women. The first Marlow based meeting of the group seems to be that that occured in January 1913, in the town hall.  Marlow set up their own branch in March 1913. It was held in the home of Mr W C Lyndell (The Cedars as it is now known) and his wife was the honorary secretary. Alfred Davis was the honorary treasurer - a figure better known for giving his name to the Marlow Football club ground in honour of his work in the sporting sphere. Other committee members included "Miss Wethered", Lady Frances Higginson, Mrs Bath, Mrs Hawton, Mrs Fell, Mrs Thomas, and Miss Hewett. The group first meeting ended with the successfully passed resolution to ask their local MPs to vote against women's suffrage. (Some of whom were at the meeting.) It seems our local groups activities were curtailed by the First World War and I can't find much evidence that the initial enthusiasm saw many more meetings. 

We know which side won, although if you were not over 30 or a homeowner, the vote was still denied to you in 1918 while it was granted to other women. It wasn't until 1928 that all woman over 21 could vote. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day, additional research Charlotte Day. 

© MarlowAncestors

* This group was founded in 1867 and later was part of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. A meeting of the latter, non political and non militant, were held at Danesfield in 1912. (Mr & Mrs Hornby Lewis then in residence) 

Related posts:

Women's riots of 1800 - here

General listing of posts related to women's history in Marlow and also general everyday life - here

To find every mention of an individual here see the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

Sources include:

The Englishwoman's Review of Social and Industrial Questions Volume 13 edited by Jessie Bourchet (1882) and Volume 4 1873. 

Annual Report of the National Society for Women's Suffrage 1872, digitized by Google. Accessed August 2020.

First Report of the Executive Committee, National Society for Women's Suffrage.  July 1872. 

 South Bucks Standard May 1908, February 1909. January & November 1910, January & April 1912, March 1913. 

Maidenhead Advertiser January 1913. 

Woman's Franchise Journal 11 February 1909. 

The Vote, November 1912. 

Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer, 28 February 1914 , Slough Library. 

Ralfs Graves, Great Marlow All Saints

 

Quite mossy now. 

Charlotte widow of John Ralfs Died 1850?

AND:

Harriet Ralfs, third daughter of the above. 

AND:

Mary Ann Ralfs, eldest daughter of the above [baptised 1803]

AND:

Jane Ralfs [Daughter of the above, baptised 1810]

AND:

Arthur Ralfs Hewett

AND:

Charlotte Ralfs Hewett

[Grandchildren of above John and Charlotte by daughter Ellen] Age 8

©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction very welcome with credit to this blog.

See under Graves on the menu for more posts like this. All mentions of a person on this blog can be found under the Person Index.

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. 

High Street Drapers

John Meadows was originally of Walcott Lincolnshire but he was a draper in Marlow by the year 1829 when he married Elizabeth Oxlade a daughter of the Oxlade family of Widmere Farm in Marlow. A, to me, slightly complicated marriage settlement between the two of them is referenced in Elizabeth's later will. 

John's premises by 1833 (if not already in 1829) were in the High Street Marlow on the West side. He also owned the property next door. The white building in the photo above shows what would have been the two together. In 1833 his properties consisted of:

Dwelling house and garden, stable with a loft above and a barn. Plus the other dwelling house and shops. The annual value of them all was assessed as £23 10 shillings. 

John retired from being a draper in 1839. He was only in his early 40s at the time he quit. He and Elizabeth moved to Chapel Street. This wasn't a complete retirement for John as he continued to work as an agent for a fire insurance company until at least 1843 something which he had previously been combining with his drapery and he also let out houses for profit. 

Living with the Meadows long term was Elizabeth's widowed sister Ann Palmer. There was also always a live-in servant to attend to them.

In 1832 Elizabeth, Ann and John (as heirs to Elizabeth's and Ann's father Thomas Oxlade) sold 2 cottages in Chisbridge Cross near Marlow. This was following the death of the women's mother Elizabeth who had had them for her life.

John himself died in 1861. Elizabeth's will was proved in 1857 though she looks to have died in 1854.

It was Edward Hewitt (Hewett) who took over the business when John retired. He's described then as a linen and wool draper, silk mercer, hosier, haberdasher and hatter etc. Edward tried to keep up with the times. In 1860 he made an arrangement with London Gentleman outfitters Nicholls of Regent Street and Cornhill to stock some of their "celebrated" clothing in his establishment. Marlow residents could then enjoy shopping for London fashions without having to travel out out of town. Edward promised to charge the same price as you would have paid if you had gone to London, the inference being that provincial prices were regarded as higher in general. His new selection of coats and overcoats would be first rate he said. 

Edward Hewett was one of Marlow's contributors to the Royal Patriotic Fund in 1854. He gave a little over a pound. This fund was established by Queen Victoria and headed by Prince Albert. The aim was to give relief to the widows and orphans of the soldiers who fell in the Crimean War.

Edward was also a churchwarden in Marlow from 1862 to at least 1867. He married twice, firstly to Mary, and then to Ellen Ralfs who lived with her family next door to his home and business.

In 1864 Edward's new assistant George Higgins aged 14 was found hanging from a beam in the hayloft above the stable out the back of the shop. The jury at the Coroner's inquest at the Chequers Inn opposite decided he had had an accident while carrying a chain up to the hay loft for his master. 

Ellen died in 1874, Edward in 1880.

The premises later became those of Alfred Davis the draper. Alfred had moved from elsewhere in the High Street. Alfred's original premises had been tiny. The Davis drapery shop would later move on again.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day with additional research by Kathryn. Photo by Kathryn Day. Taken March 2021.

Sources:

GRO Marriage Certificate.

1841-81 censuses transcribed by me from microfilm.

Will of Elizabeth Meadows, transcribed by me from a PCC will held at the National Archives, Kew.

Property records held by my family.

Bucks Herald 11th November 1854.[Hewitt and patriotic fund]. Copy at the British Library Archives and available via the BNA.

Stamford Mercury 28th August 1829 [Oxlade, Meadows marriage notice]. As above.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to reuse this content for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here so that any sources I list remain credited for providing their information.

Widmere Farm Occupiers- Child Labour And Tragic Carters

 Widmere Farm, Marlow is on the site of the former Widmere Manor and contains remains of an ancient chapel. My concern here however is the use of Widmere as a farm. Aka Widmer, Widmore

WIDMERE

1747- Daniel Moore bought the manor of Widmere including the farm but he did not himself farm. He was a merchant and M.P who was not that often actually in Marlow.

1793- 1822. Thomas Oxlade. Also had Munday Dean Farm. Some of the land in 1811 seems to have been used by Joseph Webb.

1829- John Webb late of Widmere Farm died.

1833-37 John Lovegrove. Described in 1847 as a man "proverbial for his laconic and good humoured face" and in 1835 as that "most respected agriculturist". On his way home of an evening from Wycombe Market in 1835 was set upon by four men, dragged off his horse, bludgeoned about the head and robbed of £32 plus a few personal items. 3 men arrested at St Albans. [Bucks Gazette 13th June 1835. British Library]. In 1833 the farm was 361 acres and owned by William Clayton though occupied by John. He subsequently moved to Beckings Farm, Marlow. In 1842, Mrs Lovegrove has her arm broken in two places when she is thrown from her pony chaise on the way back from Windsor. Her friend also in the chaise has slight injuries. The pony had shied at an unknown sight. John went on to run the Kings Head, Wycombe but was declared an insolvent debtor in 1847. At this point he was living in Stoke Row but his wife and family were said to still reside in Wycombe where they had continued at the Kings Head for a while. 

1843 James and Richard Lovegrove selling up the farm stock.  In 1833 Richard was at Beckings Farm instead.

1843-49 Richard King. He died 1849. Moved from Chisbridge Cross Farm. Also had Burford Farm Marlow Bottom 1843-1849 but resided Widmere. In 1843 hosted a ploughing match on the farm. Turnips stolen from his field 1844. In 1848 his employee Levi Silvery / Silvey won a prize for being an industrious worker. Such prizes were given out at regular intervals by agricultural associations[Bucks Herald 11th November 1848, Via the BNA].

1849-51 Mrs Sarah King. Her employee in husbandry Frederick Tilbury was convicted of misconduct in his job and fined 18s including costs in 1850. She retired by 1860 and her son Thomas (see below) took over. She continued to live with him. She also had Burford Farm after his death until 1851. The 1857 wedding of Miss Sarah King of Widmere to Mr J Blakemore of Birmingham at All Saints was described by the Windsor & Eton Express as a "grand and inspiring" bridal ceremony that was "never excelled, if equalled, in this town." The entrance to the church was decorated with ivy. So many people turned up to observe the arrival of the 7 carriage bridal party at the church that not only the church was filled to bursting, but the churchyard too. 

1858- 91 Thomas King. He also had Copy Farm, Copy Green. Marlow churchwarden. Married Frances Hewett of Swallowfield Berkshire. In 1858 a seven year old child George Harris employed by Thomas was admonished but not further punished by the magistrates for setting a fire to keep himself warm and in the process accidentally setting fire to some hay. George was still working for Thomas King as a teen. In 1871 employee Charles Bradfield was killed instantly after being crushed by a runaway cart on the farm. He was only 27 years old and a father of 3 small children. His widow Fanny married Charles Lee two years later.

Thomas was farming a total of 400 acres 1861 with 20 staff. In 1881 had a total of 565 acres. Marlow churchwarden. 

Early in 1891 Thomas died so the farm stock was sold off and the farm put up to let. Farm then 360 acres arable with 2 worker cottages and a farm house. Wheat, oats, barley, beans and peas grown on the farm. It seems that not long before his death he had moved to a farm in White Waltham and was winding down his Marlow farm.

1900-1920+ David White and sons. Raised pigs and dairy stock. One son John White. Another son Thomas married Florence Morris whose family had Cressex Farm near High Wycombe.  A David White was also  at Seymour Court Farm in the early 1900s I am uncertain if this is the same man. Occupying multiple farms at once was not uncommon in this period. David White & Sons were certainly at Seymour Court Farm in 1920. 

1939 - William Arthur White. 

End of period blog deals with. 

***

Ongoing research. I will update as I sift my old notes.

Dates next to a name are when I have found evidence of a person occupying the farm. They may have been there earlier or later too.

Farm occupants are determined by me from property records, court cases, wills, letters, censuses, adverts and more.

To find other farm posts use the "Specific Shops, Streets Etc" menu  here and to seek any individual use the Person Index option on the top drop down menu. This blog contains mention of thousands of people!

©Marlow Ancestors. You can use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here. Thanks.

List Of Landlords Of The Hope, High Street

Updated by Charlotte June 2026

1859 - To let having undergone some renovations. Was probably less than a decade old. On the site of two much older, shabby shops that were pulled down. Previous occupants included the William Cock(s) shoemakers and grocers, and William Henry Brown, also a grocer (and baker / confectioner, later moved to other side of High Street). The stone casing around the windows in the image above was added later when it became the Capital and Counties Bank (1900) Fullers of Maidenhead the brewery.

1860 - Thomas Rackstraw. Fined 10 shillings for having his premises open after 11pm.

1861-66 Thomas Rackstraw (also cordwainer)  In 1866 he is fined 10s plus 9s costs for selling beer after 11pm on a Saturday. This was followed by a 40s fine for selling beer during prohibited hours on a Sunday later that year!

1869-70 William George Marks. Also a boot and shoe maker, fishmonger and tobacco dealer! William went bankrupt.

1870 - Daniel Walker. Also cabinet maker. He was the son of carpenter and parish constable Thomas Walker. See the role of Thomas in the 1847 riots here.

1875 - Daniel Walker has died at The Hope aged just 44. His widow Sarah takes over. 

1877- Sarah Walker

1881 - Sarah Walker (born Norfolk according to this year's census)

1884 - 1. Mrs Sarah Walker 2. William Cannon (holdover but subsequent permanent transfer to him refused by authorities due to a conviction for allowing drunkeness on the premises) 3. J.H Simpole / Simple. John was a former member of the police on the Great Western Railway but most recently had been working as an insurance agent in Shrewsbury.

1885 - John Horatio Simpole.

1886 - John Simpole. Sold business. 2. Alpheus Taylor. Alpheus had apparently been selling beer out of the premises illegally prior to gaining a licence. It seems the bench accepted an initial plea of confusion over paperwork but did not grant him more than a hold over in the end. Alpheus was also a carpenter. He had previously ran the Herne's Oak pub in Chinnor and later went to the White Hart in Money Row Green, Holyport, Berkshire.

1887 -1. A Taylor 2. James Tarrant

1888 - 1. James Tarrant. 2. Thomas Parker

1890 - Thomas Parker W. Harry Rockell?  3.Harry Roberts

1891 - Harry Roberts (born Kempsford, Glos)  "The Hope Beerhouse"

1892 - 1. John Roberts who  transfers to Henry Thomas. 2. Henry Thomas transfers premises on holdover to Thomas Richards. 3. Thomas  J  Richards transfers to Edward J Briggs. In August, the local press reported that puzzled drinkers had found the beer house was locked up and apparently unoccupied when they arrived on a Tuesday evening. This was when the holdover had been granted to Thomas Richards. A week later "no solution to the mystery is as yet forthcoming." It seems that there was trouble finding a permanent landlord acceptable to both the brewery and the magistrates who grant the premises licence. 

1896 - E J Briggs  2. George Hall

1897 George Hall transferred to George Howe/Howall/Howell. We know that the names of Hall and Howe / Howall but they are not the same person,this was a definite transfer. [George Hewett & William H Moore also tried unsuccessfully to get the licence] 2. Later in the year licence transferred as a holdover to Charles Lewis Gomm. A full transfer of the licence to Gomm was allowed the following year. 

1900 - Frederick Barber gave way to Charles Leopold Smith in January. It was noted at the annual licensing hearings in August that no application had been made to renew the licence of these premises. Instead the building was to be converted into the Capital and Counties Bank, after extensive remodelling. 

For similar posts see Pub Related on the menu.

SOURCES INCLUDED

Berkshire Chronicle - 01 December 1884, held at the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA 

South Bucks Standard August 9 1892, 18 December 1896 as above

Bucks Herald, 01 September 1888, as above

Maidenhead Advertiser - 24 December 1884. 

Marlow Guide & Directory 1891

Marlow Guide 1905

Marlow "Almanack" 1907

Census records 1861,1881,1891

Kellys Directory 1864, 1877,1883, 1911

©MarlowAncestors. You are welcome to use this research for family or local history purposes but please credit this blog and link back here to ensure our original sources remain credited for the information provided. Thank you. 

The Unhappy Marriage of Richard and Sarah Bye

In 1833 a 38 year old widow, Mary Hawkins, married publican Richard Bye. Mary had a daughter Sarah from her first, 14 year marriage to John Hawkins who had also been a publican. She was née Hewitt.

Richard was (approximately) nearly 20 years older than his bride. He ran the Two Brewers in St Peter's Street right by the River Thames. He perhaps hadn't been there long as only the year before he had been running Abbey Farm in Little Marlow but gave it up and sold all his stock and equipment by auction. Mary's first husband was the previous licensee of the Two Brewers. It may be that Richard married Mary to take over the business. I do not mean that the marriage was especially selfish or mercenary on his part. Marriage was very often in those days more of a financial practicality than a romantic adventure. Help running the pub would have been just as important to her. At the time of the marriage she hadn't yet been to prove her first husband's will.

In John Hawkin's will Mary inherited all his possessions for life while she remained his widow. As soon as she remarried all those goods went to their daughter Sarah. This was a necessary precaution as marriage robbed women of property rights. Mary's goods if left absolutely to her would have become any new husband's goods instead and could be sold by him, used up, given away or left to someone unrelated to John Hawkins or the daughter he wanted to be his eventual heir and there would be no legal remedy for that.

In the Spring of 1835 Mary, in position of his executor, sold many of these possessions including luxury mahogany furniture, feather beds and a pony and trap. Whether this was legal or not I am unsure. It is my understanding she could sell the property with the next heir's consent but Sarah was not legally yet an adult able to give it.

Did Sarah receive the money raised? It's doubtful for reasons given below, however her mother may have been acting in desperation if there were already problems in her home and she felt the need to leave. Certainly the goods had already been removed from Mary's home to Platt's farm where her mother was living "for convenience". Mary perhaps had in effect already left her second husband.

Certainly by July Mary had permanently removed herself from Richard Bye.

Richard reacted by taking out notices in the local press calling her departure illegal and warning tradesman that he would not pay any bills she accrued for food, shelter or other necessities so they shouldn't give her any such. As her husband he was legally obliged to settle any bills she contracted. In cases of separation it was believed by some that such a newspaper warning could get around that obligation though this seems to have been seen as legally debatable, and not in any case honourable regardless of the circumstances behind it.

Later in the 1800s a form of separation though of course not divorce could be agreed upon. A husband would agree to pay a set amount of weekly support to his wife and she in turn formally agreed not to claim her legal right to live under his roof and under his protection. Judicial records covering Marlow show such cases being agreed in the courts multiple times, but the period of Mary's unhappiness was too early a one in date for this solution even if her husband would have been amenable.

The way Richard expresses himself in the press suggests that he thought she might be trying to organise things for herself but she did have family locally.

The year after Mary left Richard her mother Ann Hewett of Marlow left her half her clothes and an annuity of £10. This legacy was no more or less than Mary's sister received so feels like no sign of disapproval. Mary's daughter Sarah is also remembered in the will.

By 1841 census (if not actually before) Mary was living with her brother William, his wife Susan and other brother John at Marlow Mills.

Richard had left the Two Brewers and was staying at the Three Tuns Inn in West Street Marlow with the Muspratt family.

Sarah Hawkins was working as a servant at the house of Wadham Wyndham of Beech Lodge. This makes me think she did not have the benefit of the money from the sale of her father's possessions. Sad to see she was not also taken in by her Hewett uncles. Theirs was a crowded household it must be admitted, and perhaps Sarah preferred financial independence.

Mary cannot be found by me on the 1851 census. Richard Bye was lodging then at Chapel Street Marlow. He defiantly described himself as married and a retired victualler. He died 1860.

Mary's brothers had moved together to nearby Hambledon, where William was farming. 

Sarah Hawkins worked as a servant away from Marlow in another household. That is the last time I see her in records.

Post researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Sources:

My transcriptions of the wills of Ann Hewett and John Hawkins, copies at National Archives, Kew.

Census my transcription from microfilm except 1851 Hambledon which was from Familysearch. Intellectual Reserve Inc. Ran by the LDS church. Accessed online November 2020. 

Great Marlow Parish Registers, my old transcriptions.

Reading Mercury 3rd August 1835. Copy at British Library, accessed via the BNA online November 2020.

GRO death registration index, online. 

Property records held by my family.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

Related Posts:

To find every mention of someone on the blog use the Person Index option on the menu. There is also a Pub Related option for more pub history content. 

Landlords listing for the Two Brewers: here

History of Abbey Farm: here

General Great Marlow history posts: here

So far this blog contains mention of approx:

4,000

people from or associated with Marlow.

1833 Parochial Assessment High Street Great Marlow Part One

I have transcribed this from the original handwritten assessment working notebooks which have been in my family for some years and are in a fragile and faded condition. The books were annotated with corrections and changes until about 1840. I will add any such information and flag it as such. Other notations are from my other research.

Transcription by Charlotte Day.

© Marlow Ancestors. You can use this transcription for local or family history purposes if you credit this blog.

Town- Houses and Buildings (land is a different record I also have and will transcribe in the future). 

No Street Address Given

Edmund Flemming (late)=

Property occupied= Marlow Place with suitable offices, large garden, lawn, green houses etc [Their "etc" not mine]

Annual value of property= £110 

High Street West Side [West Street side]

John Snelling Wright=

Dwelling house, yard and garden

£22

*****

Misses Rolls [this is Brampton House. The sisters ran a school for girls]:

House with yard and garden

£25

*****

Jane Fowler=

Cottage with small yard 

£4

*****

Thomas William Allum [brickmaker and bricklayer. Multiple properties] =

Dwelling house, shed with loft and building, late malt house and garden

£16

Loft over Mr **** store house 

£1

Also a Kiln at Bovingdon Green

£9

*****

John Frith [multiple pieces of  property]=

Dwelling house and garden

£11

Woodhouse and loft on the opposite side of the yard

£1

*****

Theophilus Clifford [Stonemason. See my previously published post on Marlow Bridge for more on him here. Also, a fuller biographical post on him is available here ]

Dwelling house, yard, shops, loft and garden

£12

Shed etc at the Wharf 

£2

*****

John Collins (carpenter, builder. Later at pub next door)=

Dwelling house, workshops, garden and yard

£10

*****

James Creswell [publican and carpenter. Occupier till at least 1838]=

The Fountain Head [This was a beerhouse whose occupier had a carpentry business out back] which is a house, 2 shops, paint house and garden]

£9 [when property sold 1838 the rent was up to £12 12 shillings per annum]

*****

Mrs Sarah Aveling. [Note: title Mrs is mistaken or given as mark of respect to a popular and respected but unmarried woman. Will 1844]=

House, garden and yard

£9

*****

Owen Wethered esq=

House with requisite offices, shrubbery, kitchen garden and orchard 

£75

*****

Wethered and Son [Brewers]

Garden adjoining above

£1

Large timber yard, sawpits, sheds, piggery and store room for timber

£10

Store rooms, 7 in number. Large extensive building with counting house etc 

£35

Cooperage, scalding shed, dray house and stables

£8

Two stables, coach house etc

£8

Carpenter's shop, malt loft, and store houses

£18

Table beer run room (?) with the loft over it

£12

Brewhouse and buildings in the centre of yard with malt lofts etc 

£70

Flow room in Miss Roll's yard

£2 10 shillings

Malt house and shed in Mr Hatch's yard

£15

Ditto in Mr Maddock's yard with store house [Robert Maddocks, further along the same side of the High Street. Sometimes given as Maddox]

£20

Store cellar under Juggins and  Stallwoods' houses

£3

Malthouse and lofts in yard behind Steadman Camden's [this was other side of High Street, near where Sainsbury's Local is now]

£15

Store house and loft adjoining Mr Wade's

£3

Small store house in Mr Wade's garden with loft over it and small garden

£3

In yard leading from High Street 2 large stables and lofts over them 

£4

Two stables, cart house, dung yard, piggery, large cart shed and store house

£12

Small store house in yard

£1

Malt house, late Mr C Wethered's [Charles Wethered, liquor merchant. Active by 1823. Will 1827], barley lofts and coal houses

£25

Screening rooms and lofts and a malthouse

£20

Two stables with store rooms and barley lofts adjoining

£6

*****

Thomas Wethered

Orchard at Bovingdon Green

£3 10 shillings

*****

Late Mrs Gordon [Jane, widow of George who was originally of Croughly Banffshire Scotland. Couple had lived in Marlow since at least 1808].

Dwelling house with convenient offices, stables, greenhouse, yards and garden

£45

*****

William Hatch [baker, a VERY troublesome character who is featured in a post of his own here]=

House, bakehouse, flour loft, yard, 2 gardens, cart house, stable and piggery

£10

Large garden called Hanging Acre

£5

*****

Ann Washbourn [an embroideress and maker of children's clothing and later a teacher. She later moved to both St Peter Street and West Street. See her West Street school premises and read more about it here]

House and garden

£8

*****

Robert Maddocks [a carpenter and, tut tut, party to electoral fraud in the early 1830s. Electoral fraud was to be fair a Marlow speciality. Biographical post on him and his wife Jane here]=

Part of a house for billiards etc 

£6 (This was the "News Room")

Dwelling house, stable, 3 chaise houses, shed, work and store shops, yard and garden

£12

*****

William Allum [a tailor]=

Dwelling house and garden

£6

*****

George Rogers [plumber painter and glazier]

House, shop, yard, garden

£8

*****

Thomas Hewett [butcher, in this property by 1826]=

Dwelling house, butcher's and baker's shop and garden

£7 10 shillings

Slaughter house up the yard

£1

Stable and loft

10 shillings

*****

Matilda Newell [bonnet maker. Not in this property 1826]=

Dwelling house and garden 

£8

*****

To find every mention of a person on this blog use the Person Index option on the drop down menu.

To find more High Street content see the"Specific Shops, Streets, Etc" menu here

To be continued....