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.

Victorian Trinidadians in Marlow

A report in the South Bucks Free Press of a children's cricket match in the summer of 1862 contains mention of a talented though very young "back stop" on the team of the prestigious Marlow Place Academy who was a "coloured" boy from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. His name was T.M Cadett. Also on the Marlow Place team were 3 other boys with the last name Cadett. Intrigued, I decided to see if I could find out more about these boys. It was far from easy but what an interesting group!

The especially talented little back stop was the youngest of 4 brothers (as they turned out to be). The middle initial M is not mentioned in other record of him (the newspaper did make several mistakes as to initials of the other cricket players) He is most usually referred to as Thomas Cadett Junior. He would have turned 11 in 1862. His brothers and fellow pupils were Thomas James aged 16, James Stuart aged 18 and William James (or William James Henry) aged 14. All were British subjects born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad. 

At that time, British references to someone being "coloured" and from the Caribbean were usually to those thought be of mixed black and white heritage and this is the case with the Cadett boys. Their paternal grandparents were an English sugar plantation owner, James Cadett, who died before the boys were born, and his black Trinidadian (unmarried, at least at the time) partner Angelle. He had children with other women too, all of whom he acknowledged and provided for but not all of whom were allowed to have the family name Cadett. This and his will suggest that the children he had with Angelle were favoured above his others. Angelle had her own house in Port of Spain given to her by James along with other property. When he retired to a small house in London, she remained in Trinidad. There had been an estrangement between them and James asked for her to be paid no further maintenance after his death.

James was a significant slave owner. His first sugar plantation was the River Estate but in 1828 he moved to Carapichaima Hall and changed its name to the Waterloo Estate. Compensation for the loss of the slaves when slavery became outlawed was paid to his heirs through their representatives.

One of those heirs of James and Angelle was James, the father of our Marlow Place boys. James had his sons with a woman called Matilda. Her race and background is not known to me nor whether she was legally married to him or not. He was a doctor and remained in Trinidad. His brothers, our Marlow boys' uncles, moved to Scotland and London. 

At an early age Dr James Cadett sent his sons to England to be educated. This was almost always done to the sons of the wealthy in Trinidad. Marlow Place Academy was a boarding school which had a high reputation for it's excellence and was located in Station Road Marlow in the former reputed home of a Prince Of Wales. You can see a photo of the building as it is today and read more about the school in https://marlowancestors.blogspot.com/2022/02/marlow-place-history.html. The history of the school is also expanded here

One feature of the school was the importance placed on cricket as a recreation. The school possessed its own meadow used for the sport. An optional extra subject at the school was French which might well have been taken up by the Cadetts, given the fact that the Cadett family is thought to have originally arrived in England as refugees from France many years previously plus the presence of French speakers in general on Trinidad itself.

Just three years after the Cadett boys were enjoying a sunny day's sport in the Marlow meadow, the brothers found themselves in difficulty upon the death of their father. James Stuart Cadett was already back in Trinidad by then, living on his father's Waterloo plantation and working as a civil, agricultural and mechanical engineer as well as millwright. In 1864 he applied for a patent for a steam ploughing machine which he had invented. 

William James was still in England when his father died. Thomas James and Thomas Junior may well have been too. Certainly Thomas Junior might have been expected to still be at Marlow Place given that his brothers had remained in education there until their mid - late teens.

Doctor James died indebted to many individual people as well as owing money to a bank. All of these creditors were soon circling and demanding that their claims upon the estate be settled. His executors were a Thomas and a William Cadett, both of whom were living in Britain. These may be his brothers who bore those names and lived in Britain or perhaps his sons William James and Thomas James. The executors didn't at first appear to deal with the estate (but remember how hard it was to get mail from so far away at the time!) and so one of the creditors was granted permission to distribute the estate to the benefit of himself and the other creditors if the executors didn't soon arrive in Trinidad. It looks like the family money had virtually evaporated. In the end William James the son definitely voyaged to the island to help settle his father's affairs. This was either as one of the executors, instead of them or in addition to them. Court cases and disputes about the estate continued for some months and appear complex.

What happened to the inventive James Stuart Cadett can't be discovered by me. At least not yet. He had his own business premises in Port of Spain so hopefully his career as engineer progressed happily even if the hereditary family estate where he had lived was threatened by the creditors. I would love to see a picture of his steam ploughing machine, but search high and low as I have done, I cannot find one.

William James Cadett returned to England with the wish to become a civil engineer like his brother. He first got practical mechanical experience at the Watling Works in Stony Stratford. Following that stint he studied engineering at the Department of Applied Sciences at King's College London. Upon finishing his studies in 1871 he was elected an Associate of the College. 

In January 1876 William James set himself up in business in Finsbury Chambers London, while continuing to be the assistant Engineer at the River Conservancy at Lee, Kent. The next month he was elected to the Institute of Civil Engineers. Along with his partner Edward Dudley he won several prizes for their submitted design for various proposed civil engineering projects. In the same year James married at Cookham Dean Helen Clark, daughter of George Clark of  Bisham Park Farm near Marlow proving that he had maintained links to our immediate area. The future looked rosy for the couple with William James tipped for much success in his career particularly around river, water and sewage projects which were progressing at a pace in this era, but tragedy struck. Just over three months from his marriage to Helen, William contracted blood poisoning and died after 10 days suffering at Bisham Park Farm. He was only 29 years old.

Helen eventually remarried.

What of the last two brothers who studied at Marlow Place? That is the two Thomases. There is a suggestion that Thomas James Cadett emigrated to Australia and became a grocer (but went bankrupt). Thomas Junior the talented young cricketer is more mysterious. In the 1870s a man of this name was a poet causing some local Trinidadian excitement with his self published work "Timothy Cotton", in the style of Byron. It's sentiments were considered a bit too bohemian by some. Is this our Thomas? The author was said to have travelled the world extensively and used those travels for creative inspiration. Our Thomas was only in his early 20s when the substantial poem was published. Was he sufficiently old to have travelled extensively enough to be that poet? Probably, but without further biographical details for the poet I can't say for certain that they are one and the same person. It's tempting to think tales of the residence in Marlow of Byron's friend Percy Bysshe Shelley and rumours of Byron's visiting him here might just have inspired a young scholar, sitting at his desk in Marlow Place...

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

Further reading:

An African boy in 1800s Marlow here

Alexander James Gratton, of St Vincent, "The Spotted Boy". here

Slavery and the abolition movement in Marlow here

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

Some Sources:

Royal Trinidad Gazette:

https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00097247/00205/3j

https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00097247/00205/3x

https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00097247/00180/2x

Will of James Cadett, the grandfather:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/1295623392

Weekly Calendar,1864 University of Florida Archives

https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/47/30/11246/0093.txt

Trinidad Chronicle 13th Dec 1864 British Library Archives via the British Newspaper Archive.

The Institute of Civil Engineers, minutes of proceedings 1878.51:270-271.

South Bucks Free Press June 21st 1862. Reading Mercury 15th July and 28th October 1876 British Library Archives via the British Newspaper Archive.

"England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JRR-SQW : 31 December 2014), William James Cadett, 1876; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Cookham, Berkshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Census of England and Wales 1861, transcribed from microfilm. Census information remains Crown Copyright.

Grave of William Niven, All Saints Marlow

 Architect William lived at the impressive Marlow Place in Station Road and died in 1921 age 75. He was passionately interested in the history of the house and the story of Marlow in general. You can read more about Marlow Place here

To find other Marlow, Little Marlow and Hurley grave images see the index here

©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction of my photos freely allowed for local and family history purposes with credit to this blog.

Wellingrove, Station Road

Wellingrove is a house in Station Road Marlow, originally called Wellingrove Villa. (Sometimes rendered as Welling Grove)

The first mentions of anyone residing there I have found were of Lawrence and Mrs Smith who lived at Wellingrove in 1869, who will feature in a separate post on the blog in the future, and of Mrs Jane Townsend who died at Wellingrove in September 1874. She was described as the elderly widow of Joseph Townsend J.P. The couple had married in Hackney in 1827* and initially lived in London where Joseph worked as a land agent and surveyor. In around 1831 they moved to Wood End House at Medmenham near Marlow, the Townsend family estate. After around 20 years the couple decided to rent out Wood End and live in Marlow. This was initially in the High Street. (A post on Joseph Townsend will follow.)

After Jane's death the contents of Wellingrove, down to a library of some 500 books, 35 paintings and a  good stock of wine, was sold across a two day auction held at at the house.

The next known occupiers after Jane Townsend were Charles and Mary Jubber who had moved to the area from London. They were in residence by 1876. Charles previously ran Long's Hotel in New Bond Street London with his brother Henry. This they had taken over from their deceased father. They also had a business as spirit and wine merchants together but dissolved all of their business partnerships in 1873. Long's Hotel was a high class hotel that nevertheless had rooms set aside on the ground floor away from other guests for the use of raucous men who wanted to sit together drinking and gambling after their Gentleman's clubs shut down for the night.

Charles threw himself into life in his new riverside home town. He kept a luxury steam launch called The Plover which he lent to the Oxford University rowing crew's training staff when the crew practiced in Marlow or nearby for the traditional Oxford and Cambridge boat race. The launch was also made available to officials at the Marlow Regatta. Charles was one of those behind the setting up of the modern incarnation of the regatta. He was also a keen fisherman and a fellow of the Royal Zoological Society. Unfortunately of Mary little can be discovered except that she was a Sussex lady by birth. The couple lived quite modestly in Marlow with just one live in servant but they had plenty of money as besides their expensive steam launch they had enough to buy several acres of land near the new railway station. Charles advertised for builders to erect him two semi detached villas on some of the land. 

Charles and Mary left the town for Richmond in Surrey in 1886.

By 1912 Wellingrove is described as a "High School". A northern German governess known as Erna Warnemunde posts adverts in regional press seeking an holiday position in that year. She tells us that she speaks fluent German, French and Italian. The teaching of foreign languages by conversation was a speciality of the establishment. The principals of the school were the Misses Cooper and Farmer. It was a boarding school for young ladies and advertised itself as "eminently suited to girls requiring pure and bracing air". The principals promised to take special care with the girls physical health by means of "nourishing food" and outdoor games and walks. Florence Farmer had earlier coached young boys for entry into Borlase School and both her and Violet Cooper were among the specially invited guests to the opening of new school rooms at Borlase in 1910. 

Undated advertisement from Paton's School Guide, courtesy of Michael Eagleton. 

A later resident of Wellingrove in 1915 was Mrs W Cousin. She was a member of the British Science Guild and the Eugenics Education Society. The latter was later renamed the Eugenics Society and followed a now discredited science. Eugenics could be "positive", that was encouraging those seen as desirable to have as many offspring as possible to improve the future of the society and race which they belonged to, or "negative" which was focused on promoting the allegedly scientifically proven benefits of encouraging or preventing "undesirable" people from reproducing.  Undesirables might include the less intelligent, those with disabilities, non-white people, criminals or the poor. In England the most serious concern was usually that the poor working classes would keep having children! At the time being poor and being a potential criminal was usually seen as the same thing. Whether Mrs Cousin leaned towards so called "positive", or "negative" eugenics can't be ascertained by me. She may have been a teacher in the school. 

By the later 1920s members of the Townsend family again lived at Wellingrove. A Miss F Townsend was one of the same new breed of unashamedly intellectual women as Mrs Cousin but in a uncontroversial way -she was a member of the Classical Association, the Women's Farm and Garden Association, and the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies.

This blog focuses on the pre 1930s period so I'll leave it there. I will fill in more information about any other historic residents of the house as I find them.

To find more posts related to Station Road or any other Marlow address see the Street index here. Thousands of people are mentioned on this blog. All mentions of each individual can be found on the A-Z  Person Indexes.

*Jane was nee Henderson.

Sources included:

Annual Report of the Eugenics Society, 1936-7. 

J. G. Harrod's &Co Royal County Directory of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. United Kingdom, J.G. Harrod & Company, 1876.

The Pall Mall Budget: Being a Weekly Collection of Articles Printed in the Pall Mall Gazette from Day to Day, with a Summary of News. United Kingdom, n.p, 1874.

1891 England and Wales Census for Richmond, Surrey, Rootspoint.Com. Crown Copyright.

Lloyds List, 1st March 1873.

England and Wales Census for Great Marlow 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 my translation from microfilm. Crown Copyright.

Kelly's Post Office Directory for Buckinghamshire etc 1883 published by Kelly's Directories Limited.

Sun, London. 17th May 1832. Bucks Herald 17th October 1874. Bedfordshire Mercury 19th September 1874. All British Library Archives.

Hornsey Journal,  April 5th 1912 as above. 

Paton's List of Schools. 

Alicia Wallop Of Marlow Place

Alicia Wallop née Borlase, born circa 1658, deserves a place in Marlow history as the probable first occupier of Marlow Place. 

Alicia's paternal grandfather founded the grammar school in Marlow on a charitable basis as well as a lace making school. One of the first things any writer or commentator wrote about Marlow in the centuries that followed was always the Borlase charity bequest, so Alicia would have reason to have grown up feeling proud of her birth family.

She married John Wallop Esquire of Farleigh Wallop in Hampshire in 1683. In that county they made their home and that of their 7 children. 

In 1688 Alicia's mother Joan died and made her and her sisters executors of her will and its residuary legatees. The sisters were also to share their mother's jewelry.

John Wallop's death in 1694 began a decades long widowhood for Alicia. She was the executor of his will. As her the guardian of her children she had to represent their interests in their Hampshire, Devon, Dorset and Somerset estates and inheritances  while they were minors. Part of that responsibility was managing political matters in what would be the inherited sphere of influence for her husband's young heirs. As such Alicia strongly supported the Whig political candidate William Guidott. So skilled at persuasion was she that the Corporation of Andover complained that she was making voters break their solemn promises to vote for Guidott's rivals -something which would have been an enormous breach of gentlemanly conduct for those voters. Guidott won but was later found to be embezzling funds from the Duchess of Marlborough's estates leading to supporters distancing themselves from him.

Alicia was busy elsewhere, engaging in some land speculation in the Bond Street area of London as part of a wealthy syndicate. She was the only female member of the syndicate. Other efforts to increase her wealth included her interest in playing the Lottery! There's no evidence that she won anything, sadly.

In 1705 her mother in law Dorothy Wallop left Alicia £100 to buy a ring in her memory.

By 1721, probably not too much before that, Alicia moved to Great Marlow. Her home was probably not yet Marlow Place as it does not seem to have been built for a few years yet but Alicia was resident in that house by 1741, probably by 1734. Her will was written at her St James London home in 1731 but she mentions her Marlow mansion and at other times appears to be back in Hampshire so she was obviously a bit of a floater when it came to residency.

Alicia died on 20th October 1744 and was buried with her husband and other Wallops at the church of St John in Farleigh Wallop. In her will she was one of the many people of the day who simply instructed their executors to bury them decently at their discretion. The memorial to her erected in the church by her only surviving son, the Earl of Portsmouth, stated that Alicia had seen and conversed much with the world in her lifetime but chose to spend her later years in quiet and Christian retirement. She was said to be a constant friend to the poor and one who had approached life with "great decency, prudence and wisdom" as a "very virtuous and exemplary woman".

In the will Alicia left £10 to the poor of Marlow and £10 to those of Farleigh. All servants employed by her at the time of her death were to get £5 each to buy mourning clothes. Black clothes were expensive to produce and had good second hand resale value so the servants were likely well pleased with this bequest.

The main beneficiaries of her will were the only two of her seven children who survived her- daughter Mary and son John.

Related content:

History of Marlow Place here

More posts like this in the biographies Of Individuals Index here

Sources included:

Wills of Alicia Wallop, John Wallop, Dorothy Wallop and Joan Borlase, transcribed by me from wills at the National Archives, Kew.

Hayton, D., Handley, S., Cruickshanks, E. (2002). The House of Commons, 1690-1715. United Kingdom: History of Parliament Trust.

Cosmic Rays: Essays on Science and Technology from Royal Institution: Essays in Science and Technology from the Royal Institution. (2001). United Kingdom: OUP/The Royal Institution. [Despite its title this collection contains some London property history].

House of Lords Journal Volume 16. London. Pp 503-504. British History Online.

Property records.

Ellen Terry, Horseless Carriages and more - Suffolk Lodge & Marlow Lodge

Updated October 2023

Tucked away off Station road is the house now known as Marlow Lodge. It was built as Suffolk Lodge, and this post is dedicated to some of the people who lived there. 

At the time the house was built, it  enjoyed views over the famously beautiful Quarry Wood across the Thames. Such a view is not possible in the same way now, as it is hemmed in by subsequent development of Lock Road and nearby. The grounds belonging to the property were once extensive. The main garden was just under 4 acres but at one point nearly 30 acres of additional grounds were attached to it. The house itself may not be a mansion, but taking the place as a whole, it was a substantial holding. These grounds were reduced over time and are now built over. 

The couple responsible for building this "neat red brick villa" were Samuel and Jane Brandon (nee Wooster). Samuel was a market gardener and valuer from Paradise Row, Rotherhithe. He was a very successful businessman, and built himself a house to be proud of. The name Suffolk Lodge was presumably chosen because a suspected connection between the Brandon's and the Duke of Suffolk in the families past. It perhaps inspired the name of nearby Norfolk Cottage in Station Road too. 

Samuel sold produce to Covent Garden market amongst other places. In 1846 his employee Richard Phillips was seen to be behaving in a suspicious manner on his arrival at the market. He seemed to take some bundles of goods out of the cart he arrived in and then conceal them elsewhere while taking the remaining vegetables to be sold. He had secreted 6 large bundles of Samuel's celery worth 5 shillings with the intention of selling them for his own profit. He was caught and sentenced to 2 months in prison. 

Suffolk Lodge was often said to have been built in 1861, however Samuel and Jane were already described as resident there in early February 1861 so it seems likely the work started a while before that. I do not believe they initially actually maintained it as their primary residence. Samuel kept up his home in Paradise Row, and indeed died there in 1865. It seems the property was let during these first few years. However  Jane seems to have made Lodge her main home (until at least 1881) with her son, also Samuel. This younger Samuel by the age of 45 was describing himself as a retired market gardener, and a few years later was living off "private means". 

Samuel senior may have died relatively soon after building the house at Marlow but I think he would have approved of the fame the garden produce would go on to have. Mrs Brandon employed a gardener and there was a gardeners lodge for their accomodation by the late 1870's if not before. It was common then for a married gardeners wife to act as a housekeeper or servant in the main house and this is the case often at Suffolk Lodge. The gardeners there were lucky to have a first class range of glasshouses at their disposal. The garden staff regularly won prizes for the quality of their produce, with fruit an especial source of pride. In 1874 for example they won awards for grapes, cherries, gooseberries, apricots and apples. A list of gardeners here and at other Marlow houses can be found here. The extensive orchards were far beyond what the family could use, so it seems the Brandon's were using at least part of their extensive estate as an active market garden. 

In 1884, Thomas William Lockyer arrived at Suffolk Lodge where he remained until 1891. I believe he was a tenant. By this time the gardens could boast a tennis lawn and summer house as well as an ornamental fish pond. There was also incredibly several hundred fruit trees within the grounds at this time, some within an orchard, others dotted throughout the estate. Surely a legacy of the Brandon's and their market gardening connection. 

The house was sold in 1895 with 3.5 acres of garden for £2,500. At the time D'Arcy W Reeve had been the resident for a few years. In 1897 it was bought by actor Max Lindlar from Pinkneys Green, owner of one of Marlow's first motor cars. You can read more about Marlow's early motorists here. The Lindlars had many friends in the film and music trade and they used these connections to organise or assist with  fund raising performances, concerts and fetes during their time in Marlow. Sometimes the beneficiaries were local, sometimes further afield. Ellen Terry was one of those who arrived for a summer performance in the grounds of Suffolk Lodge in 1900. She was joined by other artists from the Lyceum theatre in London. The show was put on on the lawns, with a yew hedge as the backdrop. The weather was kind and a large crowd of distinguished guests attended. The performance was one of two hosted by the Lindlars in Marlow for the Oxford House musical and dramatic society which had the aim of bringing "quality" music and drama to the East End. It was possible to buy a ticket if you were not an invited guest, from Mrs Lindlar amongst others. 

At the time of the Lindlars purchase, Suffolk Lodge it was described as having two floors, 4 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms and a bathroom. There was also stabling of "ornamental design". The grounds were still described as well timbered and secluded. 

The Lindlars moved to Bisham Park Farm. In 1908 on account of Mrs Lindlar's adultery with a friend they divorced. Mrs Lindlar was of Spanish origin.

Next resident of Suffolk Lodge was Emile Sigismund Enoch, (Enock) German born and Jewish, and wife Bessie. They bought the freehold in 1901. Emile was one of the "&sons" of Enoch & Sons, the London sheet music publishers. His company was a famous name for music lovers in his day. Emile organised a gramophone concert in aid of the Church Lads Brigade in 1908. This meant an audience gathered in front of a top of the range gramophone, instead of in front of a live orchestra. These events were very popular at the time. It was held in the boys school room in the Causeway (now the church hall). Emile's business also donated music themed prizes for many a prize giving and charity event. He seems to have been a generous man. It was around this time the house became known as Marlow Lodge, although the old name stuck stubbornly for many. Emile kept ownership of Marlow Lodge until at least 1917 although he let it out for the summer or "river season" on a number of occasions. We have now reached the end of the period our blog deals with. 

Notes:

I have come across a couple of references to "thousands" of bedding plants and flowers offered for sale from Suffolk Lodge in the 1880's and 90's. It was common for  gardeners to offer excess plants in this way. Sometimes the profit from this was considered a perk for the head gardener. 

You can find all mentions of your ancestor under the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. The Specific Streets etc menu can be used to find info about other Marlow houses. 

Related posts:

Marlow's other early motorists here

Written & researched by Kathryn, 

© MarlowAncestors

Sources include:

1863 Dutton, Allen & Co Directory

Kelly's Directory 1883 (Kelly's Directory Ltd)

Harrods Royal County directory. (JG Harrod & Co,1876)

Census 1881,1891 transcribed from microfilm by Jane Pullinger. 

Gardeners Chronicle & Agricultural Gazette (Haymarket, 1854). Digitised by Google. 

Sheahan, James Joseph  History and Topography of Buckinghamshire 1862

South Bucks Standard 4 June 1897, 12 June 1908, British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA. 

Bucks Herald 1 April 1865, 01 August 1874 as above. 

Reading Mercury 13 July 1901, as above. 

Berkshire Chronicle 9 February 1861, as above. 

Morning Post cutting, July 1900. 

https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18461123

Families claiming ducal connections 1700-1800. (1985, Jane Pullinger) 

Way Family of the Wheatsheaf Great Marlow and Later Landlords

 Robert and Charlotte Way (née Plumridge) were both born in Marlow. He was baptised in 1820 to Richard (a farmer) and Rebecca and she in 1822 to William and Mary Plumridge.

Robert Way is on the 1851 census as a brewer's labourer, and as a journeyman maltster in 1861. But he also ran the Wheatsheaf by 1853. The premises were first granted a licence in 1841. This possibly wasn't for Robert Way himself back then as he was only 21 at the time but well you never know! It was built, along with the adjoining cottages by William Plumridge, one time landlord of the White Hart and father to the builder of the Duke of Cambridge, another William as well as to the future Charlotte Way. The Plumridges turned into something of a pub dynasty see here.

In 1860 Robert Way made an unsuccessful attempt to get the beer house a spirit licence. The magistrates refused saying Marlow needed no more spirit sellers. He tried again equally unsuccessfully two years later. Why he does not call himself a beer retailer in 1851 and 1861 is uncertain, perhaps because Charlotte was the one effectively running things, though her occupation is down as dressmaker 1861. Many beer sellers started out in a small way, using it to supplement other income so it may reflect the fact the Way family didn't at this time consider beer selling to be their main source of income. 

Many Marlow beer sellers had additional occupations. Carpentry and shoemaking were especially common occupations for male beer sellers.

In 1862 Robert was fined for serving alcohol during illegal hours. 

Robert's untimely death in his 40s in 1865 meant Charlotte's name was officially on the licence. Interestingly she owned the premises herself by 1872, a rare thing amongst local beer sellers. Not only that but she also possessed the other cottages next to it built by her father. Whether this was through inheritance or purchase I do not currently know.

Charlotte ran the beer house without incident until her own death in March 1886 when her son Thomas took over. He was on the census as a teenager as an apprentice whitesmith (who would have worked mostly with tin) so his taking over the pub doesn't seem to have been considered inevitable by his family. He lived at the Wheatsheaf with his wife Eliza and their children. While they kept the pub in the family the adjoining cottages were sold off.

One of the children of Thomas and Eliza, Thomas junior (Thomas Edward) took over the licence upon Thomas senior's official retirement in 1905. In 1909 Thomas junior found himself summoned for what to our eyes seems the unusual offence of "serving an underage child with less than a pint of beer". Six year old Frederick North had gone to the Wheatsheaf to fetch a bottle of beer to take back home for his father. This was quite normal, but the offence was committed because Thomas had only sold the boy a sealed 1/2 pint bottle. The law dealing with the sale of alcohol to minors at an off licence specified that it was permissable to sell them sealed bottles of a pint and had not allowed for the sale of a smaller quantity. The magistrates bench recognized the absurdity of the situation, and decided that the Way families very long unblemished record as beer sellers should not be marked as a result. They dismissed the case but made Thomas pay the costs. 

Thomas senior and Eliza continued to live in Marlow. Following his death in 1932 the Wheatsheaf license was transferred to Lily Hazell.

I believe another son of Robert and Charlotte's, Robert junior just may have been the man of that name who was briefly the landlord of the Black Horse Little Marlow (1887).

Robert and Charlotte's daughter Charlotte became an assistant school teacher and lived with her widowed mother at the Wheatsheaf all of her short life. She died in 1884.

To read about the late Victorian and Edwardian floods that affected the Ways at the Wheatsheaf see here

I have pictures of Charlotte's grave. See here.

For other pub related content use the Pub Related menu here

Search for people on the Person Index on the top drop down menu, Biographies Of Families here or Biographies Of Individuals here. There are thousands of individuals mentioned.

For more about Station Road, see the Specific Streets, Shops etc menu here.

Later Landlords (ongoing project)

1940- Harry Higgins Mead gave up and licence taken over by Frank Nelson Goatham.

1948- Frank Nelson Goatham still at Wheatsheaf. Gone by 1959.

Some Sources=

Original census transcriptions by Jane Pullinger, with thanks. Thanks also to Alan Day for information.

1872 Marlow pubs listing, Bucks Archives.

Bucks Free Press, 12th January 1940, Bucks Free Press Archives.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to reuse this research with credit to this blog.

Shamrock Cottage

Number 7 Glade Road today. Now renamed.

Given the Shamrock name is this Marlow's luckiest address?

Maybe so!

On 18th March 1896, Emma Hubbard died at her home there at the age of 98. [She was baptised at Cookham in June 1797]. A great age to reach at any time but especially lucky to achieve for a woman born in the 1700s. Emma was the widow of William Hubbard originally of Pinkney's Green. The couple had no children.

He was a corn merchant / insurance agent and general business man. The couple moved about a considerable amount during their married life and Emma made quite a few moves herself as a widow.

The local news obituary of Emma stated that she was a cheerful woman with a sharp memory till the end of her life. It explained too that she was the daughter of farmer John Westbrook and was born on Spencer's Farm, Maidenhead. This was located on the road to Cookham. The baptism record shows her mother to be an Ann. 

John Westbrook was a gentleman farmer holding not only Spencer's Farm but several others nearby.

The newspaper obituary also said that Emma was a relative of Richard Westbrook who once ran the Crown in Marlow. I haven't investigated whether this is accurate. The pub business was in the family- Emma's older brother John ran the Saracen's Head in Beaconsfield from circa 1841 until he sold up in 1848.

She came to Marlow in the 1870s to live with her brother John having previously lived as a widow in Reading with her married sister Sarah Micklem and Sarah's husband the magistrate Edward Micklem. It was after John Westbrook's death in 1877 that she moved to Shamrock Cottage. Accompanying her was her niece Eliza as a paid companion, presumably the "Miss Westbrook ". Emma and Eliza had arrived in Glade Road by the time of the 1881 census. By 1891 the two had added a 15 year old live in servant to the household, Dora. I found Dora's last name hard to read- Mare? Emma was living on her own means. Her husband's financial affairs seem to have been a bit up and down, and her dad made her sister Caroline his only heir but Glade Road was a moderately expensive address so Emma was either frugal or a shrewd investor of what she had.

What of Eliza Westbrook her paid companion? Well perhaps some of that lucky shamrock charm had rubbed on her too as she lived to at least the age of 101! She moved away from the cottage at some point between 1903 and 1911. By 1939 she lived at number 8 Station Road Marlow.

Eliza was a regular donator of goods like clothing to the patients of the Cottage Hospital in Glade Road. Her aunt Emma used to donate gifts to children in Buck's workhouses so theirs was a kind household.

William Fisher was the resident of Shamrock Cottage by 1911 and until at least 1924. More on him in future.

For more residents of specific houses in Glade Road, Marlow see on the menu under "Specific Shops, Streets....ETC".

All mentions of any individual on the blog can be found on the Person Index.

*New content is currently uploaded daily*

Sources included:

Bucks Herald 28th March 1896. South Bucks Standard March 1896. British Library Archives.

Censuses my transcription from microfilm.

Kelly's Directory of Bucks 1911, 1915 and 1924. Kelly's Directories Limited. 

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NY1S-177 : 21 September 2020), Emma Westbrook, 1797.

GRO death registrations, GRO.

Will John Westbrook, 1839. National Archives, Kew. Transcribed by me.

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

Marlow's Beadle George Pocock

The parish Beadle was a brightly uniformed official responsible for enforcing the rules of the parish in which he served. Though working for the church he was in no way an ordained person. He dealt with problems concerning anything the parish owned or had responsibility for- the parish workhouse, poor relief, poor rates levied by the parish, and any issues involving church owned land such as trespass on them or boundary damage. He also enforced discipline in church, in particular stopping kids talking or playing when they were supposed to be paying attention to the sermon. He would be armed with a staff of office! 

The Beadle's uniform at Marlow was a long plum-coloured coat, knee breeches, and steel - buckled shoes. 

In the memoir of George Stevens published in the South Bucks Standard Aug 28th 1896 Marlow's beadle "Mr Pocock" was described as the terror of small boys of the town when Mr Stevens was little, probably for the above reason.

I have managed to trace this Mr Pocock and found him to be George Pocock. Before taking on the role of beadle he worked as a shoemaker. There was no specific qualification for the office.

In that memoir of George Stevens Mr Pocock was said to live in a one room cottage near the old pound. (At the time the pound was up what we now called Station Road near Marlow Place.) On the 1841 census George is indeed in this location, called Agleton Green (Aggelton Green/Haggelton, Aggerton) with his wife Sarah.  On the census form George indicated he was 65 years old and not born in Buckinghamshire. He arrived in Marlow by the time his son John was baptised there in 1822. 

Parish beadles are pretty universally satirised in literature of the time as puffed up, arrogant little Hitlers strutting about in their uniforms and annoying everyone. Perhaps there was some truth in a portrait so frequently painted of the type of person attracted to this sort of role. But our George can't have been too pretentious otherwise he would not settle on a job that gave him and his wife (and by 1841 three sons as well) one of the smallest homes in the town! One advantage George did have however was the use of the Agleton Green pond on which he kept his ducks. This is long gone.

George died in 1846. The era of power for these officials faded as an organised police force and wider level administration of things like poor relief came more into play. 

Sarah died in 1861. Her census entries as a widow suggest that she was born in Dartford Kent. She was still living in the old Pound House in the year of her death, along with her son Joseph and his family.

Written and researched by Charlotte Day. 

To find out more about Marlow's 17&18thc crime fighting societies, petty constables, tithing men and night Watchmen see this post here

And the first police station and petty sessions courts here

To find all mentions of an individual here, see the A-Z drop down menu and to find more Marlow crime and disorder  related posts, see the General History option on the same menu here

References:

Bishops Transcripts for Great Marlow Buckinghamshire Archives [Baptism of John Pocock].

Copy of South Bucks Standard held at the British Library. Accessed by me October 2020 via The British Newspaper Archive online.

1841 census my transcription from microfilm.

GRO index online of deaths registered.

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

Marlow Floods A Plenty

  

Marlow is a town with a history of getting it's feet wet. The floods didn't just inconvenience those with riverside homes either. They stopped the mills, church services, river traffic and transport and bought some traders into severe financial difficulties.

When the floods were at their worst, navigation on the Thames was stopped altogether, for example in the early part of 1840. In this year, towing boats was impossible with the tow paths several feet underwater. This meant barges had to stay where they could, and await the water levels dropping sufficiently. High water made the already dangerous flash locks even more perilous to travel through. The flood channels such as the one finishing near the back of the Compleat Angler, were sometimes overwhelmed.  Floating debris was another hazard. Many Marlow people ran barges or worked on them, and a stopping of river traffic meant some were stranded away from home. Other businesses were stopped because they were dependent on river bourne deliveries of raw materials. 

The 1894 flood

Even after the age of horse drawn barges was over, flooding still caused havoc in the life of the town. In November 1894, a particularly bad inundation caused church services at the riverside All Saints Church to be abandoned, while the railway was "engulfed in a sea of water". This water was said to have put out the engines and it was subsequently decided to raise the rails to stop this happening again. Mill Lane, Mill Alley (Seven Corner Alley), St. Peter's Street and South Place all suffered substantial flooding. 

Captain Edward Wilfred Marshall of The Eyrie (off Gossmore) was seriously ill at home when the flood water rose. He had suffered from flu, and it was now believed he had pneumonia. His anxious wife and doctors had to weigh up the risk of remaining put and what they considered as the risk of removing a severely ill man from his home. Captain Marshall's infant son and nurse were sent to the safety of Remnantz. Before long The Eyrie was surrounded by a "tremendous flood" and with the water level rising, they had no choice but to take Marshall away. The water was 4ft deep outside when help was summoned. The horses bearing his carriage away were chest deep in the flood  as they made their departure. Marshall and his wife Penrose were taken to the Crown Hotel, but sadly he died there shortly afterwards age 28. Many blamed his final illness on the unhealthy situation caused by the flood water. (Captain Marshall and his menagerie is subject of a separate post here)

Flood mark at Marlow Lock, above. 

Summer floods stop play

While autumn and winter floods made living and working conditions miserable for many, Marlow did not always escape flooding in the summer either. Floods then extended the prospect of financial loss to a different range of people. It's sometimes easy to underestimate how dependent many Victorian and Edwardian Marlow businesses were on tourism or how many summer visitors the town received. 

The summer flood of 1903 was said to have been the worst for 50 years. People visited the town to "mess about on the river" but boating and fishing came to a halt. The hotels and private lodging houses were empty. The pubs and hotels that catered for boating and fishing parties by serving lunches, and hiring out punts and fisherman (fishing guides) did no trade. Salters Steamers could not run their river trips. The boathouses found no demand for hired steam launches or canoes. The mills had to stop. It was in short "disastrous" for the trade in Marlow. The Reading Mercury reported that all roads south of the town were cut off and that many hundreds of acres of Thames side meadows were flooded. This included all those in the vicinity of Pound Lane, with the cricket field included. Residents reported flooded cellars (barrels are said to have floated out of one unnamed pub cellar) and overwhelmed cess pits. Worse for some was the stench of decaying vegetation left behind as the waters receded, along with thick foul smelling mud that had to shovelled off the streets. At least the train managed to continue, thanks to the work done after 1894. The water got to within 1-2" of the rails, and lay all around the line, as far as the Bourne End road at it's worst. The storm that accompanied the initial deluge was marked by large hailstones and a horse was struck by lightning and killed at Seymour Court. At Danesfield house, the lightning hit the roof, causing significant damage. The rain coming through the ceiling caused substantial damage to some tapestries hanging on the walls, worth together several thousand pounds. 

In December of 1903 there were yet more floods, with water levels rising to just under a foot below the summer flood mark of that year. 

Station Road is submerged..again

The residents of Station Rd had more cause to complain than most. The summer flood just mentioned affected them badly in June-August. Then in September of the same year a heavy rain storm saw the road and houses flooded again. Questions were raised about the affect on visitor numbers if those arriving at Marlow train station had to step through several inches of water (at best) on their way into town. But what of the poor people actually living there? They resorted to blocking up their doorways "with 6-7" of wood backed up with a heap of mud and stone" but to no avail.  The water entered  the houses and was "spoiling the furniture". At a Council meeting, councilor Mr J H Deacon tried to get something done. Drainage work was planned to be completed at the same time new paving was due to be laid but that was 6 months away. Mr Deacon said autumn floods were likely and following on from the two already that year, could the Station Rd residents afford to wait? The other councillors (who did not live in Station Rd) thought they could. They said the homeowners should just raise their steps 6-7" to protect their homes. Mr Deacon pointed out that this had already been tried at the Wheatsheaf and the two cottages adjoining but they still flooded. It's also worth noting that most of these cottages were rented and some landlords were not willing to spend on these potential improvements. Mr Deacon failed to get any further money voted to help Station Rd as the others did not want the rates pushed up as a result. So when a "memorable" flood occured in February the following year, the cottages were again flooded. Things improved for the road gradually but it was still suffering in home floods long after the time our blog deals with. 

There have been many more bad flood years eg 1908, but the worst in recent times was 1947. Again this is out of our blog time frame but if you Google the date, you'll find plenty of images online. 

Always look on the bright side?

More minor seasonal floods were regarded as useful for irrigation purposes by farmers with land near the river, and some thought it added to the value of their holdings.  

A more ambitious plan to make use of excess Thames water was proposed by civil engineer Mr McClean in 1869. His idea was based on a plan previously advanced by him in 1849 and 1850, in conjunction with Mr Blackwell. This was to "embank and canalize" the Thames between Marlow and Henley, with the object of creating in the present channel of the river, a series of "impounding reservoirs". The lowest of these would be connected to London via a 36 mile canal, and so would provide the capital with more drinking water. Gravity would allow the provision of water for low lying parts of London, and a pump would be needed to serve the rest. Mr McClean thought this would solve both the inadequate provision of water in populous London, and flooding around the Thames. But the scheme was not to be! 

The other people who gained when the floods came were illegal fishermen. Those who did not have the right to take fish from certain areas of the Thames "netted" the ditches and flooded areas around the river, confident perhaps no one much would be on the water to notice. In the early 1870's the "netting  on the meadows adjacent to the river during flood time was carried on wholesale" with large quantities of fish captured and sold. The Thames Conservancy and the Angling Clubs put a stop to this by gathering the fish left stranded in the ditches or pools of water and returning them to the river themselves.

One last person to benefit from the flood was a Mr Couch of Quarry Wood House who in the 1870's is said to won a bet that he could drive his boat over the weir while a flood was on, as a feet of daring. It seemed to get stuck a little on the edge but finally slipped over and down again safely "to the cheers from the crown on the bridge". Don't try that at home!

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. Above picture shows Marlow floods in the modern day.

Related content:

Related posts about the river can be found in the General History post listing here including this about Victorian and Edwardian children drowned in the river

More about Way family of Wheatsheaf here

The angry, roaring hissing mist of 1897 here

To find all mentions of your ancestor here, click on the A-Z person index in the same menu. This currently contains over 3,000 individuals. 

SOURCES INCLUDE:

Royal Commission on River Pollution: Third report of the commission appointed to inquire into the best means of preventing the pollution of rivers - 1866, (C E Eyre & Spottiswoode) 

Great Britain Parliament, House of Commons - Reports from committees vol 17, 1877

Great Britain House of Commons - Reports from Commissions - Vol 33 1869

Wheedon, J P, Angling Clubs and Preservation societies of London and the provinces 1883. (Clowes 1884)

Leslie, John Dunlop - Our River (Bradbury, Agnew, and Co 1881)

Bucks Gazette 3 November, 11 January 1840. Copy held at the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA.

Derby and Newcastle  Mercury, 1 November 1747, as above

Wolverton Express, June 1903 - thanks to Roger Woodman. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Historic Cost Of Living In Marlow *expanded May 2026*

Updated May 2026

Historic cost of living in Marlow (up to 1939) Part One. Part Two concerns the historic cost of fun, leisure and transport in Marlow and is available here. We have gathered these from many period sources- adverts, court cases, letters, auction information etc all specific to Marlow. To put these costs into context see Charlotte's post on wages in Marlow history here. A post about the Marlow cost of living for the 1940s -60s is now available here.

Homes:

(All unfurnished unless stated) 

Rent of Widmere Manor, per year 1518 = £12.

Rent of a 2 bedroom cottage with garret, wash house, wood house and garden in St Peters Street 1785 = £6 per annum. 

Rent of Albion House West Street 1817, per year = £63.

Annual rent of a 2 bed cottage and garden Dean Street 1829 = £3 10 shillings.

Annual rent of a 4 bed, 2 reception cottage near Holy Trinity 1861 = £14.

Weekly rent of a small cottage West Street, 1862 = 2 shillings 6d.

Annual rent for The Parsonage, St Peter's Street, 1865 = £50.

Annual rent for a 2 bed, 2 reception cottage with a small garden in Quoiting Square, 1866 = £11.

Weekly rent of a 5 room cottage with a garden in West Street 1872 = 2 shillings 6d.

Max rent a lady and gent were prepared to pay for 4 unfurnished rooms in a "genteel house" in or near Marlow, 1879, per year = £16.

Annual rent of a six bed house with walled garden in the High Street, 1879 =£45.

Combined sale price for two 2 bed houses in Station Road 1891 = £250 for the two.

Annual rent of Court Garden estate, (17 room house, and 33 and a half acre grounds including lodge entrance, stabling, kitchen gardens, vineries, peach houses, boat house and creek to river) 1891 = £225. By 1898 this had risen to £300.

Danesfield Estate 1896 [mansion, gardens, park, farm etc] sale price = £36,000

Freehold house Weir Cottage sale price 1896 = £1,930.

Building plots in the newly laid out Seymour Park Road suitable for bungalows or small villas 1899 = £40-50 (mostly not sold though!)

Yearly rent of a 4 bed, 3 reception room house in the High Street with an interior w c but no bathroom 1899 = £45

Yearly rent of a 2 bed bungalow in Newtown Road early 1900s = £25. 

Down payment required to secure one of several building plots on Newtown Road 1904 (cash only, no credit) = £25

Weekly rent of semi detached cottage Wycombe Road 1905 = 6 shillings 2 pence.

Rent for a semi detached 3 bed villa in Little Marlow Road 1905 = 9 shillings a week.

Rent of Quarry Wood House 1908 (7 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, cellarage, conservatory, large garden, coach house, stabling) = £55 a year.

Rent of a 2 up 2 down cottage Dean Street with yard and outbuildings 1909 = £13 a year.

Rent of a "prettily furnished"  2 reception 3 bedroom house with bathroom, near to river, 1912 = 2 and a half guineas a week. Seems very expensive compared to Quarry Wood House above, which shows the sharp difference between furnished properties and those that were not. 

Rent of a brick cottage with two bedrooms, kitchen, scullery, store room and pantry (no living room), at Highfields on the outskirts of Marlow 1913 = £18 4 shillings a year.

Board and residence for a gentleman as paying guest in home Station Rd, inclusive of meals etc, 1913 = £1 a week. 

Rent of 3 bed, 2 downstairs rooms house Marlow 1914 =  5 shillings 6 pence a week.

7 room house to let, includes bathroom. Furnished, 1921 = 30s a week.

Rent of the one of the newly erected concrete pre fab 6 room cottages at West Str/Spinfield, 1924 per week - 10s. Only applicants with children need apply!  (These rents are deliberately set lower than local average)

A 4 room detached cottage with gas supply, for sale Marlow, 1925 = £525m

Single room to let to a lady, unfurnished, 1926 = 4s 6d a week.

To let in Wycombe Road, 3 bed detached house with three quarter acre garden and garage, 1932 = £80 per annum.

To let modern 3 bed, 2 reception room semi in Marlow with bathroom and electric lighting, 1933 = £1 per week.

3 room bungalow with 1/4 acre garden, Marlow, 1934, to rent = 11s a week. 

5 room bungalow known as The Rest, Oak Tree Road, with "splendid garden" and garage, 1935 = £700 freehold or would rent for £60 a year. 

And to furnish or maintain your home:

Print showing the cavalry of the Bucks Yeomanry, bought from an artist selling out of the Crown, Market Square, 1829 = 1 guinea.

Print of "North West View of Great Marlow Church" by Thomas Rumble, 1835 = 1 shilling 6 pence. 

Silver polish from Foottit's Chemist, High Street, 1859 per large bottle = 3s.

Cheapest clock available from Mr Stradling, "practical clock and watchmaker", High Street, 1862 = 7s 6d. 

A metal teapot, from the High Street shop of John Boroday, 1864 = 6s.

A Harper Twelvetrees washing machine (hand powered) ordered from agent  J Meakes ironmonger in Spittal Street and delivered free, 1864 = 50-60s.

Gas from the Great Marlow Gas Company per 1000ft consumed, 1866, = 7s 6d. This price is seen as extortionate! In 1897 the price was only 4s 6d for the same.

A ton of coal delivered from Walter Porter, whose wharf was at the Railway Station, 1873 = 37 shillings. In 1892 it was possible to obtain good coal for just 20s -21s a ton, delivered so the price fluctuated.

Tin of metal polish from Clifton's grocers in the High Street, 1885 = 1s.

Pair of solid silver salt cellars and spoons in a case from Rowes the jewellers in High Street, 1894 = 13 shillings 6 pence.

Oil-fueled table lamp, from Jasper Collins of Chapel Street, 1895 = From 9 and a half pence. 

Smokeless kerosene oil for lamps from Jasper above 1896 = 7d a gallon.

Expected cost of hiring a cart from the Marlow Urban District Council to empty your cesspit (you providing the horse to pull it and the labour to actually do the emptying) 1897 = 3 shillings 6d plus 5 shillings refundable deposit to ensure you returned cart in good condition.

Silver plated toast rack from Rowes, High Street 1897 =  from 3s 6d.

Bed quilt, from J Morgan & Sons, 1901 = from 2 to 30 shillings.

Cost of hiring the most basic small gas cooking stove from the Marlow Gas Co, per quarter 1901 = 2 shillings (includes repairs but not the cost of the gas itself or the rental of the gas meter)

Dust proof alarm clock from Rowes jewellers in the High Street 1904 = 4 shillings.

"Jewel" Anthracite stove (the latest tech with smokeless operation and little maintenance required they say) from Eddowes ironmongers 1909 = from £2 17 shillings.

1 pound in weight tin of paint for your walls, many colours to choose from, Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 3 shillings.

Plate glass mirror with oak frame, from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 6 and 1/2 pence

Occasional table from Cudes furnishers in the High Street 1909 = from 5 shillings 6d.

Complete bedroom suite from G H Cude as above, 1909 = £2 17s 6d Note this didn't include a bed. It comprised dressing chest, wash stand, chair and towel stand, enamelled in any colour.

1 broom from Newman & Chalk, High Street, 1910 = 1s 9d.

Van load of firewood, mostly beech from G Dean & Son, 1920 = 10s .

Bunch of flowers, delivered free locally, from Coryton, Marlow Bottom, 1928 = from 1s. No telephone so send a postcard or call in to place an order. 

Second hand ice chest (to hold a block of ice for keeping food stored in the lower part cool. A no electricity "fridge"), 3ftx2ft, 1929 = 35s

A ton of coal, delivered by G E Stevens, Oxford Rd, 1934 = 38s for "London Brights" coal for general purpose use, 42s for Steven's "22 hards" blend "splendid for open grates" or the very best coal 54s. 

Second hand timber built garage, to fetch from Winchbottom Lane, 16x10ft, 1935 = £6 10s

Murphy brand radio set from R J Platt Radio Shop, 1937 = from £6 10s.

1 dozen daffodils, picked while you wait, from Millhouse Farm, Marlow Common, 1939 = 2d.

For the garden:

Gravel from Mr Allum / Allam Bovingdon Green 1874, per cart load = 5 pence.

A dozen tulip bulbs from Elliott's in the High Street, 1881 = 1 shilling.

Flower seeds from Elliott's in the High street 1882, per packet = 3d.

Cauliflower seeds from Elliott's in High Street 1882, per packet = 3d.

Broccoli seeds as above = 6d.

Lettuce seeds as above = 3d.

1lb of raffia grass for tying in garden plants, from Newman & Chalk, High Street 1898 = 6d.

Loam ideal for growing roses. From the brick works in Newtown Road (which also sold gravel for your garden paths) 1910 = 1s 6d a load.

A Ransome motor lawnmower from Batting & Sons, 1933 = from £22 17s 6d with 5% discount for cash payment.

Food and drink / preparing it: 

A half peck loaf of bread, price as fixed by MP William Burt Esq during severe winter of 1767/8 =  6d [a half peck loaf was the typical loaf size at this period, weighing 8lbs 11oz. Remember that poor ate bread for every meal, and sometimes only bread for a meal]

A pot of beer [equivalent to half a pint], regulation price in town 1846 = 4 pence. Went up to 5 pence in 1847.

"Large" loaf of bread Little Marlow 1847 = 4 pence.

3lb beef from Rachel Hall's butcher's shop West Street 1850 = 1 shilling.

2lb basic bread from Charlotte Sawyer baker of West Street 1851 = 2 pence. 

4lb loaf of finest white bread from baker Joseph Maskell of West Street, 1857 = 7d

2 ounce packet of coffee from George Cannon the bookseller (many booksellers and stationers sold tea and coffee too), 1858 = 2 shillings.

Cost of one pigs foot (yum!) in Marlow 1859 = 2 pence.

Pint milk from Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1860, delivered in Marlow = 1 and a half pence.

A pound of "nutritious" arrowroot, as prepared by native Christian converts at missionary stations in the South Sea Islands, from Fullicks, 1861 = 1s 6d 

A pound of pure unadulterated China tea from George Cannon, High Street 1861 = from 3s 6d.

1 quart of soup, from the town soup kitchen, cost subsidised by subscribers, 1862 = 1 penny. (Available only to any poor with a ticket, twice per week over winter.)

Tea (food and drink) served at the Temperance Societies rural fete at Harleyford 1865 = 9d. 

A pint bottle of Guinness Extra Stout from Fullicks and Coulton Grocers in the High Street, which was also an off licence, in 1867 = 4 sh 6d.

Supper of bread, bacon and potatoes served at The Carriers Arms, Wycombe Road, 1873 = 6d, plus a pint of beer for 2d.

A 4lb loaf from Mr Brooks on the Causeway, 1873 = 6d., a 2lb loaf from Henry Turner of West Street 1875 = 3 and a half pence.

Bottle of "Castle A" sparkling hock (white wine), from Edward Hewett, 1874 = 2s 9d . (Prices had recently increased due to demand created by "favourable recommendations from the medical profession" the makers said)

One orange from Walter Lovegrove the grocer in the High Street 1878 = 1 penny.

A rabbit from Coster's grocers in West Street, 1879 = 1s 7d.

Tin of biscuits from Joseph Dorsett's grocery shop 1881 = 4 shillings

A pound of "very fine" Black Hamburg grapes, sold by the gardener of Suffolk Lodge to the public, 1883 = 2s 6d.

A bottle of claret from the Greyhound Hotel, Spittal Street = 2s 6d.

Jar of marmalade or glass tumbler of blackberry jam from Robert and Sarah Ann Loosemoore's Spittal Street grocers 1885 = 4 and a half pence. 

Cost of hiring one of the new parish allotments Berwick Road 1886 = 6 pence [6d] a pole. Foxes Piece allotments 1908 = 10 pence per pole.

1 pint of gin, served in a jug with two glasses - Hare and Hounds, Red Pits, Henley Road, 1886 = 2 shillings.

A pound of pork sausages from Stillmans Spittal Street, 1888 = 9d. (Or go for cheaper beef ones at 6d a pound)

Pot of lemon curd, from confectioner William Kempster, High Street 1888 = 1 shilling (Confectioners didn't just sell sweets but all kinds of sweet treats e.g pastries too. Most were also or primarily bakers).

A bottle of rum from Clifton grocers and wine merchant High Street, 1888 = 2s 3d.

A cup of coffee from the Mission Rooms, Dean Street 1891 = 1 penny. This was subsidised in the hope it would divert the locals from alcohol!

Bread, butter and tea at Hurley Lock 1893 = 6d. This seen as a real bargain.

1lb tin of biscuits from Death & Sons 1894, "suitable for gifting" = 9d.

Home cured bacon from Joseph Dorsett, mild cure, 1894 = from 6d per pound. 

1 egg from Wymer's Farm 1895 = 1 penny.

Bottle of Spey Royal Whiskey, from Smith & Co, High Street, 1895 = 4d plus 1d deposit on the bottle. 

1lb "Special" Ginger Nuts from Death & Sons Bakers 1895 = 4d.

Bottle of whiskey from Smith and co, High Street 1896 = 4 shillings plus 1 shilling returnable deposit for the bottle.

Fancy box of dates, part of Christmas range, from Walter Lovegrove grocer of the High Street 1896 = 9d.

A dozen bottles of Jacob's Pilsner Beer from Walter Lovegrove grocer, 1896 = 5 shillings.

14 mince pies for Christmas from Death and Sons bakers 1897 = 1 shilling, a pound of mincemeat for Christmas from Browns in the High Street 1909 = 6 and a half pence, a pound of Christmas "New Marlovian Shortbread" from the same 1909 = 8 pence.

1lb lard from the Co-Op Market Square 1897 =  3 and a half pence.

Can of salmon from the Co-Op Market Square 1897 = 5d.

Wholemeal loaf from Death's Bakery 1899 = 1 and a half pence small, 3 pence large. (Weight not given)

Grapes from A E Howard, grocer High Street 1900 = 6d a pound.

York ham from A E Howard, High Street 1900 = 1s 2d  per pound.

Fresh butter from A.E Howard 1900 = 1 shilling 2 pence per lb. In 1902 it cost from 1s a lb from Howard's successor Frank Over.

Ripe stilton as above = 1s 4d per lb.  

1lb finest pork sausages from A.E Howard, High Street 1900 = 6d to 8 and a half d.

Half gallon of ale or stout from High Street grocer A E Howard 1901 = 8d.

A pint of beer at the bar of the Crown Hotel 1901 = 4d. A glass of beer cost 2d in the bar or 3d in the coffee room of the Crown. 

1lb of finest Ceylon tea, 1902, from Frank Overs Stores, High Street = 1s 6d (Frank took over A E Howard's premises in 1902). Alternatively 1lb of special blend tea from another High Street grocer Alfred Illsley would cost from 1s 4d per lb in the same year. 

Demerara sugar per lb, Frank Over's Stores, High Street 1903 = 2d.

Bag of self raising flour from Brown's Market Square 1905 = 3d.

3 pint tin teapot from Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 6 and a half d.

4 pint iron gas kettle, from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 6 and half d.

1 cup and saucer, from Barnard's, 1909 = 1d.

Fancy pastry cutters from Barnard's as above, 1909 = 1 and half d.

7 lb (yes 7) jar mixed fruit jam, Barnard's as above, 1909 =  1s 4d plus 3d extra for the jar.

Large tin pineapple chunks, from Barnard's, 1909 = 4 and half d. (In 1929 a tin of pineapple from International Stores cost 5d).

Hindquarter of best Canterbury lamb, from E Hogg butcher of Market Square 1910 = 7 and a half d per lb. 

1 pint of soup served at the Communal Kitchen, High Street 1917 = 2d (Bring your own cutlery). 

1/2 pint portion of stew with dumplings, in Communal Kitchen as above = 2d

Treacle Tart, as above 1917 = 2 and a half pence.

Quartern loaf of bread (4lb, a traditional loaf size), from Co op Stores, Station Rd, 1917 = 10&1/2 d

A lb of damson from Neighbours in Market Square 1917, = 1 and a half pence. Delivered free.

Tin of haddock (no size given) from Barnard's Stores, 1921 = 4&1/2d (this is a special offer price as they have just taken in 1,000 of the tins apparently).

Mitre margarine "made like butter, looks like butter, tastes like butter, made with butter" , from International Stores, High Street 1923 = 10d per llb.

Large pork pie, available from The Queen pub Marlow, 1923 = 6d. Delivered fresh daily from Broomfield's bakery, High Wycombe. 

3lb bag of "Tastit" self raising flour from grocer Mrs Coventry in Chapel Street, 1923 = 8d "the cheapest and best money can buy". 

Lunch for hotel guests at the George and Dragon 1924 = 3 shillings 6d.

Large tin Ovaltine (weight not given) available from various Marlow shops, 1926 = 4s 6d. "Builds up brain, nerve and body"

Bottle return charge for bottled beer sold to be consumed off the premises at the George & Dragon, 1928 = 2d. (A label is stuck to the bottles by the barman when purchased to identify them. You pay the 2d charge then and get it refunded when the same bottle is bought back. If you don't, you loose the 2d which the landlord has then to pay the brewery for the loss of the bottle.)

1lb good cooking potatoes from Tomlinson the potato merchant, Dean Street. (He's also a corn and coal merchant and seedsman), 1929 - 1d (which seems cheap compared to other suppliers in South Bucks).

A 5lb cake from Dorsett's grocers 1930 = 5s.

Bottle of "toasting port", 1917 vintage, from Budgen's Stores - grocer/wine merchant, High Street, 1932 = 7s 6d.

2 pounds of oats from International Stores Marlow 1933 = 3 and a half d.

Tin of pilchards in tomato sauce from International Stores 1933 = 5 and a half d..

A pound of Empire Cheese from International Stores 1933 = 8d.

1lb pound of Burford Marvel tomatoes, picked while you wait, at Coryton, Marlow Bottom, 1933 = 6d.

Full course dinner at The Crown Hotel, c 1934 = 5 shillings. Cheaper dinners available on request! The most expensive breakfast available in the same year cost 3s 6d but sadly we do not know exactly what food was on offer for that. 

Can of grapefruit, from the Chesham & High Wycombe Co Operative Society Society shop, in Station Road, 1934 = 8 & 1/2 d.

1 quart milk from the Seymour Court Farm dairy, delivered, 1935 = 7d.

Large tin of red plums, sweetened, from Brown's, High Street "the Quality shop" 1935 = 7&1/2d

8lbs loaf sugar from Dorsett's grocers, 1937  = 2 shillings.

1lb tea from Dorsett's grocers, 1937 = £2 2 shillings.

 

Tin of assorted chocolates from Barksfield Brothers in the High Street, 1937 = 6 shillings 6 pence.

Medical and Health Costs:

Tincture for scurvy, per bottle from Mr Hubbard, 1768 = 1s 6d.

Cure for bladder / kidney stones from John Howe, patent medicine supplier (and stationer and bookseller) High Street 1784 = 2 shillings a bottle.

Box of "Pectoral Lozenges of Tolu", for hoarseness, asthma, coughs etc, from John Howe as above, 1785 = 1 shilling. 

Dr Waites Celebrated Worm Medicine in the form of gingerbread flavour "nuts", per 13, from Miss Hawes, 1792= 1 shilling 1&1/2d. 

Cure for itching and "skin eruptions" from the shop of Miss Hawes, per bottle 1815 = 2 shillings 9 pence.

A "cure" in a bottle for cholera from Little Marlow quack medicine supplier 1851 = 1 shilling.

Large bottle of Dr Torren's one minute toothache cure from Foottit's chemist in the High Street, 1857 = 1 shilling.

Trowbridge Pills Of Life And Beauty" (actually indigestion pills for women!) from Foottit's chemist, 1860 = 1 shilling 1 and a half pence per packet.

A pair of "patent pantheoscopic" glasses for all types of vision difficulties from Stradling's the jewellers /watchmakers in the High Street, 1862 = 5 shillings. More basic glasses could be got there for 1s 6d.

Woodcock's wind pills from Foottit's chemists in the High Street 1862 = from 1sh 6d a box.

A small bottle of Johnson's Sarsparilla And Bark Pills for skin eruptions (which also cures scurvy, liver complaints, bowel problems and dyspepsia while they're at it) from Foottit's chemist in the High Street, 1864 = 13 and a half pence. Especially recommended for anyone about to embark on a course of sea bathing or a trip to the tropics.

Bottle of Heald's Essence for "head ache, face ache, and ear ache" from George Cannon in the High Street, 1864 = 7 and a half pence.

Orchard's cure for deafness from Foottit's chemist in the High Street, 1873 =13 and a half pence per bottle.

Dr Wilkinson's midwifery fee, 1874 = 10 shillings 6d.

Herrington's Balsamic Cough Elixir from Banbury's chemist shop Marlow per bottle, 1874 = from 13 and a half pence. A bargain 11 shilling extra large bottle available. This elixir was fir all coughs including those by consumption.

Complete set of artificial teeth, upper and lower, as made by "legally qualified  surgical and mechanical dentist" William Gregory of Maidenhead. Sold through Banbury's Chemist Marlow, every other Tuesday.  1875 = £3 3 shillings. Liberal discounts for mechanics and servants. Consultation free. 

Bottle of Banbury's own label tasteless Digestive Pills for indigestion, from William Banbury, chemist, High Street, 1876 =7&1/2d. William says the population of Marlow suffer from digestive complaints to "an enormous extent" and in fact very few people don't need his pills. 

Course of first aid training by St John's ambulance at Marlow, 1883= 5 shillings or free to firemen or members of the Royal Bucks Volunteers.

A bottle of "invigorating" health saline from Charles Dye's Pharmacy in the High Street 1896= from 1 shilling.

Tube of Burnolia cooling cream for sunburnt skin, especially marketed at boaters, tennis players and cyclists, from W Baxters chemist High Street 1896 = 6 pennies.

Oleatum Japanese rheumatism remedy from Baxters chemist 1896 = from 1 shilling a bottle.

Bottle of the "best nerve and brain tonic" Sulphurized Quinine and Iron, from W Baxter as above, 1897  = 1 shilling 9 pence.

A box of Harris's anti-nit children's hair pomade from Harman's Chemist 1908 = 4 and a half pence.

Bottle of a cure for neuralgia from Snow's Chemist in the High Street 1909 = 1 shilling.

Snow's exclusive bronchial balsam from Snow's chemist High Street 1912 = from 1 shilling.

Nostrolene naval spray to guard against hay fever, flu, thrust infections and head colds from Snow's Chemist High Street 1919  = 1s 3d.

Extraction of a tooth and an artificial replacement, by the American Dental Co who attend Marlow weekly, 1920 = 2s 6d (reduced prices available to servants, soldiers and seamen and their dependents).

A pair of good plain nail scissors from Rowe the jeweller, High Street 1921 = 2 shillings.

Education:

Yearly fee for a pupil Mrs Trash's boarding school for young ladies 1799 = 30 guineas.

Cost of attending the Royal Military Academy, West Street if you did not have a father in the military 1802 = £100 a year (boarding). A discount of between 50 and 90 per cent was available to sons of army men. Orphans in these circumstances paid nothing. The pricing structure changed over the years.

Yearly fee for attending Prospect House Academy boarding school for boys 1849 = 22 to 25 guineas.

Annual fee for boarders aged 5-8 attending the Misses Westbrooks prep school for boys and girls in Chapel Street 1850 = 18 Guineas. Daily pupils 4 guineas. Laundry 2 guineas extra. 

Mail order school books written by Joseph Guy the former geography teacher at the Royal Military College Marlow, 1852, each = 1 shilling to 9 shillings.

Day pupil cost for boys attending George Verney's school - the place for farmers and tradesmen to give their sons a "sound business education" so he says.  1857 = £5 a quarter with extras "a mere trifle".

Day pupil cost for a quarter at the Misses Winter's Preparatory School For Young Gentleman, West Street Marlow (there was a separate school for girls), 1865 = 12 shillings 6d. This did not include optional music, singing or drawing classes.

Annual fee for boarding pupil (boys) at Marlow Place School for boys 1870 = 70 guineas. Some subjects cost extra.

Italian classes for the young ladies at Chapel House School, per quarter 1881 = 15 guineas.

Cost of 10 dance lessons at Downshire House School for girls (open to non-pupils) 1882, = 1 guinea .

Annual fee for scholars at Borlase who did not have a Foundation scholarship, 1882 = £1.

Cost of painting class for ladies, per term, as organised by the Marlow centre of the Technical Education Committee, held at the Institute, 1903 = 10s 6d. (A two hour class a week). General classes in French, shorthand, chemistry, woodcarving (popular with women) and maths cost 2s 6d per term with sessions lasting between 90 minutes and 2 hours a week at the Institute.

Annual boarding fee at Borlase 1906 = £54. 

Annual fee for girls at a school (boarding) in Glade Road 1909 = 18 guineas.

Clothing and Footwear etc:

Printed cotton for dress making, per yard, from Messrs Wilkinson and Burrough, 1789 = from 10d to 4s 6d (These gentleman were selling the items at a reduced price as they have bought up the discounted stock of a London draper who was giving up his business)

A petticoat, Marlow 1850 = 2 shillings.

Pair trousers from John Morgan's drapers and outfitters shop in the High Street 1859 = 7 shillings.

Value of a man's smock frock stolen from a Turville farm in 1858 = 4s 

Man's coat from John Collins Clark tailor 1861 = £2 12 shillings 6 pence

Cheapest silver watch available from Mr A Stradling, watch and clockmaker, High Street 1862 = 15 shillings. 

Pair of man's slippers from Mr East shoemaker of Marlow, 1863 = 2s 6d.

Pair of boots (probably top quality) from Charles Phillips bootmaker, 1864 = £1 1 shilling.

Gold wedding ring, from Stradlings, High Street, 1865 = from 7s 6d

Cost of hiring a Britannia sewing machine as hairdresser Robert Pearse of Marlow did in 1876, per week = 2 shillings. Ideal for making your own clothing. 

"Fancy dress material" for making your own fine dress, from draper etc Alfred Davis, High Street, 1880 = 1&3/4d - 4&3/4d per yard

Child's ready made jacket, from Alfred Davis as above, 1880 = 6&3/4d

Reward for finding and returning a fancy striped silk shawl lost near Marlow, 1880 = 5s

Good quality overcoat and trousers from Richard Barnes, tailor of Spittal Street 1885 = £3 10s

Ladies watch, solid silver, guaranteed 10 years from Rowe's the watchmaker / jewellers, High Street 1894 = £25 (the cheapest one advertised by Rowes  in 1897 was just 15s 6d- probably silver plated only).

Special all wool trousers from tailor Alfred Davis, High Street 1894 = 10s 9d

Beaver overcoat for a gentleman, with velvet collar and tweed lining from Morgan's 1895 = 21s

 "Suitings" (men's suits) from James Gray, tailor, High Street 1895. Made to suit any shape = from 45 shillings. 

"Special Quality" made to measure  flannel trousers James Morgan & Sons 1897 = 12 shillings 6 pence. Other qualities from 10 shillings 6 pence.

Special Quality made to measure tweed suit James Morgan & Sons 1897 = 35 shillings. Other qualities from 27 shillings 6 pence.

"Ironside" brand tweed and serge suits, to measure, from A E Sutton General Clothing and Boot Store, West Street. "Fit, style and wear guaranteed" 1897 = from 2 guineas.

Gold scarf pins from Rowes, High Street 1897 = from 2s 6d.

Cheapest gold necklace from Rowes, High Street 1897 = 10s 6d.

Shoes from West Street Post Office (which was also Suttons clothes and shoe shop at this point ) 1899 = from 2 shillings 6 pence a pair.

Men's overcoats from Sutton's as above, 1897= from 3 shillings 6d.

Flannelette for making underclothing, from Morgans as above, 1901  = from 2 and three quarter pence to 8 pence per yard. 

"Lotus" thick soled laced ladies shoes from Langston's Boot and Shoe Warehouse, High Street 1905= 12 shillings 9 pence a pair. 

Tin of black or brown shoe polish from Barnard's Stores Chapel Street 1909 = 1 shilling.

Ladies blouse in "cotton crepe", from James Morgan & Sons, 1920 = 9s 8d. 

Leather gauntlet motoring gloves but "suitable for anything" , from Walter Davis tailor/hosier, 1923 = 3s 6d (extra shilling if lined).

Ready to wear winter suit for men in Wearproof Tweed (a branded item for which Todd was sole local agent), from Frederick Todd, West Street, 1926 = 60s. Youth size 55s. 

Pair of men's flannel trousers in the latest shades of grey, from Morgan's, 1931 = from 6s 11d to 21s.

Delta ladies shoe suitable for "town wear" in "black satin mat kid" leather, also available in the shades "bulrush" and brown, Milward's, High Street, 1933 = 23s 9d (one of the more expensive shoes).

A pair of "topping summer shoes" for young gents, in black or brown suede, from Milward's in the High Street, 1934 = 12s 9d.

Dunlop Wellington's from Milward's, 1935 = from 14s 9d .

Ladies Sunshine Sandals in white green or blue, from Milward's, 1938 = 6s 11d.

Business and farming costs:

Annual rent of a butcher's shop in Lane End (then part of Great Marlow parish) 1757 = £6.

Annual rent of Wethered's brewery premises in the High Street which they had on a repairing lease 1795 = £15.

Annual Rent of Seymour Court Farm 1833 = £172 18 shillings.

1 lamb in Marlow or Little Marlow 1837 = 1 shilling

Annual rent of Fountain Head beer house in High Street with the carpentry workshop attached 1838 = £12 12 shillings.

Team of 3 farm horses sold by Mr Eeles of Lane End, 1843 = 16 guineas.

An ewe sheep, Little Marlow 1849 = 30 shillings.

Rent of land in Great Marlow Common Field per acre 1849  = between £2 15s and £3 .Note that this land was what would be soon known as Wycombe Road Farm, and was subject to some common rights still although this portion was privately rented. The following year the rent was doubled.

Forty pounds in weight of good meadow hay, from Little Marlow, 1852 = 3 shillings.

Rent of Jacques water powered corn mill with associated family residence 1858 = £105.

Rent Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1860 per annum = £500.

Annual rent of a combined house and baker's shop with a stable West Street, 1862 = £16.

Cost for a licensed victualler of getting a licence to sell alcohol at a one off event like a fete or cricket match 1862 (a new requirement this year) = 5 shillings. 

Annual rent Hope Beer House, High Street 1865 (a small but newish, purpose built premises) = £15.

A reaping hook from Battings, Marlow 1875 = 1s 10d. Workers who already had their own tools were much more likely to be hired by a farmer.

Rent Wymers Farm 1876, per annum = £68.

A bottle of Wrights Universal Embrocation for horses, cows and sheep (but could be used on chapped human hands too). This cured "joint evil" in lambs, swollen udders in cows, sore feet, lameness and wounds and acted as a fly deterrent. From Foottit's chemist, High Street, 1883 = 2sh 1 and a half pence.

Rent of Dog and Badger Medmenham 1895, per annum = £30 10s.

Rent paid by Spindlo's bakery 1897, per annum  = £30 (this included the house which incorporated the shop, plus a separate bakehouse, flour store and small stable).

Cheapest bullock at Marlow Cattle Market sales 1897, generally = £17.

One first class sheepdog, from Bockmer Farm, 1898 = £1. 

Annual rent of a small  tobacconist shop with living accommodation in the High Street, 1902 = £35.

Annual rent of a double fronted grocer's shop in Marlow High Street with living accommodation, 2 stall stable, two storey warehouse and coachouse 1908 = £80.

Ton of coke from Marlow Gas Company 1909 = £1. Delivery fee 3 pence per ton.

Stable lantern, from Barnard's stores 1909 = 6 and a half pence

Sale price of Holmers Farm (123 acres) Marlow 1910 = £2,150.

A pail of food supplement for stock animals (horses, cows, sheep, pigs), strengthening them, purifying their blood, and encouraging milk flow from J North corn dealer West Street, 1913 = 14 shillings.

Cost of buying Westhorpe Farm Little Marlow 1917 = £5,450.

Nanny goat juvenile from Field House Farm 1917 = £1.

A dozen Rhode Island Red day old chicks, from Seymour Hill Poultry Farm, 1934 = 12s

100 egg incubator secondhand from Woolmer Farm, Marlow Common, 1934 = 50s

A secondhand Chevrolet lorry from the Gibbons secondhand dealership in York Road, 1934 = £35

Personal Care

Exotic scented perfume from Little Marlow supplier W Brown 1844 = from 2 shillings sixpence.

Mail order tablet of high quality soap sent from London to Marlow 1855 = 6 pence [6d].

Hair colouring shampoo from George Cannon the chemist 1866 per packet = 10s 6d.

Butler's Rosemary Hair Cleaner from Footitt chemist High Street (invigorates hair and removes dandruff), per packet 1860= 6 pence [6d] This makes a pint of "hair wash" up.

Marlow Bouquet - a perfume from Baxters chemist in the High Street 1896 = from 1 shilling 6 pence [1s 6d].

Antiseptic tooth powder "cleansing and refreshing", from Walter Duplock chemist, High Street 1906 = from 1 shilling.

Vaseline from Barnard's Stores 1909 = 1 penny a tin.

Tin of tooth powder (for cleaning teeth) from Barnard's 1909 = 1 penny a tin.

Shaving stick from Barnard's Stores, 1921 = 6d

A permanent wave at Milady ladies hairdresser and beauty parlour, West Street 1937 = 15s. Edith Neighbour of Derriford, Newtown charged the same price in 1934. 

Other:

Cheapest gold wedding band available from Stradling the watchmaker, 1861 = 7s 6d

Dutton and Allen and Co Commercial Directory for Bucks with map 1863 = 21 shillings if you were not a subscriber.

13.2 hands high pony 8 years old, and "strong", sold from Oakengrove Farm, 1920 = £45

Second hand navy blue pram, with canopy and hood, 1920 = £7.

Pedigree Alsatian puppy, 1927 = £4.

1905, Smith & Co ad.  Generally a newsagents and bookseller etc, they were one of a number of non grocery stores in Marlow who were agents for one particular brand of tea or other.

Complied by Charlotte and Kathryn Day. 

To find out more about everyday life in old Marlow see the post listing here

For more on the shops etc mentioned above, see the index here

You may also like Food in Victorian Marlow

Sources too numerous to fully list but included:

South Bucks Standard 28 December & 27 March 1908, 15 January, 23 July, 26 November 1909 - Copies from the British Library and accessed via the BNA. August 2020.

Dickens Dictionary of the Thames (Dickens, 1889)

Dickens Dictionary of Thames from Oxford to the Nore (1880 edition, issue 2)

Marlow Guide 1903 &  1905

Information from Kathleen Day, Jane Pullinger and Jean Martin. 

Slough Eton and Windsor Observer October 24 & 31 October 1885; Slough Library

The Victoria County History of Buckinghamshire, 1908. Edited by William Page.

Maidenhead Advertiser 13th January 1875. 

Adverts, receipts, bills, account books, and letters etc. 

©Marlow Ancestors.