A history of the Wesleyans at Marlow

Given the Marlow Victorian Wesleyans campaigns for total abstinence it's amusing that part of their chapel premises was built on the site of a small brewery. No doubt they thought this was a good conversion of use for the land! As we have covered most of the other chapels and churches within the town, it's the turn of the Wesleyan's to be featured.  

John Wesley in town 

John Wesley recorded preaching at Great Marlow in 1742. His subject was the "Pharisee and the publican." He had not divined that Marlow would soon be known for it's large number of licenced premises per head of publication. The publican he refers to was a public official, in that case a tax collector. Wesley was not always welcomed when he arrived to preach but his reception seems to have been mild at Marlow. The next day he was at Windsor where a considerable rabble declared they wouldn't let him preach. He did manage to do so however as fortunately for Wesley, some of those intending to disrupt proceedings had gone to a nearby fair to buy fire crackers. While there they got into a brawl and were arrested before they had a chance to go back and test their aim on Wesley. There isn't any evidence of a deluge of recruits to Methodism after this visit, in fact it wasn't for 60-70 years that there was a real start for the Wesleyans here. 

Preaching under a tree..and in a barn

Sgt George Cole of the junior branch of the Royal Military Academy at Great Marlow (at Remnantz in West Street) was the man later credited with starting the Wesleyan movement in Marlow. A staunch Methodist himself, he was disappointed to find no place of worship or indeed any fellow Wesleyans at Marlow in the first decade of the 19th century. Of course George may not have known the beliefs or sympathies of everyone in town but he certainly would have known if there was any organised worship there or not. He arranged for the circuit preachers in the area to make a stop at Marlow instead of riding by. With no established meeting place, the worshippers gathered under a tree near the Common Slough (Spittal Square). This was a type of meeting point familiar to the Wesleyan preachers at least and it had the advantage of making the sermons audible to passers by whether they wanted to listen or not! The preachers must have done a good job as George Cole quickly managed to gather enough support to hire a barn for their meetings. This was off Spittal Street, adjacent to the site they'd later have a purpose built chapel. They didn't have exclusive use of this building of course. Whether it was still used for farming purposes isn't clear but apparently it was used for theatrical performances, lectures and the like in the week. The Congregational church members also used barns early on their life in Marlow. The Methodists barn was later called gloomy as it was poorly lit with just "tallow drips" to see by. No wonder that a quickly growing congregation inspired George and the others to aim high. They arranged with Robert Rockhole to purchase a large field that ran behind Spittal Street back up to Cambridge Road. They didn't even in their wildest dreams need such a large site. So they divided it up, kept a portion to build on and sold the rest to James Meakes whose family would start the Anchor Brewery on their portion but I'm not sure they yet put it to that use. Money from the sale were invested back into a chapel building fund but was nowhere near enough to commence work. So they took out loans for the purpose. The new building was opened in 1810 by the Methodist author Dr Benson. It was a building of a design considered suitable at the time, quite plain outside and in but importantly, not so gloomy and cold as a barn! It was able to accommodate 300 people. There were complaints later that the building may have been put up in a bit of a rush and wasn't too well built. It wasn't especially cheap though - it was said to have cost over £1400. The worshippers only settled the chapel debt for this initial building in 1862. Fears about the stability of the building came to a head in 1860 when it was observed the front of the building was bulging alarmingly. The walls needed to be pinned. This work and the addition of a porch was completed in 1864 along with interior alterations such as the lowering of the pulpit. After all this the building was thought to be much strengthened and improved. In fact the South Bucks Free Press considered it the most handsome and commodious place of worship on the circuit. 

New works a foot 

No doubt the congregation had had enough of building work for a while. But they long had a dream of erecting a new Sunday school building. A Sunday school existed before that date but I was not sure if it had a separate building or used space within the chapel.  Then I found a report of  speaker at a Sunday school event in 1870 who said that a Sunday School building had been erected within the last 12 years for use of that and as a day school. Traces of the day school are feint in other records, but see my post on the Marlow British Schools for more on this subject here. Regardless of what accomodation they already had, the Sunday school needed more room so when in 1885 the buildings of the now defunct Anchor brewery next door became available, the Wesleyans purchased them. Included was the original old barn they first met in. They developed the site for their new Sunday school, spending £818 on the project. The architect was Charles Carter of Marlow and the builders Messrs Wellicome ditto. It was originally said that some of the brewery buildings themselves would be enlarged and adapted but whether the final design incorporated any part of the Anchor I am not sure. The old Sunday school was still up when the new Sunday school was open as it was used to host a celebration tea on the first day of official use in January 1886. It was however soon to be demolished. The capacity of the new building was 350 children, and it would have 4 classrooms. (It had 145 enrolled members in 1909.) The name was proudly carved over the main entrance. One of the speakers at the public opening was especially pleased to see a brewery site converted to such good works as he said he was a former brewer who had now become a total abstainer. 

Big Ambitions

 The number of worshippers and supporters in the 1880s and 90s meant they could be ambitious and start thinking on improving the chapel itself. Extensive decoration was done but before long it was again considered to be in a poor state and actually too dangerous a condition to begin structural alterations as originally intended. 

So in 1898 they decided to move ahead and build an impressive new chapel. It would be on the same site of the old but about 12ft closer to the street. The designer was Richard Wellicome, one of their worshippers and also their sometime organist who handily was also an architect and surveyor. More of Richard another day. A new organ chamber wasn't initially put in, but it was planned to do so as soon as the building debt was reduced enough so it's future inclusion was factored in to the design. (The old organ did come into the new build in the mean time.) It was decided to start work once £500 had been raised. In 1899 tenders were requested for the erection (won by Lovells of Marlow) and the old was already being demolished - last services were held there in July 1899. While the work was ongoing, the Congregational church in Quoiting Square kindly offered the use of their premises for services. An old infant school at the Wesleyan site is mentioned again as it was to do temporary duty as a vestry. Once the chapel was ready, it was said the old vestry "at the north end of the building" would be retained as was the "ministers accomodation". Did they mean the original vestry of the old chapel or the ex schoolroom which was doing duty as the vestry during the building work? Either way it's intriguing some of the old building(s) may have been retained at least for a while. I've been told this vestry and school room at the rear of the chapel were demolished a little time after the Second World War. 

The impressive new chapel opened in December 1901. When the idea had first been discussed they hoped to build it for £1200 but this budget was soon upped and the final cost was £1800. They were especially pleased with the inclusion of toilets, hot water pipe heating and the latest design of incandescent lamps hanging from the ceiling and in wall brackets. 

Jolly times

The youngsters attending the Sunday school had an annual outing for games, singing and the consumption of bountiful supplies of tea and cake. Booker common was a favourite destination, not too far away. The children were transported in borrowed waggons and carts. 

The chapel had - like most "non conformist" groups in the town - a Band of Hope. This was a children's temperance society. They encouraged youngsters to take the pledge against alcohol consumption so they were in the habit of temperance from an early age. The Band had weekly meetings, their own outings and various events in the year. The group got it's own magic lantern for the children to enjoy. The Wesleyan Band of Hope also apparently recruited adults presumably as supporters and helpers. The first group was set up with the other non conformist places of worship in the town and so sometimes met at other churches. Eventually most of the chapel's maintained their own individual bands. It was obviously successful at recruiting members - in 1881 they'd had 200 people sign the pledge through their efforts. How many kept to it is of course not recorded! The chapel was also the meeting place for the non denominational Marlow Total Abstinence Society in the 1890s. Most of the members of that were non conformist worshippers.  

What a nice display...of blotting paper

Due to all the improvement works at the chapel, fundraising was ever ongoing and I love to read the descriptions of their money making entertainments.  If for example you went along to the bazaar held at the chapel in 1899 you could enjoy recieving a mild electric shock thanks to Frederick Dukes galvanic battery  - Frederick enjoyed electrocuting people at all kinds events all over town so being a non Wesleyan would not spare you. Other attractions were stereoscopic views and a bewildering range of needle worked knick knacks. In the bazaar of 1885 you could look at a model of a chair factory with 40 moving figures, and visit the stall run by Alfred Davis of Marlow Football Club fame, who was managing a borrowed miniature printing press that could produce little address cards. Less interesting in my eyes is a display of award winning blotting paper, as featured in the 1907 money raising bazaar. 

Related posts: 

The primitive Methodists of Marlow: here

Index of posts about churches and chapels - here

More on the Dukes family here

Grave of minister John Hogg here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

©MarlowAncestors 

Sources included: 

The Works - John Wesley. Edited by John Emory. (18--)

Marlow Directory and Almanack, 1907 & 1915. (Marlow Printing Co) 

Marlow Guide 1905

Sutcliffe, Barry P, Church, David - 250 years of Chiltern Methodism (1988 Moorleys) 

South Bucks Standard 4th September 1898, September 9th 1893, March 3rd & May 19th 1899, December 13th 1901

Oxford Journal April 14th 1810 

Maidenhead Advertiser February 4th 1870, December 17th 1884, January 6 1886, September 9th & December 30th 1885. 

Bucks Herald August 7th 1875 & 14th February 1878, April 9th 1907 

Berkshire Chronicle -  10th January 1885, 26th September 1885

Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer January 30th 1886

Post Office Directory 1854

Reading Mercury 15th July 1899

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1899. 

South Bucks Free Press - 29th July 1864

George Cole, Great Marlow

Grave reads:

George Cole died Apr 18 1834 aged LXIV years (64!)

And wife Mary who died Feb 19th 1817 age ?? years

Grave mentions that George was late of Royal.....but Royal what can't be made out!

Research Notes:

The "Royal..." Was  referring either to his time in the Royal Artillery or his time at the Royal Military College at Remnantz West Street where he was a Sergeant instructor to the cadets. To find out more about life for the cadets there please read this post. After the College moved from Marlow in 1812 George set up a  private day school for boys where Liston Hall is today in Chapel Street. He was a fervent Wesleyan so perhaps would have been pleased to know that the site of his home and school became a Primitive Methodist chapel after his death (before becoming Liston Hall). In fact George was credited with actually starting Methodism in Marlow by persuading the preacher who visited Henley every week to make a stop at Marlow too. Early meetings were held in an unglamorous location- under a tree by the "Common Slough" which was at the junctions of Spittal, Chapel and Dean streets in Marlow. 

Related posts:

To read a detailed post about the life of the military cadets George taught see Charlotte's post here.

A history of the Wesleyans at Marlow here

Index to church and religion related history posts for Marlow here.

Grave photos and transcriptions index here.

More posts about historic residents of Chapel Street indexed here.

Researched and written jointly by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day. Photo by Kathryn.

Sources Included: 

Charlotte's transcription of the original surveyor's notes for the 1833 Parochial Assessment of Great Marlow.

South Bucks Standard 2nd September 1898. British Library Archives, via the BNA.

The Methodist Times. January 1902.

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

How to have fun in Edwardian Marlow

This post is about some of the more unusual options for entertainment available to our Edwardian Marlow forebears. You can find links to posts about the more conventional options for fun at the bottom of the page. 

I think our first stop may be the Duke Of Cambridge in Queens Rd to see land lord William Plumridge. Nothing unusual about having a pint you might say. But in 1904 William has given us an unusual reason to stop by - his monster apple tree. He is very good at growing fruit but this year his tree of Peasgood Nonsuch is producing individual apples the largest of which weighs over 1lb 1oz. Marlow takes horticulture seriously and the biggest fruit is on display in the High Street at Mr Fields. Strictly not for sale, or not until everyone has come to marvel enough at it. This might strike you as a not very exciting exhibit but Marlow celebrates the victories of her sons and daughters, however minor. 

If that exhibit did not satisfy you, perhaps you would like to see something that was a genuine item on display at the 1889 L'exposition Universelle in Paris. The very same that gave us the Eiffel Tower. It won a gold medal no less, the only one in its category. You will never guess what it is. To find out we must go to April 1907 and the Wesleyan Chapel fundraising bazaar. They are trying to pay off the cost of their new Sunday school buildings. The star exhibit is...a piece of blotting paper. But a Paris Exposition prize winning piece of blotting paper!  It was made by Messrs Soper at the Kings Mill in Loudwater. Time for a selfie perhaps? Marlow knows about paper making thanks to the mills here so there are probably a few people around who have a professional interest in this sort of thing and who could explain the finer points of just what makes an exceptional piece of blotting paper. On second thoughts, perhaps it's time to leave. 

Above, crowds heading to see the Bucks blotting paper at the Paris Exposition. Marlow has to wait until Edwardian times for her turn.

Moving on to June 1908 we can enjoy an up to the minute entertainment. And it definitely doesn't involve either paper or apples. For this we need to go to the boys school room, which is what we call the church hall in The Causeway. This is the venue for the grand gramophone entertainment in aid of the Church Lads Brigade. For this we will take a seat, and enjoy a concert played on the gramophone. It's going down well and several pieces get an encore. It might seem strange to see no musicians but how much more of an occasion it is to go out nicely dressed and listen to music with our friends and neighbours, and with refreshments to hand. If you enjoy it, there's plenty of similar events, and even radio based ones later on. 

For a completely different kind of performance we can stroll to the river to enjoy one of the river based dramas that are performed from time to time. We don't mean the constables chasing the "young savages" who like to streak along the river banks after a naked swim. These are proper dramatic endeavours, usually put on or at least hosted by the Marlow Rowing Club. In 1910 their invitation swim-meet ends with a water "pantomime". The following year there is a full on extravaganza or "water drama"  called "The attack on the Settlers Camp". Maidenhead String Band are in attendance and provide the accompaniment. No wonder they sometimes need a calming exhibition of blotting paper. 

Other quirky sources of fun include the Bicycle Gymkhana, 3 hour long musical and gymnastic performances in the Music Room, and the more unusual obstacle course type races to creep in at the Regatta. 

For posts about other sources of fun see: 

Marlow Fair (ceased to be held in the streets after 1903) here

Bathing in the Thames - here

Cycling including bicycle gymkhana and bicycle polo - here

Cinemas of silent era: here

And general posts about Marlow life in the past - here

Selected sources: 

South Bucks Standard 16 September 1904, June 12 1908 - British Library Archive, Accessed via the BNA. 

Bucks Herald 6 April 1907. As above. 

© Marlow Ancestors except Paris Exposition photo which is used under a creative commons licence. 

 

Ringing In The New Year, Old Marlow Style

   

I've covered Christmas celebrations in Victorian Marlow. But I realised the town had many New Year traditions too, so this post is dedicated to them. 

In the late Victorian period a New Years Eve ball was a regular feature. The Crown Hotel/Upper Crown had hosted a Christmas ball for many years. The New Year one was usually arranged for others but still hosted by the Crown. For example in 1897, it was a ball for those attending the town hall dance classes. While it was a chance for the adult pupils to dazzle their friends and family with their new skills, anyone could apply for a ticket to attend. Did they stop to mark the transition from one year to the next? Original sources don't tell us! But the balls tended to start at 9 or 10pm and continued until dawn so those attending certainly were awake at the stroke of midnight. Marlow Football Club was another of many organisations that saw their annual ball hosted at the Crown in January. 100 people attended this in 1899. 

Thames Bank house hosted a servants ball for their staff,  friends and neighbours on New Year's Eve 1875. More than 100 guests were present. The evening was organised by housekeeper Mrs Taylor and butler Mr Wilson but everyone in the household was said to have contributed to the "very pretty" decoration efforts. After 2 hours of energetic dancing to the accompaniment of a quadrille band, the dining room was opened up for supper.  The company were said to be "deeply gratified at the richness, variety and profusion with which the tables were temptingly set out". After this rest, it was back to dancing until the early hours! 

Then there was many concerts advertised for the new year although not all took place on December 31st or January 1st. The Primitive Methodist Chapel (now known as Liston Hall) traditionally enjoyed a concert, usually performed by their enthusiastic choir (40 strong) and almost always followed by a public tea in the Sunday school room. The purpose of this was to fundraise for the never quite satisfied building debt fund. If anyone was an enthusiastic giver of teas, it was the Marlow Primitive Methodists. The Prince Of Wales offered frequent concerts for New Years Eve, such as a special smoking concert and supper in 1902. Unfortunately their licence required them to close at 11pm, so they sang Auld Langs Syne just before,  followed by God Save The King of course. 

One of the most touching traditions was the large dinner provided by John Langley at the Verney Arms in Dean Street. Those invited were all men aged over 50 from the Dean Street area, which was one of the poorest neighbourhoods in town. Langley really did invite everyone, with 70-100 men in attendance. This dinner ran for many years in the late Victorian and Edwardian era. "The dinner is looked upon as a sort of reunion and looked forward to by those that take part." The men sat down at 8pm to roast beef, mutton, steak and kidney and veal and ham pies, "xmas" pudding, mince pies, cheese and celery. (1908 menu) It may have occured after Christmas but the festive fare must have been welcomed. 

"Watch Nights" were popular on New Year's Eve in the chapels in town. These were late night religious services and prayer meetings. Although many had a very long heritage in one form or another, they were increasingly suggested as a more responsible and moral alternative to the alcohol based or secular celebrations.  The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists held a joint watch night in 1902, to pray "the old year out and the new one in." The Salvation Army's watch night was sold as a musical evening, with prayers. 

One thing that probably strikes us the most when looking at advertising material from Marlow retailers is how often New Year gifts and New Year greeting cards are specifically advertised in addition to Christmas offerings. Obviously those who could scarcely afford to celebrate Christmas were not going to celebrate in any way again a week later. But so many shops took the trouble to promote their New Year offerings in the late Victorian and Edwardian period that it must have been more common to exchange cards at the time. The gifts tend to be small, with one advert suggesting they were sort of little token gift you might bring when visiting friends or family you didn't have chance to see at Christmas time itself. "This is the month for new year's gifts - you are just in time for the small present you meant to give at Christmas." (Rowe the jewellers, High Street 1908).  The stationers Smith & Co advertised that they had a "large selection of New Year presents to choose from" in 1897, not to mention calenders and diaries of course. Other shops you could browse New Year cards include Charles Page Drye's Marlow Printing Works and W H Smith (stationer not the draper of same name). Smith's also sold every novelty in calenders according to their 1899 boast. Sadly it doesn't seem any have survived so we can't see just what counted as a novel calendar design! The Printing Works was also the place to go in January for your copy of the Marlow Almanac and Directory. This carried useful information such as details of church services and court sittings, and the name, address and occupations of all those involved in trade. A handy way to get the low down on all your neighbours. 

January sales are also nothing new. W H Smith advertised their "traditional annual sale" in January 1905 with bargains in every department. It would continue for most of January. If there was something more common than a January sale, it was one that was extended due to popular demand. 

The last tradition to mention is the bellringers new year eve supper, usually hosted by the Two Brewers. Members of the Bellfry (bellringers) met for the meal which sounds at times to be rather well lubricated. They sang songs and sometimes rang hand bells as well. The ringers would then make their way to All Saints to ring out the old year and ring in the new one. Usually they rang a peal just before midnight and then rang another just after. On other occasions they rang 12 strokes at midnight itself. How many must have waited to hear the sounds of the bells

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

© MarlowAncestors

Related Posts 

Victorian Christmas in Marlow part 1 here and 2 here, Edwardian Christmas here

Skating on the Thames etc here

Bonfire night in Victorian Marlow here

A listing of other posts about every day life in old Marlow  here

Easter and May day here

Sources include:

South Bucks Standard 3 & 31 December 1897, 6 January & 22 December 1899, 3 January 1902, 6 January 1905, British Library Archive. 

Bucks Herald 9 January 1875, 3 January 1908. As above. 

Notes from Elsie Coster. 

©Marlow Ancestors 

 

Slavery And Its Abolition

Updated June 2024- more to come

Involved With The Trade

Daniel Moore (born circa 1701)- was an American with British ancestry. He emigrated to his ancestral homeland of England about 1747 when he bought Widmere Manor in Marlow. He was M.P, though apparently a largely inactive one, for Marlow 1754 to 1761. He shortly after that moved back to the Caribbean. He is usually given as a merchant however I believe he was also the Daniel Moore who owned a plantation in Jamaica and had on it over 100 enslaved people.

Charles John Bloxam- lawyer of the High Street was one of those who did the paperwork for some slave owners when they were granted financial compensation for the abolition of the slave trade. The two people he acted for were not locals.

John Ashley - buried aged 73 in Little Marlow churchyard. Grave says he of Ashley Hall in the parish of Vere, Jamaica. This was a sugar plantation with slaves. His ownership of this property seems to have become complicated and disputed. He certainly however owned slaves, at least 10 of them. He died while on a visit to Little Marlow, hence his burial there. The Ashley family were from Gloucestershire and Jamaica, not locals. Transporting bodies at that time was difficult so many people had to be buried wherever they died, not where they would have wanted. John lived York Crescent, Clifton, Gloucestershire having moved there from Jamaica.

Above: John Ashley's grave in Little Marlow churchyard.

Involved With Abolition Of Slavery

Pascoe Grenfell (born 1761)- M.P for Marlow 1802-20 was "on every ground of  humanity, justice and policy" a vocal supporter of the abolition of slavery and Wilberforce's efforts to get that done. Pascoe's son appears to have grown up to have financial investments partly dependent on the slave trade, something which must have disappointed him. The son also possibly owned a slave personally.

In 1792 residents of Marlow met in the Vestry at the behest of the Reverend Richard Hunt to discuss slavery. It was unanimously agreed to send a petition to parliament from the town calling for the "abolition or reform of the slave trade". This was part of a nationwide push by abolitionists to get local people from around the country to come together and petition parliament on the issue. Similar meetings took place in Wallingford and Newbury for example. The "abolition or reform" wording was a template for the petition. Those at Marlow unanimously passed an additional vote of support for Wilberforce who wanted full abolition.

The Wesleyan congregation of Marlow sent a petition to Parliament again calling for full Abolition in 1831.

A local emancipation committee to promote anti-slavery sentiment was being set up in Marlow in 1861. James Carson of Spinfield House was instrumental in this. In October 1861 he presided over a lecture meeting in Marlow where African American Reverend J Sella Martin and Canadian Reverend T.M Kinnaird who had himself been a slave spoke of the Civil War in America and the anti - slavery movement in general. The speakers, praised Simpson for his efforts to remove slavery from plantations he had any business connection to in Jamaica. His family had never had any slaves themselves he later said. A lot more on James Carson in this post 

Other

Field Marshal Sir George Nugent and his wife Maria lived for a while at Westhorpe House, Little Marlow. George had been a commander in the American Revolutionary War and for five years governor of Jamaica. They left Jamaica for England in 1806. American-born Maria kept a journal of her time in Jamaica which was published posthumously. This is considered a key text in Jamaican history and is an interesting read. Her attitude to the slaves she encountered was bafflingly contradictory. She was willing to dance with a slave and continually asserted that slaves had souls just like anyone else and so were worth saving in the religious sense. She criticized the enslaved population for laziness and immorality but thought that the fault for that lay not with them but with the bad example of their lazy and immoral masters. Overall she thought most slaves well treated, being willfully oblivious to the fact someone declared a slave [e.g a non person] is by definition being appallingly treated even if no additional suffering is heaped upon them by violence etc. It also stretches credibility when Maria tells us that a boatload of newly arrived slaves which she examined to see if they looked sad and in need of spiritual succour surprised her by looking happy and being more interested in her carriage than taking in their new surroundings or circumstances.

For more about this family and the general history of Westhorpe too see a dedicated post here

Enslaved People

George Alexander Gratton, born into slavery in St Vincents, stage name the "Spotted Boy" is buried in Marlow and has a dedicated post of his own here

In 1861 "fugitive slave" John Jackson was on a local speaking tour describing how he escaped from slavery and bringing to the people a first hand account of life under its grip. I do not believe John came to Marlow but interested Marlovians may have travelled to sites like Chesham Town Hall, or had friends and family who told them about his testimony. His appearances were widely advertised in advance. The following year, fellow escaped slave Washington Duff did reach Marlow on his lecture tour. He spoke in the Lecture Room (aka The Music Room, now the Masonic Centre, St Peters Str.) Washington spoke about the cruelty he and others had recieved at the hands of their "masters", including sadistic punishments which left the audience shocked and revolted. Washington bore the scars of one such assault on his legs. He was from Kentucky and had escaped to Canada. 

***

June 2022 for more Marlow slavery links see here

All mentions of someone on this blog can be found on the Person Index.

To find other content about every day life in old Marlow see the post listing here

***

Sources:

Bucks Herald, 27th April 1861. Copy held British Library Archives and accessed via the BNA March 2021.

Reading Mercury 17th March 1792. As above.

South Bucks Free Press 28 November 1862

https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/moore-daniel-1701. Accessed March 2021.

https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/grenfell-pascoe-1761-1838 Accessed March 2021.

'Charles John Bloxam' Legacies of British Slave Ownership database , http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk./lbs/person/view/46245 Accessed March 26th 2021.

©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 listed above retain credit.

John Hogg, Wesleyan Minster

In loving memory of John Hogg (Wesleyan Minister) who died April 23rd 1897. Aged 51 years.

Grave in Holy Trinity church (C of E).

Notes:

John became the Wesleyan minister for Great Marlow in 1891. He was also responsible for preaching at Lane End. He came to the town from being the minister at Ashford, Kent though he was of Middlesex origin. He also served as minister for Ticehurst, Sussex and Richmond in Yorkshire. The 1871 census saw him as a theological student in Manchester*. His wife was Mary. Known children= Louisa, Robert and William junior. 

William the minister suffered a protracted death, already being seriously ill in the early spring of 1896. The Wesleyans did not have their own burial ground hence his burial at Holy Trinity C of E church.

*thanks to Jane Pullinger for this census transcription.

For other grave pics see the Graves option on the menu. There is also a Person Index highlighting all mentions of an individual on the blog, a Biographies of Individuals option, Biographies of Families, and Church Related options too.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reproduce this image and to use this research for family and local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here. Census information remains Crown Copyright.

The Spittal Street Poltergeist??? Allam / Hoare Family

 

Allam grave in All Saints Parish Church. 

Alfred Allam died October 26th 1888 age 51 years

Also Sarah Tilleard Allam

Also Charlotte Hoare,  died  - 17th ? 1890

Also Charles Frederick Allam died Jan 29 1940 age 7(2?) years.

Research notes:

Alfred Allam in true Victorian shopkeeper fashion managed to be a fishmonger, fruiterer, potato merchant, hirer of pony and traps, minor farmer and gravel seller all at once with premises on Spittal Street plus a field at Hillside. Census entries suggest he was born Wooburn or Wooburn Green. Alfred's father Francis had also been a fishmonger. Although the business was left to Alfred's mother, she agreed to give it up to him subject to his paying her an allowance. He fell out with older brother Absalom about this arrangement, and other business dealings. Alfred in 1863 sued his brother for withholding money earned by him for selling fish on Alfred's behalf. Absalom said he'd done so because Alfred was keeping a watch that belonged to him and also had withheld goods due to him under his father's will. 

In 1876 Alfred was prosecuted for renting out a windowless wooden hovel not fit for human habitation to the large Moody family.  This wasn't his only brush with the law. Both he and his son Alfred junior seem very ready to get into fights with others.

At one point some thought the family had got on the wrong side of a far more unusual foe than your standard Marlovian- an "evil spirit". 

The back windows of the family premises were repeatedly broken by "unseen hands". At one point breakages were occurring every few minutes. Constables and neighbours were baffled and the household frightened for several weeks until it all suddenly stopped. This was an age of intense interest in Spiritualism and inevitably some people insisted only a spirit could be responsible for the broken windows. Myself I think someone Alfred had had a dust up with was likely having a little fun at his expense.

To read about an incidence of Alfred getting into a legal dispute with a flesh and blood Marlow family see here.

The Sarah on the grave above was Alfred's wife who ran the fishmonger's shop after his death for some years. She was assisted by her sons Alfred and Charles Frederick the latter of whom is also on the gravestone. Alfred would eventually take over the business from his mother. Sarah was born Sarah Tilleard Hoare in 1840 to Charles and Charlotte Hoare.

Charlotte Hoare on this gravestone was her mother. She was born circa 1815 according to census but we believe that she was baptised in Marlow 1814 nee Tilleard, to parents William and Elizabeth. She ran the Three Horseshoes Gun Lane, The Traveler's Rest Dean Street and The Bear, Chapel Street with husband Charles who predeceased her. He owned gravel pits in Marlow which probably explains Alfred Allam's gravel sideline.

Poor Charlotte's death came from shock after she fell over in her yard and fractured her hip [Reading Mercury 30th August 1890 and Buckinghamshire Examiner 28th August 1890. Copies held at British Library. Accessed via the BNA ]. She lived with her widowed daughter Sarah Tilleard Allam at the time and Sarah gave evidence at the inquest. Reports of this inquest tell us that though she is memorialised in All Saints graveyard she was a worshipper at the Wesleyan Chapel at the time of her death. The alarm that she had fallen was raised by close neighbour Emma Carter the butcher who heard Charlotte scream.

Charlotte's death report in the paper called her a much respected woman of the town. [To read about dramatic events at The Bear just before Charlotte gave it up, see the post Here]

To read a post about Emma Carter the butcher see here.

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. You may freely reproduce the grave images for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog. 

Long Live The King! 1902 Coronation.

This is the story of the Coronation celebrations in Marlow in 1902, when Edward VII was crowned king. The celebrations Marlow has put on for Royal related events has ranged from the "lacklustre" and muted to all out extravaganzas depending on the popularity of the Royal concerned.  The 1902 events fall more into the second category, despite a few setbacks. 

Apart from the official celebrations, other locals celebrated in their own way. They decorated their homes, raised a toast to the King and Queen Alexandra in the pubs, preserved special issues of the national newspapers, and at least one young man was christened Edward in honour of the occasion. 

In April, a meeting was held in the Institute (the modern Marlow Library), to decide how to celebrate. One suggestion was to make the abolition of the historic street based Marlow Fair a lasting memorial to the event. This might seem a slightly underwhelming suggestion, and it was certainly viewed as off beat at the time by those out of town, but the fair was unpopular in some quarters because of the disruption it caused. The event had an old Charter and so could not just be banned by the police or council. It required the cooperation of the person entitled to the fair tolls, and the permission of the home secretary. To be fair to the committee, they did not suggest that would be the sole celebratory offering and the idea was eventually abandoned. (For more about the Fair and it's fate, see the post here )

The Coronation committee, chaired by Dr Dunbar Dickson, came up instead with a programme of events that used a tried and tested formula of celebration teas, parades and sports for young and old.

The festivities were due to be held on June 26/27 and it was arranged that the shops would also be shut on those two days. The shop staff would however be required to work full hours on the usual half days closing on Wednesday to make up for the lost trading. As holidays like this tended to be unpaid, the chance to make up lost time may not have been unwelcome to all. But on Tuesday 23rd June at 1.30pm, an ominous telegram was recieved at the Post Office. The King was ill, and required an operation. There was no chance he would be well enough to be crowned as intended. The news was said to be greeted in town with "universal consternation and sorrow, even dismay." Many had begun to deck their homes and businesses with flags and other decorations. A meeting was quickly convened and it was decided to suspend the Coronation in Marlow until happier news reached the town. It was also a telegram that bought news that the King had made it safely through the operation. 

Marlow eventually held their events on the 20th and 27th August*. (Neither were the actual Coronation Day as that had come earlier in August, on a date long set for the town Regatta. ) The programme was to be broadly the same with some minor tweaks to timing. These dates both fell on a Wednesday which as mentioned above was the usual half closing day in town (although not adopted by all). So disruption to trade was minimised.  

 

The first events held was a thanksgiving service at the parish church of All Saints. This was described as not well attended. One at the Catholic church of St. Peters did better, with a good number turning up.

On the first day, there would be a dinner for the "old folks" which at the time was regarded as those over 60, although younger people in receipt of parish relief could also apply for a ticket. The tickets were free, and only issued to control the numbers from the caterers point of view. In all 400 adults recieved these tickets, although inexplicably only 250 actually turned up for their free meal. Who could host such a large dinner all at one sitting? It was decided that the girls school room in St Peters Street and the adjacent Music Room (aka the Lecture Hall, now the Masonic Centre) would be used. A camp kitchen capable of catering for 400 hungry souls was erected by the Bucks Volunteers who also manned the stoves. The wall between the school and music room was considered a hindrance to the practicality of serving both venues at once, so it was partially demolished! (Taking down inconvenient walls that get in the way of temporary fun events seems to be a popular Marlow solution. The rear wall of Cromwell House gardens was partially knocked through when it's grounds were used to jointly host a fundraising event with the Institute, in aid of the latter.) The Volunteers produced a hearty meal of beef and mutton with vegetables, the ingredients supplied free by local traders and donors mostly. Ale and tea was also offered, the ale a gift of the Wethered's Brewery. Many unnamed ladies spent the  hours before decorating the tables and the rooms as a whole with a huge number of donated flags, flowers and fruit. General Higginson was the inevitable guest of honour. The satisfied diners listened to some patriotic speeches and finished their happy meal with a rendition of the national anthem and a toast to the new King. Each guest departed home bearing a gift, tobacco for the gentlemen and tea for the ladies. Thirty seven elderly residents who were too infirm to attend in person were sent 2 shillings, paid for entirely by Walter Wethered.  

The volunteers did not not have long to catch their breath as they had to make preparations to serve a tea to the children of Marlow later in the afternoon. Any child attending school in town could come to this "bounteous tea" and they also recieved a commemorative medal and/or mug. As the number of children engaged in this feast was expected to outnumber the adults dining earlier, the boys school room in the Causeway was also bought into service. After this the tea volunteers and the Band finally got a chance to sit down to eat themselves, some 90 people joining in at this sitting. 

While the older residents were dining, the youngsters were engaged in sports in a field adjacent to the Cricket Field off Pound Lane. They had assembled in Crown Meadow (Riley Recreation Ground) in order to make an impressive flag waving march to the sports ground. They were competing for cash prizes donated by the better off residents which must have given an added spur to their efforts. After this, they were organised into a parade to proceed to the tea venue, walking through the substantial grounds of General Higginson's Gyldernscroft then along West Street and the High Street. The adults who were not old enough to take part in the old folks dinner were not forgotten. A fun sports day were also organised for them in the early evening with more cash rewards on offer. A brass band attended to entertain those who did not feel like competing themselves. 

The second Wednesday was devoted to an "aquatic sports" afternoon, watched by a good crowd. There was no fee to enter a race, and the various vessels were supplied by the Rowing Club, Shaws boathouse and Meakes and Redknapp boatbuilders. Prizes included silver and bronze coronation medals. In the evening, there was a twinkling procession of illuminated boats along the Thames, long a feature of the Regatta too. The flags and bunting remained up for the entire week giving plenty of opportunity for photos to be taken. 

Many if not most of the adult helpers at the various events were given one of the Coronation mugs to take home, and others went to the children who had not been able to attend the tea for various reasons. The flags used in the parade were divided between the local Sunday schools. 

Other places nearby enjoyed similar celebrations such as a tea and sports at Little Marlow and Medmenham, the latter paid for by Mr Hudson of Danesfield. At Medmenham all the men were invited to a dinner (no women) but everyone could go to the tea. They also had a cricket match. 

The King did not have a long reign. When he died in 1910, the memorial service at All Saints church was packed, in contrast to the one celebrating his coronation. About 50 Marlow residents are said to have taken the train to Windsor on the occasion of the Royal Funeral, others had travelled to London for commemorative events there. Empire Day, which fell shortly after the Kings death was only minimally marked as a gesture of respect. The Wesleyan chapel in Spittal Street hosted a memorial service for all children attending Sunday school, using a special service devised by the Sunday School Union. It ended of course with the National Anthem sung, standing, by all. 

ORGANISING COMMITTEE:

Tea Commitee  (very important role!) Chair Rev.  J H Light.  Hon sec. - R Wellicome. 

Chair of Sports Committee - Alfred Davis. Hon Sec - George Kendall

Dinner Commitee - Hon Sec W J Morgan 

Overall Hon. Sec Mr J H Deacon. Overall chair : Dr F Culhane. 

Treasurer : G. Loosley

Note : the composition of the committees did fluctuate. The General Committee started out with something like 50 members, and then there was an Executive Commitee of 20 in addition to the sub committees above. 

The left over funds raised for the Coronation celebration were put towards the cost of providing the memorial plaque to those who had served in the South African Wars. You can read more about that here

*Danesfield held their celebration on the day in June originally planned for the Coronation, as they said the King had expressed a wish from his sick bed that those organising celebrations should be spared the expense and inconvenience of cancellation without fear of royal disfavour. It was held in Danesfield park in an area Mr Hudson had levelled to allow for the playing of polo and cricket. There were athletic contests, cricket matches, children's games, a dinner for 300 and a grand tea for all of Medmenham, held in relays in a marquee. Bisham also held their celebration on the 26th  June, where the youngsters and some adults of the parish recieved a Coronation mug and medal donated by Mrs Taylor of Stoney Ware. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Related posts:

To find other posts about big events in Marlow history see the post index here

All mentions of an individual can be found under the Person Index.

A short history of the 1887 Jubilee celebrations in Marlow can be found here

And a post about 1837 Coronation celebrations and how the news of Queen Victoria's death was heard and marked in the town is herr

Sources:

Wrong (qv), George MacKinnon, The British Nation: A History (D. Appleton, 1903)

Methodist Magazine, Volume 55, 1902, digitised by Google. 

South Bucks Standard 11 April, 9 May, 20 June, 22 July, August 1st 1902. 27 May 1910. Copies from the British Library, accessed via the BNA.

Family memory from Peter and Kathleen.