A few weeks ago this column was devoted to the two Mallett sisters, Mary and Doris, dressmakers at Number 88 West Street, and I also made brief mention of their “secret” brother who was kept under cover upstairs, only coming out briefly in hours of darkness. I speculated it might have been connected with service in the Second World War. Quite a bit of feedback resulted and a lengthy email from Kathryn Day gave more details of the very odd situation at Number 88. Before printing this I made certain that there are no surviving relations of this particular Mallett family, originally from Oxfordshire before moving to Marlow.
IT’S a rare occurrence these days to find a postcard not already in my collection, but above left is one I came across just recently – an old etching used as an advertising card (postmarked 1949) for guest house facilities at Harleyford, just outside Marlow. I don’t think I had ever realised that they offered accommodation in past times. Here are a few other pictures, old and relatively new, the latest two being aerial views of the house, grounds, and marina. Top right is especially interesting – the Harleyford workforce, the probably early 1900s, and half of them enjoying a smoke.
I recently added to my large collection of local vintage guide books with the 1920s R.A.C/Burrows Maps publication. A nice little slim edition of photographs, colour maps, Places To See and a large number of adverts for hotels, restaurants and garages, not many of which still exist. The editors seem to be especially keen on listing golf courses. I was initially startled to see the owners of Marlow’s Crown Hotel, Mr & Mrs Rutledge, claiming in their advert that the building dated from the 16th Century. In fact in 1928 it would have been just 120 years old. In the previous Century there had been a Lower Crown further down the High Street, possibly there was some confusion with that.