Tour of Victorian Marlow

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Today I went along to one of Marlow Society’s guided walks – this one was entitled “Victorian Marlow”, and focussed on the features relating to that period  (Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901). 

We were split into 2 groups, due to numbers – and our group was led by John Evans of the Marlow Society.

The informative and enjoyable walk took 2 hours and took in  the old Police Station and Court House, the old gas works site, St Peter’s Church, amongst others. John told us that the Census of 1851 gave the population of Marlow as 4,423, and it remained at more or less this level until the railway arrived 20 years later.

The photo shows us outside Cromwell House (halfway down the High Street, now an opticians) which was the home of Edwin Clark  during his  retirement from 1879 until his death in 1894. Clark, an eminent Victorian engineer, was born in Marlow in 1814 and went on to build bridges, railways, canals and docks all over the world.  He specialised in hydraulics, in particular boat lifts – and John had modern photos of an example still in use.  He was also Robert Stephenson’s Resident Engineer for the building of the Britannia and Conwy Tubular Railway Bridges in North Wales.

The next Marlow Society walk is on Sun Aug 15th, entitled “Town Walk” – a more general review of historic Marlow, which we went on last year – and can recommend!

Article author: Paul Merchant

About the author: Founded MyMarlow.co.uk in its original version back in 2000 - yes the internet DID exist back then. Brought up in Marlow, went to school here, now has children at the same schools. Quite clearly loves all things Marlow - hence spending over 2 decades doing this!

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