Will of Charles Lovejoy 1648

 CHARLES LOVEJOY SHOEMAKER OF GREAT MARLOW. 

Will both written and proved in 1648.

Says he weak and ill in body but of sound mind and in good and perfect memory.

Commends soul to God. Body to be returned to the earth from whence it came.

Loving wife Abigail gets his messuage with appurtenances in Marlow. At some convenient time she is to sell it and pay his debts from the resulting money. The rest of the sale money to go to wife Abigail and dear daughter Elizabeth for their maintenance and livelihood.

All other goods, chattels and household goods after debts and funeral expenses paid to wife Abigail who is named sole executor.

Will witnessed by William FF..r (Farmer?), Robert Young, Robert Bennett.

Transcribed and then summarised here by Charlotte Day from a copy of the original P.C.C will held at the National Archives, Kew.

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

High Rews Farm /High Ruse Farm Marlow

A small farm.

List of the historic farm occupiers and history timeline.

Gaps in dates represent gaps in our knowledge. Gaps we will endeavour to fill!

1794 - the freehold farm was advertised in the Reading Mercury 10th March 1794 as up "very pleasantly situated on an eminence". It included then a farm house, yard, barn and 55 acres of arable land. James Webb leased the farm then though his term was up that Michaelmas. Many Webbs farmed in Marlow in the 1700s and 1800s. Search the A-Z Person Index to see all mentions of Webbs on this blog. 

1838-51 Henry Webb the sub-tenant of here (actual tenant was James Deane of The Deanery Marlow and Tunbridge Wells Kent). Henry also leased Wymers Farm and perhaps was also the Henry Webb who was renting Triphooks Farm near Ragman's Castle just outside Marlow as a yearly tenant in 1840. Henry actually lived at Wymers most of the time though both other farms had farmhouses. Wymers and High Rews farms were put up for sale by auction in 1844. Henry left High Rews and eventually the town following his bankruptcy in 1851. There is more on him in my Wymers Farm post here. 

1853-unknown end date Henry Mickling. This name also occurs as Micklem and Micklem. There were a lot of them in the Henley/ Hurley area for centuries. Henry was himself of Henley, and a non residential farmer. He also held Copy Farm in Marlow at this time. During the 1860s and 1870s and quite possibly in the 1880s too there continued to be no residential farmer at High Rews though some of farm's carter's and agricultural labourers and their families lived in two dwellings there. It is hard to be certain whether one of these was the actual farm house. During this time the woods near the farm were sometimes the site of poaching and wood stealing activities.

1893 William Creswell. The farm once again has a residential farmer. William died at the farm in 1901 aged 60. There is already  biographical post about him on the blog here. His brother's widow Jane continued to live at High Rews after his death and was then the farmer in her own right. In 1903 Jane's son Alfred Cresswell aged 11 was severely injured when his brother in playing with a gun accidentally shot him in the arm. This family had astonishingly bad luck when it came to accidents as is detailed in this post, which also gives more family background for them.

1901- at least 1911 Jane Creswell. From late 1907 George Eaton, originally from the West Country was also farming at High Rews. Whether this was in partnership with Jane, or whether he had taken over part of the land is uncertain. By 1911 Jane's twenty year old son Cyril also calls himself a farmer there. He lived with his mother in the farmhouse. There was a small fire at the farm in 1906. 

1907-1918  George Eaton as above. His wife was Agnes nee Young also of West country origin. Their marriage record is available free on Familysearch- Link. George was at the time of his marriage a gardener though Agnes as the daughter of a farmer must have had plenty of useful knowledge as to all things agricultural. The Eatons arrived in Marlow with several of their children. One of those Private Ernest Eaton died of wounds received in war service and is buried in Marlow Cemetery. At the time of his death he was a married man aged 33. At the time of his enlistment he had been living in Tring. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record for him says that his parents lived in Queens Road Marlow at the time of their son's burial. This must have been a recent move as they were not present in that street in 1915. His father was still farming at High Rews after this date. It would have been a walkable journey to work for George from Queens Road to High Rews. Link to CWGC record for Ernest here. When George decided to leave in 1918 all his farming stock was auctioned off.

1920- Phillip Morris and George Tylor both farming at High Rews. In 1923 a Captain George Tylor was at High Rews raising turkeys.  In 1925 the farm was up for sale now only listed as 40 acres not 55 as it had been in the late 1700s. There seems to have been some division of the property either before or after this sale. Phillip Morris continued until at least 1939 to be listed as the farmer (dairy and arable) at High Rews Farm while George Tylor was now referred to as farming at "End Farm" next to it. Tylor's wife was Lorna, while Morris was married to Harriett.

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

Some Sources:

The Agricultural Gazette and Modern Farming. United Kingdom, n.p, 1923

Kelly's Directory 1883, 1903, 1907, 1911, 1915, 1920 and 1939. By Kelly's Directories.

Mussons and Craven's Commercial Directory Of Buckinghamshire and Windsor 1853.

South Bucks Standard April 17th 1903, British Library Archives. 

Reading Mercury 21st September 1918. British Library Archives. Bucks Herald 25th July 1925.  These editions accessed by me via the BNA.

Personal interview.

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

Young Grave Bisham

 

"In loving memory of Adeline Blanche wife of Thomas Young who died November 19th 1922 aged 52. Also of Thomas Young who died May 18th 1932 in his 70th year"

Photo and transcription by Charlotte Day 2021.

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

Will Summary Charles Carter of Great Marlow

 Will proved 1723, written 1717.

A plumber.

Weak in body and limbs but of perfect mind and sound memory he says.

Commends soul to God.

To be buried at discretion of his executor.

Dear and loving wife Mary to get all his worldly estate. This includes his messages or tenements in Marlow called P....io plus a half acre of land in Marefield Marlow. Also to her all mortgages, bonds, household goods and chattels he may possess when he dies. She is sole executor of will.

Witnesses:

Thomas Cage, Richard Young, Thomas [Trott?].

Mary proved the will.

I transcribed this will from a copy supplied by the National Archives Kew and then summarized it here.

You are welcome to use this summary for family and local history purposes with credit to this blog.

To find all mentions of an individual or family here on the blog use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. It currently lists more than 3,000 individuals about whom we have information of some kind in the blog. New content added daily. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Will Summary John Webb of Great Marlow 1722

 I transcribed this PCC will which is held at the National Archives, Kew and then summarized it here.

©Marlow Ancestors. Use this summary if you like with credit to this blog.

JOHN WEBB, MALTSTER WILL PROVED 1722.

Says he in good health praise to God. Asks to be decently buried.

Commends soul to God.

Dear and loving wife gets messuage, farm lands, premises with all appurtenances at Wheeler End in the occupation of Joshua Johnson for her life and after her death to his three nephews= Richard and John Webb sons of testator's brother Richard, and John Webb son of testator's brother Giles.

Wife also all household goods, plate, linen and furniture in their dwelling house for life then to testator's brothers Richard and Giles equally.

Wife £10 annuity.

£50 each to nephews and nieces: Richard, John, Sarah and Mary children of testator's brother Richard's. Also £50 each to Mary, Hester and Elizabeth children of testator's brother Giles.

£20 each to nephews and niece: Andrew, Elizabeth and Richard Quarterman children of testator's sister Elizabeth Quarterman.

Rest of goods and chattels after all debts and legacies paid to brothers Richard and Giles who are the executors.

Witnessed by Elizabeth Dark, B. Young, Robert Dark.

To find all memtions of your ancestor, use the A-z person index in the top drop down menu where you will also find options to find other categories of posts. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Men Who Built Marlow Part 3

Young Lovell

Young James Lovell (yes his first name was Young) was born at Sydling St Nicholas in Dorset in 1842 to Mary and James Lovell. His father was a carpenter. James followed him into this trade. Far more of the major builders that I find began their working life as carpenters than bricklayers or masons. Young married his wife Charlotte Winifred Cresswell of Marlow at Marylebone in London in 1873 and moved to Marlow by July 1874.

He was at first the manager of the building business ran by the Corbys. They lived in the building which is now WH Smith in the High Street, Marlow and had additional now demolished workshops and a yard a little further along the High Street. In late 1876 following the retirement from illness of Thomas Corby junior, Young Lovell took over the business for himself. His office was at number 35 High Street the former premises of another Marlow builder William Bond. William is the subject of my post Men Who Built Marlow Part One here, while the Corbys are in Part Two here. 

Young carried on the tradition started by Corby, of having an annual Bricklayers v Carpenters Cricket match each September, all players being those who worked for his own company. The bricklayers seem to hold the overall record but matches were tight! 

In 1878 Young's apprentice James Howard was cautioned in court for leaving his apprenticeship with Young and ordered to return to him. 

Young's foreman in 1883 was Henry Young and in 1891 Edmund Coster.

His company in Marlow were responsible for (a small selection!):

1877-78 Demolition of the house Beechwood and rebuilding of it. He had to take legal action to get paid for this job. During the rebuilding bricklayer's labourer William East jumped from some brickwork onto some scaffolding in order to fetch something, causing a section of scaffolding to give way. William fell nearly 30 feet to the ground, dying of his injuries a few days later. Builders probably jumped about the scaffolding in those days a fair bit. The scaffolding was not found to be obviously faulty. 

1881- building of two new almshouses in Oxford Road.

1882- alterations to All Saints, the Parish church including a new roof and vestry. He was a church warden to the church.

1886- House Bohemia on the Bisham side of the river. £2436 paid.

1889-90 Marlow Institute, Institute Road (this is now the Library).

1893- Wooden isolation hospital at Marlow Common. Put up in just 6 days.

1893/4  Building of what is now the NatWest Bank building in the High Street. 

1895- new churchyard wall, All Saints.

1895- significant alterations and extensions to the George and Dragon, Causeway. Paid £114 10 shillings for this.

1895- 2 villas Institute Road.

1896- smaller alterations to the interior of the above church including adding a new door.

1897- adapted part of Cromwell House in the High Street into a Post Office.

Repairs to the Obelisk in Market Square.

Outside of Marlow:

1877- enlargement and improvement of Bisham Church.

1905-06 Built Windsor Police and Fire Stations.

While the day to day labour on the building sites would have been done by others, Young himself like many carpenters made coffins for local people. For perhaps no more reason than this quite a few of local families had him organise entire funerals for their loved ones. Many modern funeral directors have their roots as builders/carpenters long ago. 

He was also a Director of the Marlow Water Company and one of the organisers of the 1887 Jubilee celebrations in Marlow.

Young relaxed by playing the violin including in local concerts including at the Marlow Institute where he was Treasurer, entering shows with his vegetables and flowers, fishing, taking part in and organising billiards tournaments and by playing cricket for Marlow.

1905 advert.

He died in 1911. By then he and Charlotte lived in Beaumont Rise though the High Street premises were still used by the company. Their son Harry attended the Royal Engineering College before going to India as a civil engineer. When home he played football for Marlow. He was also a tennis player. As well as Harry there was a daughter Winifred, and two further sons Clifford Percy and Arthur Young. Little Arthur died as a baby. Clifford went off to be a builder in Gerrard's Cross and was the carrier of the family firm after Young's death.

Charlotte Winifred Lovell seems to have been a quiet person appearing in only a few social or charitable event lists with her husband or by herself. One event she did attend was a lavish Christmas party given in the Music Room, St Peter's Street for the children of the Catholic Church in 1899. Her daughter Winifred helped to serve food at the party. The family were not themselves Catholic (unless Charlotte and Winifred had converted at some point as some members of the wider Cresswell family had done). Young was a C of E churchwarden remember and he married Charlotte in a C of E church. The connection seems to be that Young was appointed by the Urban Council as the manager of the Catholic School. Presumably being a Catholic was not necessary for that. It was not the same role as head teacher - it seems to be concerned with financial and maintenance matters.

Charlotte also went to some scientific lectures at the Institute with her husband.

In 1902 the couple had an accident in Oxford Road Marlow when their pony and trap overturned. Young's shoulder was dislocated and Charlotte had cuts and bruises.

The firm Y.J Lovell founded by Young continued into the 2000s when it was renamed.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

Other posts related to building families: 

 (Men who Built Marlow) 

Bond here   

 Corby here 

Frederick Plumridge here

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

Sources:

London Metropolitan Archives, parish records.

Great Marlow census from microfilm transcribed by me. Census information always remains Crown Copyright.

GRO Death Index.

Reading Mercury 10th August 1878 (James Howard case).

Bucks Herald 11th June 1887 (jubilee)

SBS 30th June 1893 (isolation hospital) and 26th December 1902 (carriage accident).

Newspapers British Library Archives via their collaboration with the BNA.

This Way For Healthy Masculine Exercise

 In the 1890's gymnastics was undergoing a period of being strongly in fashion locally. Apparently a town of "any size could boast of a gymnasium" hereabouts, with one glaring exception - Marlow. Reflecting on letters it had recieved on this subject, the South Bucks Standard thought it inconceivable that a town that prided itself so much on sporting success should be so behind the times. The practice of gymnastics was very invigorating they thought. Soon after this a meeting was held, presided over by Mr F O Wethered, in which it was resolved to start a gymnastics club for young men, with Wethered as president.

So in March 1896, membership enrolment began with 100 names submitted. Sergeant Palmer, drill instructor at Borlase and Mr Baxter who was involved with other gym clubs, agreed to offer training. There was no young man for whom a course of properly directed gymnastic training would not be of benefit they thought. It would develop strength and discipline. The Music Room, aka the Lecture Hall (now the Masonic centre, St. Peters Street) was chosen as their meeting place. They met only during the winter season, twice weekly with the two instructors alternating attendance. All of their exercises were performed to piano music. 

They had a practice place, an instructor and eager pupils, but what they lacked at first was any equipment. Neighbouring gymnastics clubs kindly put on fundraising displays solely intended to benefit the new club, with Boyne Hill and Maidenhead at the fore. The latter had a gymnasium in Queen Street, Maidenhead and maintained a long bond with Marlow, the two often putting on joint shows. Maidenhead also had the habit of lending one or two of their experienced performers to assist Marlow in a display. When Instructor Palmer left to take on a position at the Merchant Taylor School, Maidenhead man G W Phelby took over. By November 1898, they had enough apparatus to declare themselves possessors of a gymnasium although this was just the Music Room in another guise, the equipment stashed away between gym sessions. 

Dozens of keen young gymnasts offered a good opportunity for the likes of WB Langston, boot and shoe seller. He had opened a second shop facing his first in Marlow High Street and this would specialise in sporting and leisure shoes including those designed for gymnastic use. 

Each year, the Marlow gymnasts would compete against each other in pursuit of medals, before an audience of ladies and gentlemen. The  overall champion was crowned for getting the highest score across the different disciplines. In 1897 this honour went to J Meakes. As well as this there were regular exhibitions of "strength and agility" presented in the form of a competition. The young men showed off their skills using barbells, Swedish dumbbells, horizontal bars, and a vaulting horse as well as performing jumps and tumbles, all to accompaniment of suitable piano music. To be honest some of these exhibitions sound like a endurance test for the audience, lasting several hours and encompassing comic and musical interludes. The end of season performance in 1900 came to well over 3 hours of "bright tripping music" and gymnastic stunts. No longer just showing off the likes of their barbell and horse skills, the boys included a performance of clowning, sword exercises, military style drill, "comic boxing" , and the formation of human pyramids. The audience showed no signs of fatigue according to reports, which may not be true of the young performers at the end! Relief for the latter came when a more serious boxing match took centre stage - Rippington V Broadbent - two well known local pugilists. After this, the evening came at last to a close.

The club acknowledged that the use of the music room was not an ideal space performance wise, but they were too short of funds to consider hiring bigger facilities. They did manage on one occasion to secure the use of a large temporary gazebo erected for a fundraising ball at the rear of the Institute when the latter had finished with it. But by 1899, the club was already facing a deficit in funds. They were nevertheless determined to continue as the club had been started to give the youth of Marlow an aid to "healthy development" and they still felt the cause was a worthy one. However membership began to decline, with fewer youths willing to commit to the twice weekly practice. This and the chronic lack of funds caused the club to be wound up in 1903. The equipment was sold off at a knock down price to the Boys Life Brigade, who would also use the Music room. Marlow's entertainment scene would never be the same!

Known members:

Alfred Davis Junior

L Smith Junior (treasurer)

J Carter Junior (hon.  secretary)

J Meakes

W B Taylor

A H Harman

Q Bird

A Young

A J Tugwood

L Holland

P Charter (Carter?)

S Arber

G David

Above, a part of the Borlase school gymnasium as it stood in c1905. There had been some argument about the relative access day and boarding boys got to this facility. 

To read a post on the Victorian cyclists of Marlow see here

To find all mentions of your ancestor however small, use the a-z Person Index on the drop down menu. For a shorter list of more detailed posts, select the Biographies Of Individuals or Biographies of Families menu options.

Other Marlow History posts can be found under the General Marlow History option on the menu. There is a sports subsection to that for more posts like this. Posts are currently uploaded daily so if what you need isn't here yet, check back soon! 

SOURCES

South Bucks Standard 20 September 1895, 9 April 1897, November 29 1898, 6 October 1899, 23 March 1900, 24 April 1903 - copies from the British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA.

Maidenhead Advertiser 21 December 1900, as above

Watson, James Madison -Handbook of Callisthenics and Gymnastics - a complete drill guide for schools, families and gymnasiums. (E Steiger, 1889)

©MarlowAncestors

 

Three Little Marlow Scandals

The village today, above.

Breach of Promise

In 1885 Little Marlow resident William Goggs De Bunting was sued for breach of promise by Alice Maud Haygarth of Roseville, Bridge Road, Maidenhead. Alice was a widow and said that having promised to marry her William dropped her in favour of another, richer woman. William had no hope of winning the case after he first stated that there was no promise and then somewhat backtracked and said that if (hypothetically of course) there had been one it would of have quite rightly been ended by him as a result of her misrepresenting her wealth to him. The unimpressed jury awarded Alice £450 compensation.

William was a native of Norfolk born in 1837. He was a printer in London before moving to Little Marlow. He had been declared bankrupt 17 years previously.

The marriage he actually made was to Elise or Eliza Blackwell Macgregor in London in 1884. Two years later they sued each other for divorce. She alleged cruelty and adultery. He accused her of adultery herself with a Robert Standish.

It seems the divorce was granted as William was married again in 1888. He had moved back to London by then.

I was not able to trace Alice Haygarth further.

The Death Of Maria Young

In 1862 fourteen year old Maria Young of Marlow Bottom Farm contracted St Vitus dance. A complication of an infection, especially rheumatic fever, it results in the sufferer making involuntary jerking movements with their limbs. Some patients exhibit psychiatric symptoms too like uncontrolled weeping.

Her parents sent for a Wooburn doctor and chemist George Walter James. He told them that the condition was rarely dangerous and prescribed some medicine. He received letters from them saying that Maria was "rather worse" but still did not consider her case urgent. No one sent for him for a further visit so he presumed some nearer doctor was dealing with the case if necessary.

Nevertheless when his other duties took him around a mile away from Maria he asked after her and was surprised to hear that she was seriously ill. He visited her and told her parents that she needed to be put in a "straight coat" to prevent her accidentally harming herself with her movements. He said that he would bring her one.

But he didn't. Besieged he said with patients at his home, and working through illness himself he was unable to get away again before Maria died. A verdict of manslaughter through neglect came against him from the Little Marlow jury after an inquest at the Black Lion, Well End*

The furious doctor wrote a letter of complaint to the South Bucks Free Press. He said her parents, the vicar and others who had seen the girl had been neglectful in not sending to him with urgency when they saw her worsen further. Why they had not summoned a Marlow doctor if they were worried he could not understand. He also said he never took on outlying patients who needed repeated visits because he was too busy with walk-in patients at Wooburn. The implication was any family who did call him out would understand that. In any case he said he had to prioritise the obviously dangerous cases he had above rarely dangerous ones like a patient with St Vitus Dance. He had patients due to give birth and others dangerously ill. He could not afford to leave them to go on a 6 mile round trip to give a patient something that was not life saving, only a matter of comfort or to visit a patient whose life shouldn't be in danger.

A Grand Jury threw out the charges against him.

To be fair to George no doctor felt that the advice or basic treatment prescribed to Maria had been incorrect. I could find no cases of anyone dying of St Vitus's dance. It usually gets better in a few months of its own accord and isn't necessarily even treated today. You have to suspect whatever infection had caused the St Vitus was the real cause of her death. But if he had been able to see Maria more often might he not have realised she needed additional treatment? Her parents, having been told by him that her condition might seem dramatic but was really not a big concern, can't be blamed for taking George at his word in that respect and not pressing him more earnestly to return to her.

George himself died aged 62 in 1865. He had moved to Bucks only in the 1850s from Staffordshire. He was by then a widower.

I was unable to trace Maria and her parents. There are Youngs in Little Marlow on the 1861 census but no Maria. No Youngs were the tenants of Little Marlow Farm in 1860 or in 1869.

The Bailey Murder Case

In 1920 Kate Bailey (known as Kitty) was murdered by her husband George who became the last man hung at Oxford Gaol as a result. She had been poisoned. Kate was pregnant at the time. 

Three women were in the jury and one of them asked the judge to be excused service on the grounds that women should be shielded from hearing disturbing evidence. Many people male and female would have agreed with that view at the time but the judge dismissed their objections saying "There is no delicacy here [in a courtroom]". Counsel was also warned to stop hesitating to ask "indelicate" questions of the accused on the grounds that there were ladies present! The Bailey trial was the very first murder case in England involving female jurors. It took place in Aylesbury.

George was a dairyman and had administered prussic acid to poor Kate probably in her tea at their home Barn Cottage. (Aka Old Barn Cottage, Church Lane) Her body was found wrapped in a sheet and hidden under a camp bed in a bedroom. At trial the defence argued she had committed suicide. George claimed he saw her drink the acid from an eggcup and had in the act of dying invited him to "come too". They had an infant daughter Hollie, and Bailey suggested later he had intended to kill her too. He certainly drugged her and laid the girl next to her dead mother for several hours. 

A large number of locally bought drugs were found in the Bailey home. George said he bought then to use in a new business he wanted to set up as farrier while the bottle of prussic acid on his person when arrested was for killing ants and wasps he insisted. He had pretended to be a vet previously in order to get drugs from wholesalers but was refused. Hence the reckless local buying.

Shortly after the murder George induced a young woman Lily Marks to stay at his home saying he needed her to help him demonstrate a new "music system" he had supposedly invented. He then repeatedly tried to attack her over the course of 8 hours. It seems his plans to seduce Lily was the motivation for removing Kate from his life.

George appealed against his sentence but it was refused. He wrote many rambling letters to the public which stress he considered he had a great gift for music and was misunderstood. His greatest gift however appeared to be committing fraud, for which he had several previous convictions and had served jail time. The murdered woman had also spent a short period in prison for following Baileys orders and cashing a stolen cheque on his behalf. Their little daughter was therefore born in prison. 

Marlow's Inspector West was one of the policeman that discovered Kate's body, while PC Poole was one of those that arrested Bailey at Reading. Other local people involved in the case were Drs Dunbar Dickson and Wills of Marlow who carried out the post mortem in the presence of Home Office Pathologist Dr Spilsbury. He appeared twice at the Marlow Police Court in Trinity Rd, and on both occasions was met by a good crowd of angry locals, heavily dominated by vocal women who could apparently be heard from some distance. The same also saw Bailey off at Marlow train station on his way back to Oxford Prison where he was being held. The ladies "invaded" the platform and still more angry crowds saw him at Bourne End. 

Kate is buried in Little Marlow. 

*For a list of the Black Lion historic landlords with information about them see here

Sources:

Divorce File, National Archives, Kew. Ref J77/365/1018.

The Bookseller, the Organ of the Book Trade Volume 10. Booksellers Association. Published by J Whitaker 1867.

GRO marriage registration and death registration indexes.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydenham%27s_chorea

My census transcriptions.

South Bucks Free Press 12th December 1862.

Newspaper Sources for Kate Bailey murder: Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 14th and 17th January 1921.

All newspapers at British Library Archives and accessed via their partnership with the BNA.

To IA ANY TYLERS, borgnis, Wright's. Cresswell. 

Avert Your Eyes..Bathers About!

People have always bathed in the Thames, sometimes for necessity, sometimes for pleasure. The trouble for Victorian Marlow residents was quite a lot of them liked to do so in the nude. 

If you read reports of those swimming and bathing in the river early on, often in terms unfortunately of their escape or otherwise from the prospect of drowning, it's clear they are swimming naked. Or at least the men were. It was expected and not commented on in a shocked way - it's more that the fact was revealed by statements about where their clothes were found and how the fact that they were wearing none was taken as an indication they had deliberately entered the water to bathe. This wasn't something restricted to youths and it cut across class boundaries. But as the Victorian era progressed, this changed. Mutterings begin about "bathing nuisances" and "public indecency" and it became an issue that got some people very hot under the collar indeed. 

A hygienic and life preserving exercise

Back in the late 1850s, swimming was said to be "quite the rage" among the (male) youths of Marlow. A Mr Goggs had taken it upon himself to teach a number of the boys to swim. Some of the private boys schools taught their pupils to swim, for example William Faulkner's Prospect House Academy and later Marlow Place School where swimming lessons cost a "moderate fee" in 1863.

Given that many of the boys would have grown up to work on or near the river, this sounds like a good idea. The boys' minds then turned to competitive swimming. Some unnamed gentleman thought that this craze for swimming was a hygienic and life preserving exercise and to encourage the lads, set up a swimming competition in August. There were also races for men but none for females of any age. This was the start of an annual but long forgotten sporting event that attracted big crowds. About the same time an Amateur Swimming Society was formed and they took on the organisation of the swimming races, as well as matches between two close rivals. There was a cup for the most successful competitor under 16 and other races were swam for prizes like fishing rods. In 1863 the juvenile cup was won by the ever sporty Augustus Creswell. In 1865 the annual swimming race was swam between Bisham Abbey and the suspension bridge with "many hundreds" of people watching from the bridge and along the tow path. Everyone expected Augustus Creswell to win as always but he was pipped at the last by Master Povey. Povey had a very successful day overall, as he also won the diving prize. And where were the boys diving from? Marlow Bridge! The winner succeeded by diving the greatest distance and remaining the longest underwater. Thankfully all the young men resurfaced without any broken limbs. Other names mentioned as competitors include Shaw, White, Rose and Blacksmith. The younger boys had shorter races - winners include Shaw, Gibbs and Honey.  These races continued for a number of years, and were revived in the late Victorian period. 

In 1873, the Reverend Cree wanted to create a designated safe bathing place. He knew that many used the back waters behind the mill to bathe but this was not always considered very safe. Funds were raised and a committee formed but then they hit a problem. None of the landowners owning the river bank land would give up even a small part to allow the project to be realised. So the plans came to nothing. Later that summer Dr Shone's young assistant surgeon William Henry Anderson, drowned whilst swimming in those fore mentioned mill back waters. He was 23. It was said that his death meant the poorer classes in particular lost a kind, patient and skillful friend. The jury at his inquest publicly made a plea that a proper bathing place should be provided for without delay.

Wash the London dirt away

Visitors to the town were advised to get one of the fisherman (fishing guides) to take them by punt to a suitable spot for a swim. They advised only good swimmers to attempt it, but the rewards would be worth it. Joseph Ashby-Sterry, writing a travel guide for 1874, said bathing at Marlow was a pleasure for which he would "gladly give a good part of my limited earthly possessions." It was just the thing for washing off the dust of London. He recommended bathing at the weir itself, holding on to the paddles, for an exhilarating experience. He may have enjoyed this, but he was obviously unaware of the number of people who have drowned in that vicinity. 

A perpetual infestation of nudists

In the late 1870's, the problem of nude bathing was starting to be treated more seriously. In 1877 High Street chemist Charles Miller Footitt went along to the Petty Sessions to plead with the magistrates to do something about the issue. Robert Hayes Smith seconded this and said the river banks were "perpetually infested" with those who not only bathed nude but wouldn't confine themselves to the water but were to be frequently seen running along the bank, sans clothing. The magistrates were sympathetic but could only act on the transgressors if they were bought before them. 

Six years later, a meeting was held to consider the issue of a bathing place again. If everyone had somewhere particular to bathe it could be sheltered from sight and limit the spread of our streaking friends. One of the speakers William Shone, made the good point that very many of the poorest in town had no real facilities to wash themselves properly in the summer unless they used the River, with the result the river banks were constantly covered by boys and men bathing. Everyone agreed that providing a spot for comfortable and decent bathing was a good idea, but what they could not decide was where it should be. Around 1900 Colonel Clayton offered the use of Slough Pond "near Gossmore" for conversion into a bathing pool. It would be equipped with an inlet and outlet so a constant supply of Thames Water would keep it fresh. But the work and expense involved made the Council shy away from this proposal. 

Beware the young savages of Marlow

Thames Conservancy bye laws to ban bathing without wearing a suitable costume were in force here by 1891. These rules also restricted bathing to before 8am or after 8pm. But the rules were routinely flouted. The police received many complaints, and so decided in 1891 to send a plain clothes constable duo strolling by the river to catch the offenders in action. And this they did. The police said they found a pack of boys dashing about the river banks entirely unclothed like a parcel of "young savages". They managed to round up 5 boys and they duly appeared before the magistrates. They were described as "poorly dressed lads". It is not hard to understand how unrealistic it would probably have been for their families to provide them with bathing costumes, or even a spare set of dry clothes to change into if they bathed in their others. Henry and William Rockell, Joseph Boot, George Thorpe, and William Tubb were fined 2s6d each but they were warned that a second appearance would result in a  sharp fine. General Sir George Higginson, as magistrate said it was "monstrous that ladies were deterred from walking by the river in the summer evenings" because of the risk of coming across such a group. The police should have stuck with the plain clothes approach. In 1905 some groups of boys, missing their garments, were reported to be having a riotous time in the water and on the river bank, splashing and running about. A constable in uniform attempted to creep up upon them but his helmet showed him up and the boys scattered. The constable did not catch any young savages this time! 

Progress was lacking on any public facility, but a privately owned island near Marlow Lock, the property of A G Lovell and later the High Street builder Young Lovell, was by the 1890's in use as a permitted bathing spot. It was said Mr Lovell seldom refused permission to anyone asking to use it as a base for swimming. It was secluded and regarded as a safe spot. He had generously erected a shelter there for the bathers use but after this was trashed in 1892, he restricted the use of the island for a while and introduced a small charge to use the hut. It was not manned, instead you could get a ticket to use it from the lock keeper at Marlow. It was still possible to use it at the time just before the First World War. The Boys Life Brigade had also secured a piece of land adjoining the backwater of the lock for their swimming base in 1903. Non members could get a ticket to use the facilities by applying to Mr Lunnon. This was also used unofficially by other young bathers who did not want - or could not - pay. 

Not for improper purposes

By 1900 the reports of illicit nude swimmers are a little less frequent but there were those worried about the potential for indecency during the dressing and undressing process. The Thames Conservators considered the solution was for local councils to provide wood and canvas screens not less than 4ft 6 high for people to change behind. They advised the council to take steps to make sure these screens were not used for any "improper purposes". The council noted the suggestion but took no action to construct the screening. 

I go by violence!

It was this issue of changing on the river bank that seems to have caught out Munday Dean resident William Macdonald in the summer of 1908.  He was bought before the magistrates for bathing without proper dress 300 yards from Marlow Bridge. He said in court that he had a bathing suit with him and must have been observed when only briefly nude as he was changing in or out of it. The constable who witnessed William's bathing session said he had been observed standing with nothing on, in the water and splashing himself.  He then began lounging on the river bank, still undressed, while reading a newspaper and keeping an eye on his 3 unconcerned young daughters and their three friends. At the time of his arrest William said he had bathed all over the world but had never been told it was indecent and Marlow should put up some warning signs if they thought it was. The magistrates disagreed and fined him £1 plus costs. William protested strongly and shouted "I go by violence" when forcibly removed from the court - something that took several policeman. 

But what of the ladies?

The idea that women might also want to bathe was now being considered by some. Mr John Foster wrote to the local paper in 1904 wondering why such a town as Marlow, which prided itself in facilities for visitors wanting to enjoy the river, should have no bathing place for ladies. The swimming race meeting of 1911 had events for women and girls. This was open to those living in or visiting the area between Henley and Maidenhead, and made use of the Marlow Rowing Club lawn. It ended with an "aquatic drama" enacted by members of the rowing club, entitled "Attack on the Settlers Camp". Sounds an interesting entertainment! 

A bathing place at last

 The arguments about providing any kind of bathing place were still rumbling on and 20 years of council meetings on the subject produced almost identical conclusions. They loved the idea, but not the cost of putting it together. Finally in 1912, Mr Vansittart Neale offered to provide a spot to construct a bathing space in exchange for a yearly fee. This would be accessible from the Bisham side of the river and while access from Marlow was considered best, no one on this side of the river would allow it. Mrs Taylor of Stoneyware,  threatened to ban public access to the tow path if bathing was not more tightly controlled. This was in her power to do as technically she only had to allow access to those involved in towing boats. If somewhere for swimming could be properly provided, she would however donate £50 towards the initial cost. This and a promise from the Thames Conservancy that they would ban bathing from the towpath altogether if Marlow provided a free bathing place, prompted the council to action. Tenders were sought to build a 21ft long and 8ft wide dressing hut. The bathing pool itself would be 75ft long, 20ft wide, and 3-6ft deep. The bathing hut would be on the eyot with plank bridge to gain access to it from "the new road leading to Cookham" (Quarry Wood Road). In the end a 7ft diving pool was also provided, with a 16ft long springboard (6ft projection) set 3ft above the summer water line.  

Progress on getting things going was slow thanks to bad weather but the bathing place finally opened in 1913. It had a timber and iron changing hut complete with earth closet behind. It would be open all year from 7 or 8am to 7-10pm depending on the season. An attendant was present although only in the evenings and on Sunday mornings. Boys under 12 had to leave by 7 and there was signs up reminding bathers that swimming without proper costumes or drawers was forbidden and you could only get changed within the hut. Anyone hoping to laze around on the island before or after their swim was out of luck. Loitering after coming out of the water was not allowed, nor was entry if you didn't intend to bathe personally. The Thames authorities were good to their word and banned bathing from the tow path between Marlow Bridge and Bisham Grange.

Female only bathing times were introduced in 1914, although none were on Sundays. Later the changing facilities were extended and you could pay to use boxes to store your things securely while you swam. This helped to make the bathing place self supporting as it needed regular dredging and cleaning. 

Death at the bathing place

Learning to swim here probably saved many lives. A large number of people especially children have drowned in the Thames at Marlow. Sadly even the bathing place saw a drowning in 1917. The then attendant George Higgins of Dean Street, (see note 1 below) died on entering the water to save two young ladies within the bathing place who had got into difficulties. He jumped in but never resurfaced. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. Rose Maddox Morse, a young lady of Bourne End, who was bathing there at the time managed to retrieve the unconscious George and performed artificial respiration on him although sadly he could not be saved. Rose also rescued one of the two girls who had initially got into difficulties, with the other saved by a man who nearly drowned himself in the effort. Rose rightly recieved a medal for her bravery. Thank goodness women were allowed in the bathing place! 

This spot continued to be used until the 1950's. A proposed bathing lido for Higginson Park in 1933 never took off. 

NOTES 

1. At George's inquest questions were raised about whether he had rightly been appointed. Although he had been a strong swimmer at one point, he had suffered a paralytic stroke 18/19 years before which had left him with a limp. He had told those responsible for appointing him that he was confident he could swim across the bathing place 4-5 times if necessary.  They did not ask him to prove this. It seems his death of a heart attack could not be foreseen though. He was only 59. Some of the witnesses criticised the fact that the life preserver was only half filled with cork and had no rope attached. They said Mr Higgins had complained about it. The council denied he had raised the issue. 

Related Posts

Little lives lost in The Thames here

Bellows, bricks and brandy - reviving the drowned here

The Sorry Youth of Today - 1896 style here

Biography Robert Shaw, king of the river here

All mentions of an individual here can be found under the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. For more posts related The Thames, see the River sub category under the General Marlow History section of the same menu. 

SOURCES

Ashby- Sterry, Joseph. Tiny Travels. (Tinesley Bothers, 1874)

Taunt, Henry - A New Map of the River Thames from Oxford to London (Taunt, 1872)

Grace, William G, Outdoor Games and Recreations: An Encyclopaedia for Boys. (Religious Tract Society, 1892)

South Bucks Free Press August 26 1859. Copy from the British Library, and accessed via the BNA. 

A Guide To Marlow 1905, anon. 

Royal Humane Society - For the Reviving of Persons apparently dead by drowning -( R.H.S - London 1783) 

South Bucks Standard August 15 1863, August 21 1891, September 16 1892 April 6 1900, May 29 1903, January 15 1904, August 4 1905, 26 July 1907, June 26 1908, June 17 1910 , July 18 1912 as above

Reading Mercury August 15 1863, June 23 1917, as above

Berks County Paper July 22 1865, as above

Bucks Herald - August 2nd 1873, June 23 1877, August 22 1891, February 10 1933, as above

Maidenhead Advertiser September 6 1911, as above

Researched and written by Kathryn Day

©Marlow Ancestors.

 

Verney Arms History And Landlords, Dean Street, Great Marlow *updated June 2025*

Name spellings are as given in the original source, even if this differs from usual as this can help provide an alternative search term to use in other records.

*Updated June 2025 to include closure information and to add more landlords* 

The Verney Arms has been demolished. It stood on the Dean Street car park/Wethered Rd side of the road, not far from Verney Close. 

1858 - Date given for granting of first licence in 1872 list of pubs and their owners and occupiers in Bucks Archives. But must have had a different name then as the Verney Arms is said to have received the name from a popular but failed election candidate Captain Verney who stood in 1868 not 1858. Could be a slip of the pen. Multiple records actually show the pub opening in October 1869. These premises were new built specifically for use as a pub and with the input of first landlord John Langley. 

1869- John Langley moved into the premises in October 1869. He had an opening dinner for 200 friends! They were entertained by a group of 6 singers bought down from London.  John gave up some but not all of his farming concerns when he started the Verney, selling off a large number of pigs, some cart horses, waggons etc. He maintained his business as a fruiterer however. The Verney Arms was then new built. John had been landlord at the Royal Exchange until a month before that, a smaller concern (but one that could still host a club dinner for 150) but left after a last unsuccessful attempt to upgrade its licence from just a beer one. Within a few weeks of John opening the Verney Arms police were called in to break up a brawl on the premises! This was probably why John's application for a wine license for his pub was refused. Read more about John and his son also John here

1871 - John Langley, also listed as a fruiterer, employing 8 men and 3 boys. Wife Ann. Their youngest child Kate, age 2, has the middle name "Verney". In 1872 he wanted to open the Verney Arms for longer hours during Marlow Fair but withdrew the application when he realised he'd have to pay for the privilege! 

1874 - John Langley - also farmer and fruiterer. The next year he applied for an alehouse license for the premises but was refused. Hosted a dinner at the pub for 40 of his workers plus some neighbouring farmers also in 1875. 

1879- Lodgers John Dennis and Benjamin Hatch have their work boots stolen from the stairs of the pub where they left them overnight. A not infrequent hazard of lodging in a Marlow pub! But as labourers, this was a hard loss for the men. Two men from Wycombe who were drinking at the pub on the evening concerned are suspects. 

1880 - Landlord John Langley still. A presentation is made at the pub this year to John Langley Jnr son of the landlord, who has just been released from prison for his part (or supposed part) in the 1880 election riots. Read more here

1881 - John Langley, wife Ann. She died shortly afterwards and John moved to the Crown, marrying it's widowed proprietor Susan West in 1883.  To read more about this see the post here He was killed in an accident at the Crown 1886. Also in 1881 John is described as a farmer of 230 acres employing 50 men and 8 boys. They sell potatoes at the Verney Arms along with the beer, although John is mainly a wholesale fruit and vegetable dealer. This was an off extremely common Dean Street occupation.

1886 - James Edwards. Came from Chairmaker's Arms Dean Street (more on that pub here). He was sent to numerous Marlow pubs to keep things going if a previous landlord quit, was having difficulties or could not have licence renewed.

1888 - John Langley junior (Proposed transfer to William Wallace Symes of Reading falls through). This John is the son of the above John Langley for whom you can read a full biography here. His wife was Ellen nee Bristow/Biggs. Also farmer and fruiterer. See Ellen's grave at Holy Trinity church, Marlow  here. And read about Ellen's parents here.

1889 - 1.John Langley 2. James Edwards again (temporary) 3. Thomas Bryce Robinson (probably Robins in fact, see below) 

1890 - 1. Thomas Bryce (or Bryan) Robins. Accusations that he allowed drinkers on the premises during prohibited hours lost him his license. He had earlier in the year escaped charges of allowing drunkenness on his premises 2. WJ Knight (hold over) 

1891 -Thomas B Rob(b)ins moved to the Clayton Arms Chalfont St Peter. Sued next tenant Edwin Funnell for value of items left behind for that tenant's use which he said he was supposed to be compensated for.  Brief holdover for Mr Deverall prior to the proper changeover. 

1892 -E R Funnell

1893 - Transfer from Edwin Richard Funnel to George William Beale

1894 - G W H Beale to William James Knight (hold over - see also 1890 above)

1895 - Transfer from James Deverall Junior and his wife who had become insolvent to James A Young. In some records James Herbert Young not James A Young.

1896 - William E Young transfers to Henry Charles Gillett

1898 - Henry Gillett

1899 - Mr Gillett to William Mills 

1901- Herbert Alfred Mills transferred to John Richard Field. (Wife Sophia) Premises known then as The Arms. Herbert lived at Dukes Place in 1902 when he was accused of abandoning his wife and family. He made several further appearances over the next couple of years on the same charge and his wife applied for a separation order in 1904.

1901-1921 John Richard Field. Still sometimes known just as the Arms until 1910 when it was firmly back to Verney Arms. Attempted then to get a spirit licence. We are not sure if it is attempt was successful. John had a popular billiards table there and hosted the occasional tournament. He died in 1920.

1921-40 Sophia Field, widow of the above. In 1928 the premises is referred for closure under plans to limit the number of licenced premises in a given area. Sophia is then selling 3 barrells of beer a week. It survives this attempt but ..

Closure decided at last in 1939 and completed in 1940 - Closed for good by the powers that be who were trying to reduce the number of licensed premises in town. Last landlady Sophia Ann Field. The authorities said that as 43 houses in Dean Street and 18 in neighbouring roads had been demolished in a recent slum clearances (one of several involving Dean Street over the next 20 years), there was no need for the pub. The fact that many of the houses had been replaced by building in Seymour Court Rd a short distance from the Verney was brushed over. Sophia said her trade had actually been increasing, despite all the disruption she'd had to put up with. But it did no good, and Sophia lost her home and business, and the 70 member slate club she hosted was also no more. Sophia died in Marlow on Christmas Eve 1941. 

To look for similar posts see the Pub Related  option on the menu and to find all mentions of any individual person use the Person Index option on the top menu. More Dean Street related content can be found indexed here

Additional research by Charlotte.

SOURCES INCLUDE

1871,1881,1891 Census transcribed from microfilm by Charlotte.

South Bucks Standard 6th January 1893, 22 May 1896, 25 Jan 1912 . Bucks Herald 28th August 1875 and 10th Jan 1880. Reading Mercury 23rd October 1869. All held at British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA, September 2020 and May 2022.

Bucks Herald 22 August 1874, as above. 

Court Cases, trade directories, property transactions and adverts also consulted.

©Marlow Ancestors.