Edwardian Spittal Street and Spittal Square Part Two

EVEN NUMBERED PROPERTIES SPITTAL STREET.

Note: Our Marlow ancestors were terrible at giving precise or consistent street addresses for themselves or others, knowing exactly what number they lived at (!), and the authorities made some confusing even bizarre property numbering decisions (don't get us started on Berwick Road... ). Some properties in Market Square at the bottom of Spittal Street were officially numbered as if in Spittal Street and would be described as being in Market Square or Spittal Street depending on the whim of the describer. They are included here. Properties in Spittal Square were also numbered as if in Spittal Street. Most of those were given even numbers. Throughout history Spittal Street and Chapel Street which run into one another were repeatedly confused. Never believe any property is definitely in one street rather than the other without multiple pieces of evidence!

***Edwardian building numbers are not necessarily those of the modern day*** Several of the properties mentioned below no longer exist.

In this post I follow the popular perception of the "Edwardian age" as extending 1901-1914. Some incidents in the earlier lives of the named residents are also included. Spittal Square addresses are very sloppy and reconstructing this street was tough.  If anyone has been missed we hope to remedy that as soon as possible.

2 - 4 George Dorsett's grocery shop. Really in Market Square but numbered as Spittal Street at this time. Bacon curer too. 

6 - 8 William Fisher's butcher's shop. Managed in a day to day basis by Frank Fisher from 1905 but William still in charge of the business overall. William was involved in an accident in 1910 when his horse drawn trap was in collision in the High Street with another vehicle and he was thrown out of it. William was much injured but fortunately had no broken bones. In the Edwardian era William supplied meat and groceries to the Union workhouse school in Bledlow Bucks which took children from Marlow and elsewhere. The quality of the meat he provided was questioned more than once. It has be said that the premises of William were considered a continuous serious health hazard by his Spittal Street neighbours and he was multiple times in court over sanitary breaches. The details are somewhat stomach churning and as you may have recently eaten we'll just draw a veil over the details. Like many butchers he kept some animals for slaughter - mostly pigs- out the back of his premises. In the Victorian era he had kept a stall at Marlow market too but it isn't clear whether he was still doing that in this era. By the end of the Edwardian age William no longer lived on the premises of his shop, but in Glade Road. His wife Elizabeth was nee Webb of the Webb of Field House Marlow family. William himself came from Aylesbury originally.

Premises on the edge of Market Square.

10  Sometimes given as Market Square but numbered as Spittal Street. Shop of Thomas "Tom" Rippington (bn 1879) fishmonger in 1907 and 1908. He also dealt in game and poultry. Smoked haddock a speciality! He was an assistant fishmonger on the 1901 census so must have come into his own business after that. Thomas is not to be confused with his dad Thomas Rippington of nearby Chapel Street who was not a fishmonger but a shorthand writer and marine store dealer. Tom and his wife Ruth moved to Great Missenden in late 1910 or 11 and his former Marlow premises were taken over by Nelson and Sons butchers. 

12 Sydney Smith's greengrocers. Members of this family continued the shop there for some years.

14 - 16 Bernal Harman chemist until his death in 1906 when his son Henry "Harry" Harman took over. A full biography of both Bernal and his son is already on the blog here. Long term chemist premises. 

18 William Smith, draper's shop. Wife Martha Jane ("Jane") born circa 1853 Maidenhead but William was a Londoner of origin. He was one of Marlow's volunteer firemen. Martha died after what was said to be a long and painful illness in 1908 at their home The Garth, Beaumont Rise. William continued to live at The Garth as a widower with his children Herbert and Dora. (Currently a greengrocer & sweet shop) 

Advert, 1905. 

20 Ironmongery ran by George Meakes until his death in 1903. Assisted by John Eddowes who then took over. A biographical post on these two is already on the blog here. Currently M&S food. 

22 - 24 Arthur Barnard's stores which were built at the very end of the Edwardian era. He already has a biography on the blog here where you will also find information about his two other shops. Prior to that three very small cottages stood on the site. Those properties were previously occupied by Thomas Andrews the hairdresser (wife Elizabeth), H Carter and the Steele family headed by William and Rosanna "Rose" Steele. William was a french polisher on his own account. His and Rosanna's son Sydney died of wounds he received while fighting in the First World War at Salonika. The Steele family previously lived at Bovingdon Green but had to leave when their thatched cottage burned to the ground. It was thought a spark from their fire of furze ignited the thatch. No one in the family was hurt and the family's possessions were saved. A lack of available water for the fire brigade and the fact the road from Marlow was so bad that the fire engine got stuck had contributed to the fire's destruction of their home. Using furze for fire would have been common at Bovingdon Green and Marlow Common as it could be gathered easily in the vicinity. Currently Marlow Bookshop. 

26 - 30 The Greyhound. For the Edwardian and other landlords of this historic  inn / hotel see here. (Demolished) 

32 Jacob's family home & store. Ralph Jacobs was a "marine store" dealer - that is a seller of secondhand items that would largely be of interest to those in trade or craft occupations (e.g carpentry tools or lead piping). They also traded in secondhand items a householder might use for gardening or home maintenance tasks. Examples of such items would be cloths  that could be used for cleaning, slop pails and garden tools. He later also operated as a rag and bone man and offered shoe repairs. His shop was at 32 but he also kept a storeroom for larger items in Duke's Place. His sons John and Ernest both helped in the business. Sadly Ernest was killed in action while fighting in the First World War. The mum in the family was Emily Margaret. This property no longer exists. In the first world war the Jacobs collected many items for the war effort. Demolished. 

34 Over the Edwardian period George Dean boot and shoe maker and Ellen White needlewoman both occupied this cottage at different times. This property no longer exists. The cottage was a very old one that had in Georgian and Victorian times been a grocer's shop. To read about the grocers who operated from no 34 in the 1800s see here (Eagle Family) or here (East and Harriman). The latter post contains some upsetting content. Demolished. 

36 - 38 a largish property divided up in several ways. Wiggington family premises for many years. Robert Wiggington the coal dealer with a sideline in timber dealing operated from here as apparently did George Aughton a timber dealer who had a sideline in coal. George was also later recorded as a greengrocer and haulage contractor. Robert Wiggington died unexpectedly while out on his coal van in 1915. The property incorporated a shop (officially 38) which was ran as a general shop in the Edwardian era by Miss Emma Glynn Jones the Wiggington's granddaughter and later by George Aughton's wife Charlotte. This property no longer exists in any way.

40 - by the 1920s incorporated into number 38. This property no longer exists. In 1915 just after our era R Hawkes.

42 -cottage considered unfit for human habitation in 1907, owned by a Mr Collins. Probably lived in then by Mr J Edwards. This property no longer exists. 

44 cottage considered unfit for human habitation in 1907, owned by a Mr Collins. Probably lived in then by Mrs Young. Must have been refurbished as in 1915 just after our era no 44 was lived in by Walter Tew. This property no longer exists.

46 The Cross Keys SPITTAL SQUARE properly. Historic landlords listing here

48 at the end of this era the home of John Baxter. In earlier Edwardian times it was George Baxter, "wardrobe dealer" (that was a second hand furniture dealer not just selling wardrobes) who lived here.  SPITTAL SQUARE. Note the Rippington's wardrobe dealers was at no 2 Chapel Street next to the Cross Keys. Due to the bizarreness of the street numbering no 48 Spittal Square was actually on the opposite side of the street from the Cross Keys at no 46 which from bare numbering you would think would be next to it.

50 the home of widow Mary Ann Walker embroiderer at the start of the Edwardian era. She lived there with her niece Miss Mary Ann Stockbridge born 1857, who was a maker of embroidered baby bibs for her aunt's business, and then following her own death on her own account. Both women were beneficiaries of the will of Mary Ann Walker's husband Henry (who ran the baby linen and bib manufacturing business with his wife) following his death of bronchitis in 1894. The family had occupied this property since at least the 1870s. The Walkers employed many women in the town as embroiderers. Henry had spent his youth in the army, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant, not an easy thing for an ordinary man to do in those days. During his time serving in India he was part of the force which seized the famed Koh I Noor diamond and fought against the Indian Mutiny. After he left the armed services in 1864 he returned to Marlow, married and set up the embroidery business with his wife. SPITTAL SQUARE.

52-54 bakery of Walter Harris (also confectioner) and then Mr W Clark. SPITTAL SQUARE.

56 Mrs Mary Holland seamstress, self-employed. SPITTAL SQUARE.

58  John Birdseye. Baker there since at least the early 1890s. Spittal Square. He was in the same block of 4 properties as Frank Harvey the chimney sweep see above, so was an even number. John was born circa 1831 in Chesham. His wife Eliza was of Marlow origin. She died in 1904 and so late in the era as a retired widower John went to live with his daughter Sarah and son in law James Gray (a grocer and rent collector) at the impressive house Thamesfield near the river. Back in 1897 when Queen Victoria's jubilee was being celebrated in Marlow John put on an unusual public display when he exhibited some bread and cakes which he had made for the 1887 Jubilee, 10 years previously still in very good condition! John as a younger man served as a parish constable. The graves of Eliza and John are on the blog here. Both were members of the Baptist Church in Marlow and helped to raise money for its Glade Road building. Their daughter Sarah was a Congregational Chapel member.

When John Birdseye retired Edward Harvey baker and confectioner (wife Alice nee Barnes) took over. Early in the Edwardian era John sold bread and beer in nearby Chapel Street. They lived York Road.  Harvey's bakers was in operation for many years and was fondly remembered by many people. This property no longer exists. SPITTAL SQUARE.

60 the home of the West family headed by couple Emma and Owen West. Late in the Edwardian era Emma lived here as a widow supporting herself by working as a charwoman. SPITTAL SQUARE .This property no longer exists.

62  Francis "Frank" and Annie Harvey. Frank was a chimney sweep. In a block of 4 properties in SPITTAL SQUARE not far from the corner with Chapel Street. This property no longer exists.

Unplaced people of Edwardian Spittal Street, may be on either the odds or evens side of street unless otherwise stated. By unplaced I mean not certainly placed, there is often conflicting information:

Samuel and Rose Higgs. Samuel was a boot maker.

Mr Price who had a shop here in 1905 in which a fire broke out.

Mr Ransom butcher?

Mrs Elizabeth Sexton dressmaker and furrier. Born circa 1848 in Dorking Surrey. A widow who lived with her daughters Eleanor and Winifred, sister Eliza Plumridge and a lodger. Elizabeth had moved to Marlow from Maidenhead. Initially she lived with her daughters in Oxford Road. Eleanor married into the Gurney family of Glory Farm, Penn. Before marriage she worked as a stationary shop assistant.

Annie Trash milliner late in the era. Even numbered side of the street.

And in Spittal Square unplaced people =

Mrs Atkins or Adkins. Near the corner of Chapel Street. Sometimes because of the property's corner position described as being in Chapel Street itself. 

John and Jane Bryant early in the Edwardian era. John was a shopkeeper.

M Fisher the greengrocer.

Charles and Emma Hawkes. Charles was employed as a shoe maker. 

Joseph Hawkins carpenter.

Tillion family. In the same block of four properties as Frank Harvey the chimney sweep so an even numbered property. Charles Tillion was a packer for a fisherman. See also The Horns, Chapel Street landlord listing. 

Researched and compiled by Charlotte Day. ©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog. 

For selected sources see Spittal Street part one which deals with everyone who lived in odd numbered properties

Walker grave, Great Marlow

 This grave is in All Saints Parish Church. 

William Walker, son of William and Patience Walker of this parish. D. 28 Oct 1826. Age 18. 

ALSO OF

William Walker died 21 June 1845 age 75

And:

Patience Walker, relict of the above (widow) Died at Tottenham 26 (May?)18?4. Age 76. 

Notes from Charlotte:

William was a broker. He and Patience lived West Street from at least 1833 - 1845. See his property description on the 1833 parochial assessment here.

©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction of this images is freely allowed for local or family history purposes if you credit this blog.

From Work-House to Convict Ships - The Brothers Frith

Today's subjects are three young boys who caught my eye amongst the many young residents in the Great Marlow Workhouse in 1841. Charles, Alfred and Abraham Frith aged approximately 15, 13 and 9.  The two eldest are our focus here. There were a number of other Friths resident there then.  Young Charles and Abraham were the sons of John and Maria Frith, and most likely Alfred is their brother baptised 1827. It appears the boy's mother Maria was dead. Their father was not, but he was not with them in the parish house. It was not unusual for children left without a mother to end up in such a place, but sometimes this was only a short lived experience until perhaps the father remarried or another relative could help care for the children. At other times a child or two from a large poor family might be taken in temporarily to relieve the pressure on the household budgets if the breadwinner was out of work. In the end the same reason is behind every admission to the workhouse: poverty. At this time the work house managers were the Reeves, who you can read about in a dedicated post from Charlotte here. The buildings of the former still remain in Munday Dean Lane, just beyond Berwick Road.

Some of the workhouse residents would go on to better things and never return there but unfortunately they were the minority. And none of our three young men were amongst those fortunate few. Abraham reached adulthood but seems to have died young after numerous minor brushes with the law mainly for vagrancy, and just after finishing a 6 month sentence for robbing a cottage in Rotherfield Greys. And both Charles and Alfred would end up as convicts sentenced to transportation. 

Charles goes sheep stealing

Charles received his first conviction for sheep stealing when he was around 16. I'm unsure of his sentence then but it was likely several months in gaol. A youthful age was little defence in the eyes of the authorities. 

To be caught a second time was extremely serious. Charles would have known this as several Marlow men had already been sent to Tasmania as result of the two strike rule. 

Unfortunately in December 1846 Charles and his friend 17 year old Charles Lomax decided to pay a visit to Little Marlow of an evening. While they were there they caught and killed a sheep belonging to farmer William Simmonds of Monkton Farm, butchering it near the scene (more on Monkton Farm and the occupants of it in Charlotte's post here). This was a common practice as it was easier and more discreet to cart away cut up meat than to drive sheep away through the lanes. They did not remove all of their bounty straight away but took some back to Marlow and hid the rest in a bag amongst some bushes. They probably thought it safer not to be carrying too obvious a load all at once. I have read accounts of hundreds of local poaching incidents and this gradual extraction of stolen meat seems quite common, despite the obvious risks of constantly returning to the scene! Frith took some of his share back to John Badger's beer-house in Chapel Street, Marlow where he was probably lodging. He asked the daughter of the house, Jane, to cook him some of the mutton for his dinner. Most recovered stolen meat ends up sold to the likes of butchers and beer houses prepared not to ask too many questions. Eating some yourself, except some of the offal, was less common it seems. It doesn't mean those stealing it weren't hungry but may be because the sold meat could generate more food if  the profit was then invested in cheaper ingredients. 

The two men were seen near the farm but not immediately with any sheep so although their presence was noted as somewhat unexplained, they were not instantly challenged. Later the sheep were missed. A search for them found a skin marked with "S" for owner Simmonds in a copse adjacent to the farm. Aaron Simmonds, the nephew of farmer William, was the one to make this discovery. He said the animal had been badly - that is unprofessionally - butchered,  and the mark was partially obscured so he could not positively identify it but unfortunately for the Friths, the other witnesses could. The skins, always marked, were usually left behind as they were the most incriminating evidence to be found on your person. A more thorough search uncovered the Frith's bag of stolen meat. After some consideration about the best thing to do it was decided to return the bag to its hiding place and watch, with the aid of one of the parish constables, to see who would come back to claim it and in doing so proclaim their guilt. The brothers were therefore observed as they pulled the bag out of the hedge and were known by name to those watching so escape was unlikely. They were not however arrested immediately, perhaps it was the intention to follow them a little in case they lead the way to any other accomplice. If so this was ruined when Richard Clark, engaged in hedging near the copse, was seen by the Friths during their exit. They were clearly surprised, and now carrying a suspicious bag, they panicked and immediately began to run. Richard called out for them to stop, declaring that he knew them well so fleeing  was pointless although he said the latter to their fast disappearing backs. Of course they did not stop, but ran towards Great Marlow. It was now rapidly getting dark and perhaps they hoped any identification would be vague. Then about three quarters of a mile from Little Marlow and in Marlow Fields their flight ended in the arms so to speak of Marlow Parish Constable Richard Davis. He had been alerted about the thefts earlier. He saw Lomax first, who was searched with nothing untoward found upon him. Frith, slowed down by carrying the bag, had now caught up, but on hearing Davis had tried to drop the incriminating bag. As it was now dark he might have hoped this action would not be seen, but in the quiet, it was heard. A knife and cords (for tying animal legs) was found on Frith, and Davis soon found the dropped bag as Frith had had no real opportunity to hide it. With the help of Parish Constable Thomas Walker,* the two were taken into custody. 

They appeared before the magistrates which at that time met in a hired room in the Crown hotel. They were then sent to Aylesbury Gaol to await trial at the Quarter Sessions. The verdict was inevitably one of guilty for both men. The Berkshire Chronicle described Frith as a "notorious thief and sheep stealer" on his arrest although it appears he was suspected of being involved in more offences than he was ever convicted of. Lomax did not have a previous conviction for sheep stealing and so he received a 12 month prison sentence. But things were quite different for Charles Frith. A previous conviction meant an inevitable sentence of transportation, in this case for 10 years. Of course this was the same as a life sentence in many ways. I can find no evidence that Charles Frith ever came back to Marlow. He was transported on the convict ship Eden under Captain Murdoch, which left on the 30th September 1848 and arrived in Hobart, Van Diemens Land on the 21st January 1849.

Alfred Frith Follows 

Charles may have beaten Alfred to the convict ships, but it was Alfred who had actually troubled the courts for longer. 

In 1843 the Union Workhouse at Saunderton was opened to replace the local workhouses. Before long Alfred would be only too familiar with its interior. He was there in 1844 when he was accused of damaging the stove inside, alongside another youth. The boys defence was not recorded in the sources that I found. But their efforts were rewarded with 2 weeks in prison. It appears he flitted in and out of the workhouse, presumably between periods of employment. 

In 1846, Alfred was back in the Wycombe Union house. But not I suspect very willingly! For before long he was wanted on the charge of absconding from the place. Alfred was far from alone in making his escape without obtaining official permission. He was supposed to get clearance if he wished to leave for a range of specific purposes eg to look for work or attend a funeral. Or he could give notice of his intention to leave but the authorities would want assurance that he could support himself if doing so (and legally.) The other problem was that Alfred had left wearing a set of clothes belonging to the union. This was regarded as theft. He did not remain at large for long as he was picked up on suspicion of begging (he argued that he was in fact selling combs) and so arrived before the magistrates to receive a 2 month prison sentence. On his arrest he was described by one source as "notorious" but it seems that like his brother, he was suspected of involvement in more petty crime than he was actually convicted of. Those like Alfred who spent at least some time as an itinerant seller were often treated with much suspicion. 

Alfred saw the magistrates again early in 1847 for vaguely described "misbehaviour" in the Wycombe Union Workhouse. He had a co accused, and both were sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment. It's fair to say Alfred was not going to settle quietly into life in such a place. 

Alfred's official job was as a tailor. But it does not seem he had much luck with maintaining this employment! 

In 1848, 20 year old Alfred would get into much more serious trouble. He had previously served a months sentence for a theft of turnips from a field in 1845. Now he was found guilty along with a 22 year old accomplice James West, of stealing three heifers from Benjamin Reeves of High Wycombe. Theft of livestock was not treated lightly, and although both plead not guilty, the case was regarded as an open and shut one. They were sentenced to 7 years transportation each. James West was quickly transferred to the Defence Hulk at Gosport to await a space in convict transport ship. Rebellious Alfred stayed initially in Aylesbury Gaol but his conduct there was regarded as "troublesome". It was considered that he was "unfit" to be put in solitary confinement so he was transferred to the larger and harsher Millbank prison in London in late 1849. The prison suffered a severe cholera outbreak shortly afterwards and a number of inmates were transferred to a "convict station" or temporary prison at Thorncliffe Barracks in Kent. He was still there at the time of the 1851 census. It could take some time for convicts to leave. I have not been able to trace which ship he left on (records are not complete) but I will update this post if I recover this info or any further information. 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Other posts related to Great Marlow convicts, and law and (dis)order can be found in the index here

Life at Great Marlow Workhouse 1775-1843 - here and life at the Wycombe Union workhouse at  Saunderton for Marlow residents here

To find all posts mentioning a family or individual here, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. There's over 6,000 people listed there. 

*More about parish constable Walker here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Sources include:

1841 census and parish register transcripts from the microfilm and originals by Jane Pullinger 1970. 

Bucks Advertiser &Aylesbury News, November 1846,  January & March 1847, February 1849 - British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA Partnership. 

Bucks Gazette February 1845 & 1847, as above

Bucks Herald September 1849 & January 1850 as above. 

Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette January & February 1850

Berkshire Chronicle December 1846, as above. 

The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/15, pp.333-347

Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 333 (168)

© MarlowAncestors

The Lives Of Owen Sawyer and Joseph Russell

Sometimes we pick a random individual from Marlow's past and decide to flesh out the bones of their life. So now is the turn of Victorian West Street and Queens Rd resident Owen Sawyer. 

Owen was born in 1847 to West Street bakers James and Charlotte Sawyer. They and their business feature in a post here which includes a photo of their premises. Charlotte had the reputation of being an accomplished businesswoman and she continued the business after her husband's early death. In this she was assisted by Owen's brothers Henry and James. Subsequently James would take over the management of the bakers from his aged mother, and indeed continued to run it after her death. 

Owen however was apprenticed to High Street cabinet maker Daniel Walker, who also ran The Hope public house later. Daniel did not just make furniture, he also engaged in more general carpentry tasks. So Owen would later recall engaging in work such as making and even erecting fencing. It was good training if hard work and Owen would later strike out on his own as a skilled carpenter. He initially moved to Dean Street after marrying wife Mary Ann and that was the setting for the event below. Subsequently he spent several decades living in Queens Road. 

Murder! 

A dramatic incident in the life of Owen occured when he was 28 and found himself in court charged with assaulting Thomas John Pattison Junior. Thomas said Owen forced himself through his front door and attacked him although it isn't clear what the motive would have been. Fortunately for Owen, the witnesses supported a quite different version of events. Owen had heard Sarah, the wife of Thomas screaming "Murder! Murder!" as he was going pass their home. He, Sarah's sister and her neighbour rushed in and found that Thomas had Sarah by the neck and was threatening her with her knife, despite the fact she was holding one of their children. He had apparently been offended by the fact Sarah expressed the wish to stay in their current home rather than move to Strong Beer Acre as Thomas had announced they would shortly be doing. Thomas was bound over for a year to keep the peace for one year, and Owen was found not guilty of the assault. 

Diving superstar

Owen was a renowned swimmer and diver, and a member of the Amateur Rowing club. In 1875 he won a regatta competition which involved diving as far as possible off Marlow Bridge. The entry point into the water was marked and whoever got furthest from the bridge was the champion. Owen's winning distance was 40 yards. It was noted that he was a hard man to beat when in form! Other events included "diving for eggs" and water polo in canoes. The Rowing club also had monthly competitions running at this time, which Owen took part in. In the 1890s he operated the telegraph system at Bourne End Regatta that transmitted the official results from the umpire. They were then announced to the crowds who couldn't all see the finish clearly. He was also a member of other sporting institutions in the town - and one of the players who made up The Royal Victoria Working Mans FC, Marlow's "other" football team which subsequently amalgamated with Marlow FC. (Read more on them here)

Another institution in the town that Owen had great involvement in was the Clayton Arms Slate Club, a friendly society.  This provided invaluable support to working men in the event of accident or illness robbing them of the opportunity to earn their living. Owen was one of the founding members, and also served on its organisational commitee. You can read more about it here. He was also a member of the Marlow Volunteer fire brigade. Even after retirement from that he sometimes lent a hand at fires, such as one at the George & Dragon during the October street fair of 1898. Civilians were often utilised in such occasions, and someone of Owen's experience was obviously all the more welcome. Owen suffered a house fire of his own that nearly cost the life of two of his children - you can read more in this post about his father in law John Langley here

Lastly we should mention Owen's role as one of the collectors of contributions for the local Transvaal Relief Fund around 1900. This dealt with cases of need in families who had a member serving in the South African wars then ongoing. Furthermore he was elected to the committee of this group. 

Owen could also be found as a member of the Bucks Rifle Volunteers. He was the oldest Volunteer when he retired after 34 years diligent service in the autumn of 1902. Owen had by then attained the rank of Corporal. He said on his retirement that the hours spent with his fellow rifle volunteers were amongst the happiest of his life. As a member of the Volunteers Social and Shooting Club, he had spent many happy days with these comrades at the rifle range and in local pubs. You can read more about the volunteers here

Two sad events - the first

In 1890, Owen was working at a house in Mill Lane. He saw a young man who he knew slightly coming along the lane. This was Joseph Lionel "Joe" Russell* age 25, who had been crippled for life in a childhood accident.  He had been born into a military family in India, but shortly after their return to England, his father had died.  His mother had worked at Bray Court, and the lady of that house and subsequently Marlow Place (Mrs Haig) had tried to support Joseph with an allowance when his mother had in turn died. She had also paid off some of his debts. It had once seemed doubtful that Joseph's physical condition would allow him to fully support himself. But he had nevertheless started work as a commercial clerk to Thomas Butler the wine and spirit merchant. And so the allowance had finally been stopped, although Mrs Haig still provided his clothing. However, Joseph was subject to fits of depression and had taken to drinking. When he passed Owen, he asked to shake his hand, and told Owen they would not see any such other again. Joseph then proceeded along Mill Lane towards the Mill and river. Owen was naturally suspicious at such ominous words, and watched the other man carefully. When he saw his destination, he ran a short distance down the lane to the Mills and called for help. Mr Wright and Owen found a muddy and wet Joseph at the bank of the Thames attempting to wade in. He could not swim and had a suicide note in his pocket. He was bought back to the Mills to receive medical attention. Suicide was a criminal offence then, and so Joseph was bought before the court and Owen had to give evidence as to what he had seen. Joseph was let off as he promised not to attempt his life again. Sadly, he did not keep this promise, and three years later he drowned after throwing himself off Marlow Bridge. 

A tragedy close to home

In 1903 Owen appeared at another inquest. This was sadly that of his brother James Sawyer the baker. For reasons that are not always easy to grasp, the Sawyer family bakers was no longer doing well in the few previous years. A severe fire in 1897 can not have helped although both the building and contents were insured. By May 1902 it had closed, and James was out of work. (The business was sold to Charles H Carter who ran the Bridge Restaurant and bakers on the Causeway, where Burgers is now. As he already had a West Street branch, the business was moved there) I believe he may have worked for another baker in town at first but this did not last. When leaving the bakery he had of course also lost his home. (He went to lodge with Jane Thornton.) He was 67, and perhaps he could not face "starting again". One evening Owen met his brother in the Carpenters Arms and noted his downcast look. He gave him some money, as the baker was significantly in arrears with his rent.  The two parted and no one saw James alive again. His person was spotted in the river near Thames Bank by labourer Thomas Munday. Thomas retrieved the body with the assistance of equipment provided by the Marlow Lock keeper, and the aid of George Budd. It was taken to the Two Brewers, where a copy of his and Owens parents' marriage certificate was found in his pocket. Deliberate entering of the river could not be proved, nor a definite  accident as there were no witnesses so the verdict of the inquest jury was the open "Found Drowned".

A happier event of that year was the marriage of daughter Ada to Edwin Meadows Madeley. Ada was a former school teacher at the national school. 

Owen's own death was less dramatic and he passed away age 78 in 1926. 

*Joseph came to Marlow from Holyport near Maidenhead shortly before his first suicide attempt. He lodged for seven years with plumber George and Louisa Davis in Cambridge Rd. George and Louisa feature with their daughter Annie in a post here - but be warned it's another sad post! Joseph was said to have been in a fearful state when Mrs Haig took him under her wing, unable to go up stairs for example. He had spent much time in Maidenhead hospital. Louisa Davis believed that his first suicide attempt had been precipitated by her threat that if he continued such heavy drinking he must leave her home. She believed the second was due to a guilty conscience, as she considered it likely that he was stealing from his employer. He had too much money to spend on drink she said, given his other expenses and level of wages. Joseph had two brothers and two sisters, whom Mrs Haig had also helped get a start in life. The boys were in the Army at the time of his death. He was buried in a paupers grave at Cookham, with no family to attend the service. His body had been found by Spade Oak ferryman Jonathan Sparks. The jump from the bridge was witnessed by carpenter Mark Creswell.

 Mrs Haig remarried and went to live at Fox Court, Maidenhead with husband Captain Masey. 

. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

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

 Use the General History tab to find out more about everyday life in Joseph's and Owen's Great Marlow. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

The Winfords of Thames Bank

Sarah and Harriet Winford are the subjects of today's post. Sarah was born into a comfortable position in life and died leaving an estate worth a fortune. She lived in one of the biggest houses in 18th century Marlow with an extensive number of servants at her command. But her life in Marlow was not free of its struggles as you will see.

 Sarah was already widowed when she arrived in Marlow, some time before 1769. Her husband was Hereford MP Thomas Geers Winford, who had changed his name from Thomas Geers on inheriting from his wife's childless uncle in 1744. The house Sarah moved to was known then as Goodyers, as Sarah herself clarifies in her will. She is likely the person responsible for re naming it Thames Bank House. (Later names include Lymbrook and Thames Lawn although Lymbrook/Limebroke was also used earlier to refer to the area around here and the Waterman's Arms). Situated on the banks of the River Thames, with then extensive views of the Quarry Woods, its location must have seemed idyllic - until Sarah began her tussles with the barge-men working on the river at least. More of that below. 

Thomas and Sarah had two daughters, Sarah junior and Harriet. Sarah married Sambrooke Freeman of Fawley Court in 1757. She was a regular at court and acted as a host to the likes of King George III on a number of occasions. The younger girl, Harriet lived a much quieter life. It seems she suffered from ill health over a considerable period and she never married, but remained with her devoted mother at Thames Bank. Harriet was fond of Quarry Woods and a particular bluff was adopted by her as a favourite seat and viewpoint. In fact it became known as "Miss Winfords seat". Sarah owned a boat and the family often took friends on river trips, attending for example a "waterparty" near Harleyford. They also took a trip to see Owen Williams newly constructed Temple House. A friend of the family accompanying them on this expedition thought Temple was grand enough on the outside but it was let down by the interior design!  This same friend also mentions a "temple" belonging to the Winfords, which was used for picnics. I have not seen this temple, a fashionable upper class accessory, represented in any illustrations of the house and it is not listed as a garden feature when the house is up for sale later. It may have been of a more temporary rustic design, or possibly was not located within the grounds of Thames Bank itself. (Having one on a eyot was also fashionable.)

A less desirable part of riverside living for Sarah was the fact the Thames was very much a working river and her home was located between Marlow Bridge and various wharves and the Lock. After Marlow received a new pound lock, she complained that the barges were now navigating the river closer to her home and worse still, they were spending longer tied up outside her garden wall.  This was a problem because the bargeman were apparently committing indecent actions outside the elderly ladies windows, causing her to keep her shutters facing the river firmly closed. You can read the full story of the bargeman and Sarah here. The other annoyances faced by Mrs Winford during her last years at the house were an attempted break in and a successfully managed theft of 15 bantams in 1789. 

Sarah seems to have been a keen reader, as she is listed as a subscriber to a number of volumes. In the past many books were only produced if enough people subscribed to cover the upfront production and printing costs. Donate enough and your name would be added in dedication within the first editions at least. Among Sarah's choices were a book of sermons from a Worcestershire vicar Charles Butt, while Harriet supported local author Thomas Langley's History of the Hundred of Desborough which included Marlow. 

Sarah died in early September 1793 aged 83. She had a considerable estate to leave, apart from the lease of Thames Bank. Shortly before her death she had inherited money along with her two sisters, from her brother Charles who died childless. Charles himself had been the beneficiary of another brothers will, William, who also left no issue. Three years later, both of these sisters died within a month of each other, one unmarried, the other a widow. So Sarah had to some degree benefitted from outliving most of her near relatives. She had over £9000 invested to leave to her two daughters. Harriet would receive the lease of Thames Bank, with Sarah receiving an additional £300 as well as her share of the investments. 

Sarah left a number of gifts to her servants. This was not altogether uncommon in itself, but she seems to have been a pleasant person to work for. Many of her staff members remained with the family for decades and what's more she paid for the gravestones of several of them - 3 of which can be seen in the churchyard of All Saints to this day. The churchyard is just along the river bank from Thames Bank.

 The will legacies were:

 To housekeeper Elizabeth Swan 10 guineas. 

To gardener Robert Stockbridge, 3 guineas. 

William Powell, coachman, 3 guineas if he was still in her service at her death. 

Former butler Robert Floyd £20. 

Above, grave of Robert Floyd. 

- D. January 26th 1801 age 74. "Useful servant and honest man" Erected at Harriet's expense. Read his will here

Cook Sarah Clarke 5 guineas. 

Housemaid Mary Whitty £15. [Harriet will pay for Mary's gravestone. On her death she had given the family 63 years service! See it  here]

 Other maids  Ann ?Tolner £4, Rose Bartholomew £4, Mary Walker £2.

Servants of Harriet if living with Harriet when Sarah dies: Ann James 5 Guineas. Harriet's groom (not named) 2 Guineas. Samuel Charles 5 Guineas. Samuel's children George and Sarah got £20 each. This was increased in a codicil to the will and Harriet was asked to act as the children's guardian.

All other servants in the house when Sarah dies: for "at least two years to receive half a year's wages" each.

Mr Harris, her steward in Worcestershire 10 Guineas for mourning. At Harriet's discretion 6 maidservants and and 4 male servants to get money for mourning too.

Poor of Astley, Worcestershire £20. (where Sarah had family connections)

Rev. Stephen Chase rector of Bisham 10 Guineas.

All the household goods, furniture and linen as well as Sarah's jewels and "trinkets" were left for Harriet's use, bar a purse of gold coins and some silver spoons for Sarah junior. 

Harriet died of a long and painful final illness in 1801. She was just 58 years old. She was buried, like her mother, at the Winford family vault at St Peters Church, Astley, Worcestershire. The following year the household contents of Thames bank was offered for sale, with "elegant household furniture" including a prized matching drawing room suite of chairs, sofa and curtains. 

Notes: Sarah was nee Lutwyche, of Lutwyche Hall, Salop. 

Written by Kathryn Day. 

© Marlow Ancestors.

Related posts:

Grave of Winford servant Samuel Clarke here

More Biographies of Marlow Families on this index

More posts about the people of specific Marlow houses (big and small) listed here

Sources include:

Will of Sarah Winford, transcribed by Charlotte from a copy held at National Archives, Kew. 

Reading Mercury 39 March 1789

Oxford Journal 1 June 1802

Sermons, George Butt 1791. 

Brown, William. Reports of Cases argued and determined in the High Court of Chancery, 1786. 

Climenson, Emily J (ed) Passages from the diaries of Mrs Phillip Lybbe Powys of Hardwick House, Oxon. 1899

Munby, Arthur Joseph. Faithful Servants,1891. Digitised by Google.  

Willis, Browne. History and  Antiquities, of the town, hundred and deanery of Buckingham 1755 

Century Magazine Vol 90 1801, digitised by Google. 

Monthly Magazine Volume 12, 1801. 

 

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That Furious Mob - 1847 Great Marlow Riots

there The destruction caused by the 1880 election rioters in Marlow is well known, not least because some excellent photos have survived of the damage to property. (See this post here for more) But Marlow has a history of election related violence going back a lot longer. This post focuses on one of the most lively contests, which was the 1847 General Election. We are not going to detail the political arguements, instead we are going to describe the effect on the everyday life of our Marlow ancestors. 

The Background 

Two candidates represented the Conservatives - Colonel Thomas Peers Williams of Temple House, and Colonel Brownlow Knox. The third was the Liberal or Whig candidate, Sir William Robert Clayton of Harleyford. A few years before they had been involved in a lengthy battle relating to the ownership of the brick kiln at Marlow Common. The Clayton family had sold the Marlow manor lands to Williams ancestors but there were later disputes about what exactly had been included in the sale. Clayton said the kiln was not included, the Williams that it most certainly was. It's fair to say no love was lost between the two and they were very frequently at each others throats in a legal sense. They were both substantial land owners with many tenants in Marlow. Both Williams and Clayton had sat in parliament for Marlow before. And yes, both had been accused of pressurising their tenants to vote for them, or of bribing voters. Clayton had his victory in the 1841 election overturned when some of the votes for him were thrown out for being invalid. He had had a majority of just one. Williams had evicted tenants for failing to vote for him  before and he was accused of regarding the borough as his own. 

The "Blues" or blue and whites were the liberals and the Conservative colours were the red or red and white although they were popularly known as the Coppers here. 

Marlow was already well known for troubled elections therefore. In March 1847, the Windsor and Eton Express voiced the hope that at last "party feeling" had subsided in Marlow and there was an "improved tone and better feeling now prevailing".  The previous bad atmosphere in town interfered with the friendly society they said. This hope was to prove very wrong. In the same month, William Robert Clayton declared that he would be a candidate in the coming election, and Williams had already indicated he would run. As Marlow returned two members at this time, it was hoped that there would be effectively no contest. But a little later, a second Conservative candidate was declared - Colonel Brownlow Knox. His wife was of the Williams family. 

Polling Day Panic

The polling was held in the summer.  Voting then was not by secret ballot. It was very public. A wooden stage was erected in front of the Town Hall, large enough to accommodate 100 persons. On these hustings were the candidates and some of their prominent supporters. Some of their less prominent but vocal supporters also found their way up at times, and lined the two sets of  steps leading upwards. Onto this stage, voters would go and vote. Before they could do this, they had to give some personal details to the returning officer such as by what right they were a voter (only those men leasing, owning or occupying a property of a certain value were entitled to vote) and their occupation. They were also required to answer out loud who they wished their two votes to go to. The supporters of the side you picked would let up a cheer so even those not close to the clerk recording the votes would know who you voted for. It was described as an intimidating experience to vote the "wrong" way according to the crowd gathered around the stage. Many men were jostled and had their hats knocked off or were on the recieving end of mocking chants but there was as yet no serious outbreak of violence. The polling started at 8am and continued until 4pm with periodic updates given to the crowd below. 

Before the voting started, the atmosphere was already tense. Most of the pubs and beer houses in town were associated with one side or another and did a roaring trade. It was said that the pubs of each side hung banners from their upper windows to indicate their support for either the Blues or Coppers.  The candidates grand arrival at the hustings had seen some scuffles. Williams and Knox were met by their supporters at Marlow Bridge. According to the (extremely) pro Conservative Berkshire Chronicle, their carriages were stopped by an adoring crowd of working class people who unhitched the horses and insisted on pulling the carriages themselves up the High Street. The same source says Clayton arrived shortly after and was amazed at the support given to his rival by the more humble citizens who were said to generally support the Clayton cause. This information has to be taken with some salt as the paper really was very partisan! All agree that a band had lead the Williams procession.  After the riot their instruments were left in pieces. 

 The Well Enders On The Rise

Williams and Knox took the two seats for Marlow. When this was announced, even the pro Conservative papers admitted that there was a loud groan from the crowd. What happened next is something I've had to pick out from many different accounts, trying to balance the differing versions of the opposing supporters. What is undoubted is there was an outbreak of fury, from a largely working class crowd, who were vocally supportive of the defeated Clayton. They were not it seems especially surprised by yet another Williams victory but did not like Knox taking the second seat. The Conservative supporters claimed that the Clayton's had in their pay a set of "blood thirsty ruffians" during the week before the election.  What's more they said the Claytons had "placed in their hands" cudgels and staves with which to cause trouble if the vote did not go Clayton's way. Clayton could not have expected to have any result overturned just because some armed men caused trouble in the town, however unpleasant that may be for those around. It would hardly help their cause with the more respectable householders for Clayton to be associated with riots. But another writer, William Mitchell, recalling his time as a polling clerk at this election, gives a similar story and another potential motive for the rioters. He said that a core group of Well End [what we know as Dean Street, not Well End, Little Marlow] residents lead by the three brothers East, had feared a Clayton loss. They had apparently sent to London for some staffs and policeman's batons.  He says the Easts and their friends gathered at an appointed meeting place at 6am on election day - the one mile stone, presumably the one near Seymour Court. They had organised for a Clayton supporter on the stage to keep them informed of the running total of votes and if near the end of polling, Clayton was behind, they were going to protest in the town, assuming Williams had used undue influence to succeed. In particular they were going to rush the stage and destroy the polling books and with them all records of the voting. This would cause the polling to be conducted again, presumably with less opportunity for bribery beforehand. However the apparent Clayton supporter on stage was not reliable. William Mitchell does not name him but did say this man was stood close by and he continually heard him shouting out "We are all right" to the Clayton supporters. He continued this until the poll stopped, but as this was not the correct result the men were even angrier when the truth of the victory was known. What this unnamed supporters motives can have been is hard to say, if indeed he was a Clayton supporter at all. The updates given earlier in the day had not generally shown Clayton to be loosing and the result often came down to a handful of votes. But the Conservatives had a late afternoon surge. 

  William Mitchell may have had time to personally attend the 6am Well End meeting before his official duties started but it seems unlikely it would have continued in his presence. He does not give the source of his account of events there so it may  have come from a partisan source. (However he seems generally fair, in that he reports unfavourable behaviour from both sides.) He says that about 31 men came forward as their names were read from a list and they were then given a half crown and either a baton or staff from a stack. The Well End residents were generally quite poor and if this is true, someone else must indeed have subsidised the violence. It is certainly true that tumult was feared much earlier in the day, as several businesses pulled shutters while voting was ongoing and did what they could to protect their windows. And in the afternoon, most of the Copper supporting beer houses are said to have closed. It was said those carrying the batons and staffs of the Well End gang could get free drinks at the Clayton supporting pubs all day on showing them. 

To be seen emerging from the headquarters of a particular group on the way to vote was also problematic. The supporters of Brownlow Knox, which had used the premises of lawyer William Ward in the High Street up to polling Day, switched base that morning. They used the house of Ward's clerk Mr Seagrave instead. This was supposedly placed so those inside could take advantage of a back entrance through a garden to get near the poll without attracting much attention. 

A Chairing Is Attempted 

Reports agree the tumult started as soon as the result was announced by Returning Officer Mr Stallwood outside the town hall.  No mention is made in the newspaper reports of an to attempt to rush the stage or steal the polling books which is not to say that was not the original intention, just perhaps it was considered now too late. The focus of their work was Brownlow Knox, and in particular the tradition of "chairing" him. This meant the carrying of the successful candidates through the town carried aloft in a (usually specially constructed) chair. The rioters, generally reported to be in varying states of drunkenness, thought that the chair for Knox was housed in the Market Square property of Rolls the auctioneer and wine merchant. They broke in and - according to the Knox supporters- threatened to murder everyone within if the chair was not produced. It does not seem to have been there, as the crowd went on to a second property which they attempted to search but found was already barred against them. Mitchell thought could not remember exactly what had happened to the chair but thought it had been at the Rolls after all and was thrown into the street through the windows and demolished.  Wisely, it was decided Knox would not be chaired on this occasion. It doesn't seem Williams was either. 

The Fleeing Constables

"Respectable citizens" who had turned out to hear the election result risked being "knocked down like beasts" (Berkshire Chronicle) if they were not considered to support Clayton. A number apparently sort shelter in whichever house would let them in. The two Misses Cocks, of Thames Bank, hid in Mrs (Eliza) Brighton's bakers shop in the High Street when confronted by the mob. The Conservative banners were reduced to ribbons and stones broke windows and thudded against shutters. A number of people were hurt and one man seriously. (Some reports gave his name as Mr Nugent, presumably one of the Nugent's of Westhorpe. He was pulled into the safety of the Rolls house, although the crowd followed initially.) William Mitchell the poll clerk, watching from the hustings, personally saw many men knocked down by a blow to the head with a staff, farmer John Gibbons among them. (Of Seymour Court farm, Blounts and Copy farms)

 The 26 Special constables were accused of fleeing as soon as they saw what was afoot and so parish Constable Thomas Walker was bravely left virtually single handed to deal with the situation. He was of course completely outnumbered. This probably explains a lack of prosecutions arising from the destruction. In the end, the magistrates, fearing that the "peace and property of the inhabitants in a serious state of jeopardy" were apparently able to appeal to the more respectable amongst the unhappy crowd to encourage all to disperse. All agree this happened quite quickly. 

Clerk William Mitchell was not hurt on the day but did experience a volley of stones and sticks thrown at his head as he was driving back from Maidenhead a little later! He escaped injury then too, thanks to a fast pony. 

Poor Henry Hyatt

Henry Hyatt (Hiatt) was the longstanding proprietor of the Greyhound Inn in Spittal Street. His landlord was a Wethered and it was therefore assumed he would vote Conservative in the election. William Mitchell recalls that Hyatt had "against all the efforts and threats of his landlord" publicly declared his intention of voting Liberal. What's more he was steadfast in this resolution. William Mitchell's eye witness account here is sad to read. He noticed that as Henry declared his vote for Clayton, his lips quivered. William heard a voice which he believed to be Wethereds, say "Hyatt, you are ruined man". Hyatt replied "I have voted conscientiously".  Henry must have known life was going to become very difficult indeed for him. Mitchell recalled that the inn keeper was given notice to quit, but refused to leave, and so Henry found various legal attempts was made to eject him. These failed. 

Mitchell personally witnessed the vindictiveness poor Henry was subject to. If they could not force him out, they would make it as difficult as possible for him to do business. His landlord had the windows removed, then the doors, floorboards and roofing materials. But Henry stuck on and William Mitchell saw him sitting in the roofless building at night, with a few loyal Blue customers perched on casks around him. The situation was not sustainable though, and in 1848, Henry left the Greyhound. Mitchell's says he had heard that Clayton had given him £150 so he could start again somewhere else. Let's hope that is true. 

The End? Not Quite

Sir William Robert Clayton thought he had been robbed of his seat. In October 1847, the unfortunate Henry Hyatt  invited Clayton to a dinner in his honour at the Greyhound. Among those present were long-standing liberal supporters who praised Clayton for his efforts. The Windsor and Eton Express described the company as some gentleman of the neighborhood and "a highly respectable assemblage of influential yeoman." Clayton was described as moved almost to tears and replied in fulsome terms. Samuel Barnes (parish clerk of St Peters Street), Ralph Spicer (the lawyer) George Cannon (bookseller and chemist), John Morris, Mr Morgan, Samuel Horrod, William Tyler, Mr Blackwell and Charles Susan are some of the people familiar to readers of this blog who were present. Some of these contributed some songs to liven up proceedings! A bench put together a bit hastily perhaps by a local carpenter collapsed during the proceedings, depositing several gentleman onto the floor, to much laughter.  Interestingly, a Wethered, no first name given, was also there and gave a speech in support of the Claytons. As his family were strongly associated with the Conservative cause, this was a probably awkward attendance! Interestingly, the large feast was said to have been prepared partly at the Crown, which was a Williams owned property. The Franklyns of the Crown had put their kitchen at Henry's disposal. A somewhat brave decision given Henry's treatment. 

 

Aftermath

In December, a petition was presented to Parliament to investigate the return of Brownlow Knox. This was partially because a number of people had promised to vote for Williams with one of their votes but not Knox with the other. (About 31 voters in all) These individuals had apparently decided at the last to in fact cast their ballot for both of the Conservatives. The suspicion was that the supporters of Knox had offered bribes to these voters. The petition itself went further and accused Knox himself of directly offering money for votes while out canvassing. The Berkshire Chronicle naturally rubbished this suggestion and thought it amusing that a gentleman such as Knox would be seen asking for votes after dark, knocking at shutters like a"timid lover." They mention a supposed £20 payment to a Well End resident (Dean Street)who after accepting the money had gone to Harleyford to report the action of Knox to Clayton. At the investigation into these events, it does not seem that Clayton's supporters were very well prepared with their evidence. They had failed to provide a list of suspected bribed voters when the committee first sat. Later they did bring forth witnesses from Well End/Dean Street who admitted taking money to vote for the Conservatives. Beer house keeper  Thomas Frith was the principle one. (He was of the Nags Head, Dean Street) He said that in coming across Mr Wethered on the road a little before the election, he had asked Mr Wethered out right for money. He said Wethered had said that if he promised to vote for both Williams and Knox, he could go to the counting house of the Brewery and claim his reward, which he had duly done. However Frith was discounted as a witness after he admitted on cross examination that he had spent time in both Oxford and Aylesbury gaols (for taking wood from private property, not taking bribes but it was enough to create an impression of dishonesty) He had also spent some time living at Sir William Clayton's estate in Goldstone and had received an allowance from him. Farmer John Miller also testified that an elector who had promised to vote for Clayton had not done so on the day, and when quizzed had admitted selling his vote to the other side. John was listed as of Little Marlow at the investigating committee but I believe he was at Marlow Bottom Farm. More on him here.

However what they could not find was an acceptable witness who would say he had received money from Knox himself, as stated in the petition. The Committee admitted that Knox had aroused suspicion by his habit of canvassing inhabitants in the evening - it was assumed he must have ulterior motives to be visiting under the cover of nightfall. His supporters did admit this had proved unpopular with many voters who had dismissed him with some forceful language! 

For a post on a voter said to have been bribed by Clayton in 1842 see here!

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts:

To find other posts about general history of Marlow and life here for our ancestors, see our index here

1880 Election riots here

Swing riots 1830 here

Women's riots 1800 here

Posts related to some of the people mentioned above include:

Charles Susan, Radical and Emigrant here

George Cannon - Consumption cures and ball tickets here and here

Henry Hyatt - Greyhound Inn/hotel timeline and landlord listing here

Ralph Spicer - here

To find all mention of an individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. There's over 3250 people listed there, and new posts are added daily. 

©Marlow Ancestors 

Sources Include:

Dod, Charles Roger Electoral Facts from 1832-1852 (1852)

Great Britain Houses of Parliament, Accounts and Papers Vol 11, 1880.

Martin, Frederick. Handbook of Contemporary Biography (Macmillan 1870)

Walford, Edward - The County Families Of The United Kingdom (Robert Hardwicke, 1871)

Bucks Gazette 13 March 1847  

Berkshire Chronicle 7 August, 25 December 1847 

Bucks Herald  4 December 1847

Dublin Evening Mail - 03 December 1847

Bedford Mercury -  7 August 1847. 

Windsor and Eton Express 6 August, 2 Oct 1847, 19 Feb 1848. 

Memories of the Past, volume LIV , 10 August 1897, digitised by Christchurch City Libraries. 

Landlord research for licenced premises by Kathryn Day.

 

1700s High Street Occupiers

 Updated October 2023.

In the days before censuses finding out where your ancestor lived within a town is virtually impossible but that doesn't mean that it is not worth at least trying to find out! I glean every possible will and property record to gather the names of those who lived in the High Street in the 1700s. The date next to each name is the date I find reference to them there but they may have been there earlier and later. This post is for occupiers not owners of property. In most cases in the 1700s the two were not the same thing. The precise buildings cannot usually be identified though they can in a few cases.

Multiple people in the same family can bear the same name so don't automatically presume that a "John Smith" here is your particular "John Smith"!

Market Square and the Causeway are not included here.

Richard Aycott. At the Three Tuns. 1724+ (at least). Still there 1729.

Widow Aycroft, /Aycott. Three Tuns. 1753. Widow of Richard above. (Note Three Tuns is later in West Street)

Richard Barnes, butcher. East Side 1735.

Miss Mary Barnes. Occupier 1718. Unsure if owner.

Bell and Earley - In partnership from 1771. Earley is still in business 1778, with or without Bell. Bell in business before 1771. 

Widow Bird. Tenant house on East side 1782. 

John Brindsconbe. Tenant 1724.

George Buck. Occupier pre 1700 to at least 1700.

Mary Dark. See post on the Lower Crown here and here.

William Dark. See post on history of the Crown Inns here, Lower Crown landlord listing here, Recreated 1700s Trade Directory post here and his will transcription here

Sarah Dennis "A new built brick and tile house" in the centre of the High Street. Died 1794. Read more and see her grave here. "Mrs". 

Ann Duffin, widow. Owner and occupier of a house West side of street. 1718.

John East. A butcher. Occupier West side 1728. Unknown if owner.

John Ells - Grocer and tea dealer, going bankrupt 1795. Also chapman. 

Richard Fellowes. Tenant 1775.

Henry Fletcher, gentleman. Occupier 1730. Unknown if owner.

Susannah Harris, widow. Occupier house East side 1705-21 at least. She was the widow of George Harris, tallow chandler.

Buckle Hawes, draper (yes that was his name) 1775. Property owned by his uncle William Hawes below. Later described as a gent. See his grave here

William Hawes, gent. 1775. Owner and occupier.

George Haycroft, a cordwainer. Owner and occupier 1724. Will proved 172?

William Hooden or Wooden senior, hard to read. Occupier 1718. Unsure if owner. West side.

William Howard. Soap boiler. Tenant 1740.

John Howe. Bookseller etc. See Recreated 1700s Trade Directory post here and more about him and his shop here.

Cornelius Lattemore. Tenant 1700. More on Cornelius in future.

Elizabeth Lattemore. Tenant 1718. West side. Still in occupation there 1728. May be widow of Cornelius above.

Sylvester Law. Innkeeper of various property. See 1700s trade directory here and his will here

Mary Lewis. Late deceased 1797. Unknown if owner.

Thomas Lockwood. Cordwainer. 1782. Late deceased 1791. Wife Ann.

Luke Medwin. Draper. East Side. See Recreated 1700s Trade Directory post here

Robert Morse, brazier. Occupier 1741. Unknown if owner.

George Oxlade. Occupier 1730. Unknown if owner.

John and Mary Phillips. See post on the history of the Crown Inns published here. Mary Phillips was by another marriage Mary Dark, see above.

Joan Pomfret / Pomfrett. Landlady of unnamed pub West Side to 1702. Probably the Three Tuns. See here.

John Pomfrett. Three Tuns. 1717. More here. Probably son of the above.

Aaron Rance. Tenant. 1785? (A grocer) 

William Rivers. Occupier 1730. Unknown if owner.

John Roberts. Tailor. East side. Tenant. 1740.

Ralph Rolls junior. Wheelwright. 1740-46. East side. Note possible marriage: June 29th 1746 Ralph Rolls of Great Marlow married at St George's Chapel, Mayfair (Hyde park corner) Elizabeth Gage of St James, Westminster. 

Widow Russell. Occupier. East Side 1735.

Mary Sawyer, widow. Occupier of a property 1721.

Elizabeth Small. Tenant 1724. 

Henry Smith, East side. Maltster. Died by 1795. 30ft frontage and 150ft depth to property. Had malthouse, dwelling house, "offices", and garden. Premises  leased to George Wethered Senior by 1783 and then to George's son of the same name. Wife of Henry Smith was Sarah. 

Mr Street. Opened a tallow chandler's shop in 1789.

Joseph Streeter. Tenant of land behind High Street buildings. 1775. I would guess this is East side.

Ambrose Thompson. Blacksmith. Occupier. 1741. Unknown if owner. East side.

Mary Walker, widow. Tenant 1775.

William and Elizabeth Weedon. Married couple 1772. William was a carpenter and his will was proved 1773. He owned the property.

George Wethered who died 1783 leased property for his brewing business on both sides of the High Street. He left the East side premises to his son George and the West side premises to his son Thomas. Thomas junior also had the White House by 1791.

John Williams. Tenant. East Side 1700.

Mr Williams. Occupier 1781.

Compiled by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day. I have a mountain of notes to wade through. There will definitely be more people to add to this list as and when I am able to do so.

More 1700s residents in Marlow posts:

Chapel Street here

Dean Street here

Oxford Road here

Quoiting Square here

Spittal Street here

I am marshalling my notes for West Street and Gun Lane which will appear in the future.

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

Will of Joan Howell or Howll of Great Marlow 1736

 Transcribed by Charlotte Day from a copy of the National Archives and then summarised here.

Widow. Will written 1735. Proved 1736.

Says she sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory.

Commends soul to God.

3 freehold cottages in St Cuthbert, Chetford Norfolk given to her by her husband John to her brother Thomas East of Land End, Great Marlow, butcher and his heirs. He to give half the sum of £5 worth of bread to the poor of St Cuthbert and the other half of the sum of £5 to testator's kinsman John Sharp son of testator's brother in law Robert Sharp. Money to be given to John at age 14 for his apprenticeship if he goes into one, or at age 21 if he does not.

Sister Sarah Hubbard gets testator's biggest gold ring.

Sister Jane Eardly other gold ring.

All rest goods chattels and personal property after debts and funeral expenses paid to brother Thomas East who is appointed sole executor.

Witnessed by Richard Oxlaide [Oxlade], John Deane, Richard Walker.

Will index here

©Marlow Ancestors.

Some West Street and West End Pub Landlord Listings *updated May 2026*

UPDATED BY CHARLOTTE May 2026

For a full list old beer houses, pubs and inns in West Street over time, have a look at at our full pub listing post already published. There is likely to be a few you have never heard of! The Pubs Related option on the top drop down menu will lead to related posts. Use the A-Z person index to find every mention of your ancestor however small. In these listings we stop listing landlords at around the 1920s as this time period is the blog's focus.  However we record any information given to us about later landlords so please feel free to contribute your knowledge. 

THREE TUNS

Note: an earlier Three Tuns is recorded in the High Street. The listings below include both the High Street and West Street premises to give a proper picture.

[1685/6 - 1702 when in High Street- Joan Pomfret initially with husband William then alone as a widow. Her husband died quite soon after the two of them got permission 1685 to create an unnamed new inn. This newly fitted up inn presumed to be the Three Tuns as it was on the West side and the Three Tuns seems to have been subsequently ran by her two sons. Joan and William came from running the King's Head also in Marlow High Street. Son Richard seems to have taken over the King's Head initially when his parent's moved to their new premises. When he took over new inn it seems no one was interested in taking on the King's Head and it became divided and used for residential and other business premises initially. Richard himself may only have used the King's Head as a residence or brewing site rather than an inn. Joan's will is on the blog here]

1708- Richard Pomfrett? Initially at King's Head. Son of William and Joan who converted a house into an unnamed inn on the West side of the High Street in 1685. Richard's premises are also unnamed. He certainly had a brother John in the brewing trade. This is probably the John below who was at the Three Tuns. This leads me to believe that it is probable that the new inn created in 1685 was the Three Tuns held by William and Joan, Richard and then John successively.

1709 - John Pomfret (street location not given) probably brother of Richard Pomfret above.

1717 - John Pomfret (street location not given) He died this year.  "Large inn or tavern with close behind" 

1724 - Richard Aycott (street location not given)

1729- Richard Aycott. 

1733 - Henry Carter. At this point it belongs to the owner of the Marlow Mills John Lofting / Loftin 

1737 - Henry Carter? "Three Tuns New Inn". Why the " New"?  Well in 1740 a building (described as being situated in the High Street directly opposite properties which backed onto Marlow Place gardens) is named as the "old Three Tuns" so the pub seemingly moved to new High Street premises at some point probably in the 1730s. This is before the move to West Street. A Henry Carter was an ale house keeper and maltster a decade before. 

1752 - Widow Aycott - location not given

1753 - Widow Aycott (as above) Also offering cock fighting this year.

1788 - When Thomas Wethered leases the Brewery site in this year, the title deeds are said to say it is former site of the Three Tuns Tavern. 

1798 - Thomas Ollis (Premises owned by brewer Ralph Rose who also earlier leased The Dukes Head in West Street, among others).

1807- Thomas Ollis

1808 - Elizabeth Ollis, his widow (See here for a summary of Elizabeth's will) Elizabeth's sister married a Muspratt.

1830 -1. Mrs Ollis 2. Muspratt "High Street"

1831 - John Muspratt (address not stated)    

1832 - John Muspratt "High Street" 

1833 - John Musprat - "Quoiting Square" (Definitely an error in location by parish assessor who made a hash of West Street records!)

1839 - John Muspratt 

1843 - Levi White (A Levy White is listed as boot and shoe maker in "Oxford Street" in 1839 Robson's Directory and is present in 1833 parish Assessment in Quoiting Place/Oxford Terrace). A Levi White was a beer seller in Hurley in 1840. Levi received a heavy £2 fine 1843 for allowing card playing on his premises during Christmas week.  A blind eye had previously been turned to the practice. In the same year Levi was fined for selling short measures.

1844 - Levi White, who hosted a Conservatives dinner.

1853 - Levi White. West Street.

1854 - Mrs Mary White. West Street.

1858 - William Goldswain, died 1859. 

1859 - Stephen Goldswain. West Street. (And gardener) The death notice from this year of Mrs Goldswain age 65 describes her as the landlady of the Three Tuns. 

1861 - Edward August (and gardener). A twice weekly chess club was established at the club in this year. Strictly no gambling allowed on the games.

1863 - Edward August (also seedsman) [see also George and Dragon].West Street.

1865 - William Bowles.

1869 - William Bowles (and fruiterer). West Street. Formerly of the Jolly Maltsters / Malsters, Dean Street  - see here.

1871 - William Bowles. West Street.

1872 - William Bowles to William Smith. 

1873 - Joseph Smith to Charles Munday.

1875 - 1. Charles Robert Munday. 2. William Maisey "Three Tons"

1880 - William Maisey. West Street. In this year the premises has every window broken by the election rioters - for more see here Later the same year William's wife Martha Eliza dies at the inn age just 44. 

1883 - James Arlett. West Street. Dominoes and Bagatelle offered.  George Barnes of Oxford Road was employed as an extra pair of hands at the bar every Saturday night at this point.

1887 - 1. James Arlett (2nd source Thomas Arlett) 2.William Slater "of Walton on Thames" 

1890 - Frederick Walker. West Street. Frederick is warned after several complaints about the conduct of his premises in this year. The magistrates said that if he is bought before them again, they will endorse his licence (a second endorsement would mean Frederick would be stopped from acting as a publican)

1895 - "The Three Tuns Hotel" 

1903 - Frederick Walker - also a job master. 

1908 - Frederick Walker forced to offer a public apology to fellow publican Charles Henry Porter of the Railway Hotel after spreading rumours that Porter was going bankrupt. Porter instigated a suit for slander against him.

1909- Frederick Walker also wine and spirit merchants, job master, post master. Promises good stabling. (Post master as in horses for hire, he does not run a post office!)

1915 - F .Walker. West Street.

1923 - 1934 F Walker.

1934 +  Reg Speller. He had worked at Fred Walkers garage / motor hire business since 1919. Reg was active in protecting Marlow during the second world war through various roles. Perhaps least known is the fact an aircraft component factory was located at the spacious rear of the Tuns and Reg was to oversee it. 

Closed 1964 on Reg's retirement. 

SADLERS ARMS /SADDLERS ARMS (with one d is most common spelling) Had yard and outbuildings at rear.

1853 James Allum (Also marine store dealer) Wife Ann 

1854 - James Allum (also saddler) 2. Francis Allum, also saddler. 

1871 - James Allum (also saddler).

1876 -James Allum dies. Frank Joshua Hudson takes over (also butcher). 

1881 - Frank Hudson (also a butcher) Wife Elizabeth.

1883 - Joseph Wilcox (and dining rooms) 2. Frederick  Coleshill.

1884 - Frederick Coleshill (Summoned for allowing gambling on his premises)

1888 - Frederick Coleshill to Charles Coleshill. Fred looks to have moved to the Jolly Cricketers/Cricketers Arms Bovingdon Green. See here

1891 - Charles Coleshill.

1892 - Charles Coleshill transfers premises to John Adams.

1903 - John Adams transfers to William(?) Turner.

1904 - Henry (?)(possibly William) Turner transfers premises to William Root. 

1909 - Closed by authorities under powers to limit number of licensed property in an area. Last landlord - William Root. It's relatively small size counts against it at the hearings which decide it's fate. William was evicted from the pub after it closed.  He enters into a dispute with the brewery Wellers about how long he should be given to vacate them premises but gains no added time. 

More info here

THE VOLUNTEER (more Henley Road really). Next door but one to the Hand and Flowers, adjoining Town Farm.

1861 - Edward Hatton. He moved into the premises that year.

1864 - Edward Hatton. Biographical post on him has been published on the blog previously and is available here

Pub gone by 1872. Wethereds brewery retained ownership and attempted to revive the beerhouse in 1888 and 1889 but a new license was refused.

THE BONNET O' BLUE / BLUE BONNET(S)/  BONNET SO BLUE. Named after the blue bonnet uniform of the little girls of the close by charity school.

1833 - William Stratford "Bonnet So Blue"

1839 - William Stratford

1843 - William Stratford dies and son Robert Stratford takes over. ("Blue Bonnets"). William's will is included within the post here which includes more info about the Bonnets. 

1851 - Robert Piggott. Fined for allowing card playing on the premises. However it was noted that Robert and the two others convicted of the same offence were all supporters of the opposite political party to the arresting constables and the police stings may have been unfairly focused on them. 

1855 - James Pattison. Suspected of running  a disorderly house that "encouraged music and dancing" but the magistrates dismissed the case as unproven. 

Royal Standard - (in the sub divided Albion House) Existed 1856. Good chance this was a new name for the Bonnet O'Blue which appears to have been in virtually the same spot, if not the exact one.

1869 - John Jefferys/Jeffries

1871 - John Jefferies (also gardener)

1872 - "Standard of England" John Jeffrey. 

1881 - John Jefferys  (also gardener) /Jefferies

1883- John Jeffries.

Licence ended 1890 with the premises taken into use by "Mr Grove in connection with his school". This was Borlase. And for Grove read Graves. 

HAND AND FLOWERS

(Occasionally known as Hand With Flowers / Hand Of Flowers in early records), probable literal interpretations of the pub sign.

Building dates from 1700s.

1853 - George Johnson "Henley End"

1864 - Sarah Johnson "West Street" Widow of George Johnson. She was the daughter of William Stratford of the Bonnet O'Blue.

1871 - Sarah Johnson

1877 - Sarah Johnson dies age 60, and licence was transferred to Mrs Stratford. 

1881  Keziah Stratford (Sister in law of Sarah Johnson above).

1882 - Mrs Stratford 2. Henry Carter (we now go into period of proposed, rejected, temporary etc licencees that gets confusing but all here are as listed in contemporary records)

1883 - Keziah Stratford, 2. Ann Carter.

1884 - Ann Carter 2. James Young (proposed transfer, dealt with early following year)

1885 - Ann Carter, but managed until October by her daughter in law Mrs Mary Ann Carter wife of Henry. Mary wanted to give up months earlier but was continually pressed by the brewery to stay there. The date they wanted her to stay until kept being pushed back, even when Mary said she had agreed to rent a cottage and really needed to leave as she would otherwise be paying rent on a cottage she couldn't live in (it was a legal requirement to have a residential publican- so Mary would have to live at the Hand and Flowers if the brewery wanted the licence for the premises renewed that year). In June 1885 it was agreed that a James Young would take over the licence but he wasn't immediately free to move in and take over so Fullers got Mary to continue until the end of September. This came and went without Young being ready. She eventually locked the pub up and left regardless, her patience worn thin.  In November Fullers brewery suddenly took possession of the premises and changed all the locks so Mary could not get to the fixtures and fittings belonging to her family which were supposed to remain in situ and be bought by the new landlord but had not yet been paid for. Frederick William Simpole was sent to manage the pub temporarily for the brewery, James Young apparently still not being ready. Mary Ann Carter tried to get past Simpole so nothing could happen to her unpaid for fixtures and fittings. A scuffle ensued and Mary Ann summoned Simpole for assaulting her. The court said any assault was minimal and gave him a nominal fine. A counter summons from Simpole against Henry Carter, Mary's husband, also for assault was not proceeded with. In December the licence finally transferred to 2.) James Young. 

1891 - 1907 James Young. In 1897 the pub was sold at auction to a Mr Canning for £1,070.

1907 - James Young had died. Eliza Swadling took over, his married daughter.

1920 - Mrs Eliza Swadling "No. 128 West Street"

1939 - Albert Swadling, son of the above. He was born in the Hand & Flowers itself and was 30 years the landlord.

1950 Albert Swadling, applied for the right to sell alcohol for off the premises consumption as well.

WHITE LION (FORMERLY THE FOX)

Premises believed to have started in 1830. Named The Fox by 1833 when Henry John Franklyn was landlord. He was followed in the premises by William Sayer but whether it was known as the Fox or the White Lion under then is uncertain.

1852 - unknown Stephenson. Probably John below.

1861 - John Stephenson. Born in Lancashire. John was a brewer living in Hayes Place behind the White Lion on the 1851 census and ran the Coach and Horses on the other side of West Street in 1852.

1871 - John Stephenson. 

1872 - John Stephenson

1880 -1. John Stephenson who died that year 2. Catherine Stephenson (born Westmoreland, wife of above).

1883 - 1. Mrs Catherine Stephenson 2. Mary Probert, widow. She was the daughter of the landlords of the Carpenter's Arms Joseph and Charlotte Rose.

1887 -Mary Probert.

1888 - Phillip K Harman (Married Mary Probert above, who transferred the premise's licence to him)

1891 - Phillip Harman (also a painter) Household included stepson Thomas Probert, age 10 who would grow up to be a Carpenters Arms landlord.

1897- pub became the new club headquarters for the Marlow Victoria football team. This was a "junior" team, typically this meant players 15-20 years old.

1901-1903  Robert Harman. Also a painter.

1903 - Phillip Harman- the previous one back?

1905 - P Harman license transfer to Thomas Henry Verlin.

1905-7- Thomas Henry Verlin transferred license to David Bedwell.

1911 - license transferred from David Bedwell to John Copley.

1912 - licence transferred from John Copley to Richard Evans.

1913 - licence transferred from Richard Evans to Henry Green and then to Edward William Walker.

1914 - Edward William Walker to Joseph Gilby.

1914-16 Joseph Gilby "White Lion Inn". Early in 1916 licence was transferred to William Henry Morris who had come from the Red Lion Great Milton, Oxon.

1916-19 William Henry Morris as above.

1919 - Closed. 

DUKES HEAD 

1761 - Elizabeth Wright. North side of West Street.  The White Horse  (first reference 1755 under Mr Crocket) appears to be very close. Further research to follow. .

WHITE HORSE

Appears to have been very close to the Duke's Head. North side of West Street. 

1755,56= Mr Crockett. A place to register horses for the Marlow Races.

1786 - Mr Goldswain. 

1792- the records of the Robert Boothby charity tell us that in 1792 it was funded out of the rent generated by a building near the Market Place "formerly the sign of the White Horse". In 1832 this Boothby charity house was described as on the North side of West Street and was in residential use. 

The last mention of a pub of this name in Marlow as a going concern  is in the 1810s well after the West Street White Horse closed. This is because a Spittal Street premises began using the name (probably by 1803). This became the Greyhound in 1819. In other words there were two pubs called the White Horse which were not necessarily related businesses. 

The Harrow

Mr Bennell. 1849. This looks to be Samuel Bennell who was also a wheelwright. The beer shop was broken into by burglars who knocked a hole in the back of the pub in 1849. This pub seems to have been far up the road, in what we would call Henley Road today. That it is an earlier name for the Hand Of Flowers can't be ruled out. Later mentions of The Harrow have been ascertained to refer to The Plough in Little Marlow Road, due to misinterpretation of the pub's pictorial sign, and not this pub.

Researched by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day, post written by both.

Related Posts:

To find a mentions of an individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down. 

List of 100+ Matlow beer sellers, pubs, ale houses etc here

Index of pub related posts here

Other West Street related content: here

Index of posts related to everyday life in old Marlow: here

 

Sources include:

1853 Mussons and Cravens Commercial Directory. 

 Kelly's Post Office Directory 1847,1863,1864,1869,1877, 1881,1883,1903,1907,1911, 1915,1923,1939. Published by Kelly's Directories Limited.

1833 Parish Assessment. Original notebooks held by my family and transcribed by Charlotte Day.

 Historic newspapers from the British Library Archives accessed by me via the BNA: South Bucks Standard 23 December 1876, 14 Oct 1892, 21 June 1907, Oxford Journal September 1753, Bucks Herald 23rd June 1877, 7 November 1885, 4 June 1887, 30 July 1892. 

Piggots Directory 1830,1844

Robson's Directory 1839

Will of Elizabeth Ollis, held at National Archives, Kew and transcribed by Charlotte Day. 

Will of John Pomfret, proved 1717, held at National Archives Kew, as above

Will of Richard Pomfret, proved 1702, as above. 

Property records research by Charlotte Day.

Census 1861,1871,1881,1891

Clayton Family Archive papers at Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

The Book of Marlow, Cairns, A J, 1976, Barracuda Books.

Will of John Lofting, written 1733, proved 1742. 

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here so that my sources do not lose credit for information provided. Thanks.