Sunnycroft Institute Road - Updated

Listed as as 7 room house (not including any bathroom) in 1911. Residents 1909 to at least 1915 were Edward and Mary Maxim. She was a breeder of Pomeranian dogs (one of which won second prize at Crufts!) while Edward worked as a gentleman's outfitter. This would have been in one of the shops in that category in the High Street, Market Square or West Street - there are several candidate businesses which could have employed him. In the 1899 Kelly's directory Edward and the 1907 Marlow Directory and Almanack Edward is listed as the resident of Glenthorn(e), Beaumont Rise (only he is listed as head of the household). Edward was the son of gardener Alfred Maxim, see here.

After the Maxims (by 1942) the resident of Sunnycroft of William E Applegate who had a drapery and outfitters shops in Spittal Street and West Street. The clothes selection catered especially to women and children. William was a churchwarden at All saints church too. The house seems to have stayed in the Applegate family for decades.

See a modern photo of William's West Street premises and a photo of a 1905 ad for his business here.

Post written and researched by Charlotte Day. Photo by Kathryn.

Sources included=

Kelly's Directorys  by Kelly's Directories 1899, 1911 and 1915.

Marlow Directory and Almanack 1907, Marlow Publishing Company.

South Bucks Standard 19th February 1909 and 1st February 1912. British library archives collection. The 1909 issue was via the BNA.

Census of England and Wales 1911. Transcribed  from microfilm by Jane Pullinger. Crown Copyright.

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

Maldah, Institute Road

 

Above is a photo of the house Maldah in Institute Road Marlow. Maldah is a place in Bengal India. It isn't yet clear to me why the house was named after it. Quite a few properties in old Marlow had names reflecting places in the British Empire. We are hoping to write posts on their history to go along with this one.

The first resident I can definitely identify at Maldah was living there in 1898- William Popham, an electrical engineer at a time when electrical engineering was still very new, exciting and marvellous in the eyes of the average person. Though English William was an associate member of the American Institute Of Electrical Engineers (founded by Thomas Edison and Nicholas Tesla amongst others). This organisation had international links and an international outlook. William was connected to and may have worked directly for electrical engineer R.H Barnett of Newcastle, England. In 1899 at the age of about 30 he married at St Margaret's Westminster Rose Hervey. She then lived with her parents in Powys Square London but had been born and raised in colonial India (so perhaps suggested the name Maldah?). The couple split their time between London and Maldah, Marlow. I feel that the latter was perhaps mostly their summertime or weekend residence. It does not appear that they had any children.

Rose Popham was clearly a great admirer of the British Empire. She gave many public speeches in London urging English women to go to South Africa so that British men could find brides there after the South African Wars and was Secretary of the British Women's Emigration Association. She also helped English schools to find schools in the colonies to exchange letters with so that the children could learn about each other's different lives. Whether the foreign schools approached were those catering for European emigrant children or local ones or a mixture of both isn't clear. Rose offered help to any British teachers that were working in Colonial schools who wanted to return to Britain for rest or medical treatment but could not afford to do so.

When he wasn't working William was reading up on the latest research into the Vikings for whom he had a great passion. He was a member of and for while the Honorary Auditor of, the national Viking Club group of enthusiasts.

The couple kept Maldah until 1904 when the house and some of its furniture were put up for sale. After they left Marlow William became a stockbroker. In 1914 he volunteered for service in the Air Force. He survived World War One, not dying until the 1940s.

By 1914 the occupiers of Maldah were Beryl and William Onslow Secker who moved there from Wood End House near Marlow. Beryl had attended a meeting at Danesfield, Medmenham in 1912 of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. This was an organisation opposed to violent methods of gaining emancipation for women. More on suffragettes in Marlow and opposition to their cause see Kathryn's post here.

In 1916 the couple were paying £80 a year rent on the property. That year the freehold was put up for sale with them as sitting tenants but failed to attract sufficient bidding for a sale to go through. 

William was a soldier who had become a successful tea planter at Kandy Sri Lanka before returning to England in 1906 -07 with enough money to need no further employment. The First World War however disturbed the peace of rich and poor alike and William volunteered to rejoin the Army.

In 1918 William successfully sued for slander former Marlow police constable Edward Trim who had, whilst home on leave from military service during the war, spread about the completely false rumour that poor William was a German spy who had been paid hundreds of pounds through secret channels to betray his country. Trim bragged that he had played a major role in identifying and arresting William as a spy. William was he insisted languishing in the Tower of London as a result. Actually William was serving in the army as a loyal soldier. When he got wind of the slander he obtained leave to go home and launch legal action against Trim. The judge in the case said that he felt that Trim had lied because he had wanted to make himself seem important to those he spoke to in the Crown public house and an unnamed Marlow stationery shop. The slander against William was not merely untrue it was highly dangerous. Given the intensity of feeling such allegations would have aroused William's life and even that of his wife, not to mention the security of their home would have been at risk from angry mobs. 

William survived the war. He and Mrs Secker was still resident at Maldah in 1939 when she exhibited a tapestry of nearby Bisham Abbey. Their son Gerald left Marlow and became a rubber planter in Sri Lanka in 1920. 

The Seckers may have been related to the local Wethered family as Alice Wethered, elderly widow of Owen Peel Wethered of Tenerife died at Maldah in 1918.

Our blog focuses on the period up to the 1930's so I'll leave it there! 

All mentions of any person on this blog can be found by consulting the A-Z Person Index -there is a Harry Secker on there for instance who may be of interest. Thousands of people are listed on the index. More posts related to Institute Road or surrounding streets can be found on this index 

Written and researched by Charlotte Day. Photo by Kathryn Day.

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

Sources

Country-side: Monthly Journal of the B.E.N.A. (British Empire Naturalists' Association).. United Kingdom, n.p, 1908.

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW2N-XRK : 16 May 2019), W Vyvyan M Popham, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

J.A. Berly's Universal Electrical Directory and Advertiser. United Kingdom, Wm. Dawson & Sons, 1900.

Saga-book of the Viking Club. (1980). United Kingdom: Viking Club.

The Electrician Electrical Trades Directory and Handbook. United Kingdom, Benn Brothers., 1893.

Bucks Herald 11th June 1894. Reading Mercury 8th July 1916. Reading Mercury February 11th 1939. Evening Herald (Dublin) 20th February 1918 British Library Archives.

South Bucks Standard. 18th January 1912. British Library Archives, via the BNA.

Proceedings of the Planters' Association of Ceylon. Sri Lanka, The Association, 1907.

"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26M8-K64 : 13 December 2014), Beryl Brunton, 1897; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1897, quarter 3, vol. 1A, p. 1005, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. 

Even More Where In Marlow Was..? PART 3

A list of difficult or vanished addresses for modern researchers, updated often. 

Part One here, Two here. Four here. Five here

 To find out more about a particular house, street, shop etc see the Specific shops, streets etc option on the top drop down menu. 

Acorns, The house, Institute Rd. Still bears name. 

Ashley View - Newtown Rd

Avonmore - (See also this post on the 1890s flu pandemic  Here )

Avondale - house, Beaumont Rise. 

Bothy, The - the name for gardeners accomodation on large estate, and gardens. Can be found at Highfields and Danesfield.  Not used for accomodation at Remnantz despite name in Wethered Park - that building was a potting shed, and prior to that a vinery! 

Bromleigh - Station Rise

Bungalow, The - Wethered Rd 2. Station Rd 3. New Town 

Caxton, Caxton Villa - now Mill Rd, in Platts Cottages/Row

Cintra - Claremont Gardens

Clwyd - Portlands (adjacent Portland Villas)

Cornerways - Gossmore/Mill Rd. There was also a Crossways, Station Rise

Corshel - Newtown 

Crossways, The - Station Rise. See also Cornerways. 

Derriford  - Queens Rd

Dolls House, The - Claremont Rd

Elmwood - Glade Rd

Fairlight - Claremont Gardens

Fairford - Appartments in Station Rd. 

Glendower - Portlands

Glenoma - New Town eg Holland Rd, Newtown Rd area

Glenrosa or Glen Rosa - Claremont Rd. 

Glenthorne - house, Beaumont Rise

Godstone - Little Marlow Rd

Greyroofs - qv Portlands, may be meant for Greywalls. 

Harris's Gardens- West End as they called it. We would now render this place as being in Henley Road. Borlase side of road.

Hermitage, The - Pound Lane.  (occasional alternative name for the Deanery, St Peters Street too) 

Homelea - Red Pits, off Henley Rd. 

Homeleigh - Beaumont Rise

Homerton Cottage - Eton Place

Invergarry Dedmere Rd

Inverglyde - Beaumont Rise

Jordans- house apparently in Marlow Bottom 1700s.

Klemler - New Town - New Town rd area

Kewfields - Beaumont Rise

Larches, The - Oxford Rd

Leacroft - Little Marlow Rd

Lilyville - Dedmere Rd

Lindum - Little Marlow Rd

Lowermead - Dedmere Rd

Lulworth/Lulworth Villa - contemporary address given as Claremont Estate or Glade Rd, now in Claremont Gardens. Also name given more recently to a house in Munday Dean. 

Modena - Claremont Gardens

Montague House- house St Peter's Street.

Myne holm - Glade Rd, Myneholme - Institute Rd. Would not surprise me if the two properties were in fact one as Glade Rd was adopted as a nearest address for homes in the new development around Institute Rd before the name was established. 

Palmers - High Str, modern no 65.  Named after previous owners. Also historic surgeons premises, one of several in High Street, hence aka  Doctors House but this name may also refer to other properties depending on period. 

Reddersberg - West Street. One of a rash of South African inspired house names adopted in Marlow  around the time of the relief of Mafeking and later. 

Rosemead - Mill Road.

Rosemary AKA Rosemary Villa - Berwick Road.

Rosemont, Rosemount - New Town

Rosare - New Town Rd

Royton - Newtown. 

Ryepeck, Rye Peck - house then private residential hotel, riverside. For a post featuring the Cuppy family, one of whom briefly ran this place see post here. Originally built as a private residence. 

Spowkes - Hayes Place

Three Gables - the name taken on by the replacement for the original Thames Lawn by Marlow Lock. (Note Thames Lawn is also the name taken on by Lymbrook/Thames Bank after approx 1925)

Wedmore - Station Approach

White Cottage, The - Little Marlow Rd

Whitehead Place - address given for James Beckett, carpenter in Pigots Directory 1844. He is later described as being in the High Street. Other Beckett property is in Quoiting Place. 

Win-Tor - Little Marlow Rd

Post researched by Kathryn Day with with additional research by Charlotte Day.

For more Where In Marlow Was, see several previous posts linked at top. 

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

What Did Platts Use To Be?

 

The site of a farmhouse throughout the 1600s to at least the earlier 1700s this building was used for a grocery shop come cheesemongers in the 1840s and early 1850s by Thomas Butler who later went on to be the postmaster in the West Street Post Office. 

The building then became the premises of Robert Graham the pawnbroker who was probably a Scot by origin. Robert's apprentice Joseph Evans took over the business in 1861 or 62 in partnership with Alfred Edward Batting but they dissolved their business relationship in 1864 and Alfred continued alone.

In 1860 Joseph Evans was one of the witnesses to give evidence against Mary Hill a needlewoman living with the Frith family also of Quoiting Square who stole towels and ribbons from the Frith's and tried to pawn them in Robert Graham's shop. I think she needed to make a bit more of a getaway first! The house the Frith's occupied no longer stands but it was about 30 seconds walk from the pawnbrokers, if that.

Joseph Evans and Alfred Batting together and then Alfred Batting alone also operated as furniture brokers and secondhand clothes dealers.

Alfred ended up moving premises into nearby Market Square leaving his Quoiting Square shop to be taken over by furniture dealer Alfred East circa 1880. Mr East was eventually able to live off site, the big dream of all Victorian and Edwardian shopkeepers. Being able to separate business and home life was the sign that you'd made it. His home Myneholme was in Institute Road.

More Quoiting Square shopkeepers will feature in future posts. List of 1700s occupiers of property in the Square here. More Quoiting Square related posts are listed here. Use the Person Index to find all mentions of someone on this blog.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. Please feel free to use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here. You are also free to use my photo here. 

More Where in Marlow Was? Part 2

Avenel - house, Cromwell Gardens (see below) Advertised in 1909 as "away from motor dust and noise". Rent: £50 per annum. Built by May 1902.

Avonel - house, Station Road.

Baden Villa - Glade Road. 

Beaulieu - Glade Road, used as apartments. Mrs Emma Bonnett is one charmingly named landlady 1902-4. 

Beckett's Row/ Beckett Row - few cottages in Dean Street. 

Bloom Corner - farmhouse (or sometimes used as such), off Gossmore Lane. 1908 - "better known as the Riverwoods Estate."

Carson's Lane - described as located near the Hand and Flowers in 1883, it's probably Spinfield Lane or one leading off it. Carson owned Spinfield house. 

Coiting Place - not infrequent early spelling of Quoiting Place / Square

Eastwood - Institute Road

Eothen - house, Beaumont Rise

Gravel Pit House - Dean Street. The gravel pit was located in area between Berwick and Seymour Court Rds,  now filled with housing. 

Holland Road - still extant but a house that would be given this street address now may have been described as located simply in "New Town" in the past. 

Hospital Lane - Crown Lane, early alternative name. 

Ingledene - Claremont Road now, may be addressed as Claremont Gardens Estate in the past.  

Institute Rise - early name for Station Rise, used alongside Junction Road - the latter had however also been used as a name for Beaumont Rise. 

Junction Road - Early name for Beaumont Rise, and the one Marlow Urban District Council recommended should be adopted as the official name for this then new road, in December 1899. It was however also used later for what is now Station Rise, in the early days of that street's development AND was in use for Claremont Road ditto before the name Claremont Road was officially adopted in 1901. 

Keswick House. High Street (No. 25 but numbering changed since then) and also another in Beaumont Rise.

Lily Cottage - Claremont Road, originally address given as New Road before the eventual official name of Claremont Road took off. NB New Road has been used for several newly laid out roads in Marlow on a temporary basis.  2. Glade Road. May in fact be the same as above, as Glade Road was given as address for many homes actually in nearby places in this era as it was a more established residential area, and development around it was more piecemeal.

Lilyville.  Dedmere Road. 

Marlow Lane - usually used for portion of Munday Dean Lane that's at Munday Dean itself. 

Merefleet / Mereflett- Beaumont Rise.

Myrtle Cottage- Beaumont Rise.

New Road Hill - brief use for Seymour Court hill, or modern Lane End road which becomes Seymour Court Rd town end. Recorded 1894, 1895. 

Oaks, The - Institute Road, appartments. 

Oaklea Cottage - West Street. 

Quarrydale Road - off Newtown Road. Address may also be given as New Town or Marlow Fields. 

Rossendale - Glade Road. Apartments and used for summer season lets.  

Spittal Lane - alternative name for Crown Lane mainly pre 1860's. 

Station Villas - Dedmere Road. Edwardian. On the same side as the station, the first group of terraced houses you pass after Station Approach when heading away from the town. 

St Joseph's  - house, Institute Road

St Peters Cottage - in Station Road, not St Peters Street. 

Sycamore House - house, opposite old Post Office in West Street used as a school for girls by Mrs Ann Winter 1860's and  private lodging house 1875- 1901, under Mr and Mrs Jacob Ransom, then as a shop 1902. See also The Sycamores. 

The Sycamores - house, near Marlow Lock. Often let to summer visitors. Not the same as Sycamore House but often confused with it. In Mill Rd now, but may be described as located at Thames Bank or on Thames Lawn in the past. 

Thornton House - Claremont Gardens

Valetta - Cambridge Road

 

The first part of Where in Marlow Was.. can be found here and parts no 3 here, no 4 here, Five here

Compiled by Charlotte Day with some research also by Kathryn Day.

*To find all mentions of a street or house you are interested in, see the drop down menu above for the Places index and Pub listings* 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to reuse this research with credit to this blog and a link here.