view near Turville wood near Fingest

Walks in and around Marlow Walks in and around Marlow

  Buckinghamshire, UK  

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All Saints Church, Marlow Lock, St Peter Street

 

Map of route from All Saints Church to Marlow Lock

 

Marlow Lock is about ½ mile from All Saints Church, at the river end of the High St. This partially circular route is about a mile in total.

 

This is a level walk (small incline on bridge at the lock) on firm surface.

 

 

A.

Facing the main gates to All Saints Church, you will see the waymark to Marlow Lock. Follow this along Church passage to St Peter Street.

 

B.

Cross diagonally right and continue along what is locally called 'seven corner alley' (six at map scale) to Mill Road.

 

C.

Turn right down Mill Road and follow it round the corner.

 

D

(There is a small gated public seating area on the corner). Continue until you reach the end of the riverside lawns

 

E.

and take the path to Marlow Lock on your right.

 

F.

To return to the town centre, retrace your steps from the lock, left along Mill Road, left down the alley to St Peter Street. Turn right up St Peter Street

 

G.

Turn left along Station Road and left at the corner to return to the start point.

 

A bit of History:

 

Marlow Lock from Mill Road Marlow Lock: Marlow's first pound lock was constructed in 1773, before this boats had to be pulled up a flash lock .

 

Towards site of Marlow Mills The white houses, just beyond, were designed to reflect the appearance of the Mills that used to be sited here. It is believed that there were mills here from before Domesday, either grinding corn, producing flax oil and thimbles, or later producing paper. The last of the mills were demolished in the 1960's.

 

View from Marlow Lock View from the lock to the weir, bridge and All Saints Church.

 

All Saints Church: It is believed there has been a church on this site from the 12th century. Parish registers date back to 1592 and the first vicar was in 1495.

 

All Saints Church from Church Passage Church Passage

All Saints Church, Church Passage

 

The current church building dates from 1835, with the chancel added in 1867, along with other changes, and the spire rebuilt in 1899. There are 8 bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1694 by Samuel Knight of Reading.

 

The previous building was subject to flooding and resultant damage: the tower was rebuilt in 1745, but then the construction of the pound lock in 1773 raised the river level here and in 1790 the spire and part of the tower collapsed. This building was demolished in 1832 and the new church built, raised on a crypt.

 

St Peter St - site of previous bridge and wharf St Peter Street: At one time called Duck Lane, referring to the ducking stool in use at the time. The now tranquil St Peter Street was a much livelier place 200 years ago, when the wooden bridge across the Thames was sited here. The river was bridged at this point from the 12th century, until the current suspension bridge was completed in 1832. There was a wooden wharf, where barges were loaded with timber, wool and grain, and minerals unloaded. The Two Brewers public house was frequented by Jerome K Jerome at the time he was writing 'Three men in a boat'.

 

Old Parsonage Near the top end of St Peter Street is the old school, the Masonic hall and the RC church, designed by Pugin. The Old Parsonage house originated in the 14th century and the original hall remains and is thought to be the oldest surviving building (or part of) in Marlow; the rest was rebuilt and enlarged in the 17th century.

 

Marlow Place Marlow Place: On Station Road, at the top of St Peter Street. Built in 1720, Marlow Place has been a royal residence for Georges II and III, part of the Royal Military College ( based at Remnantz, in West St, before moving to Sandhurst ) between 1802 - 1812 and an aircraft component factory during WW2. At the time of writing, it houses offices.

 

( information sources include: Marlow, Buckinghamshire Historic Towns Assessment Report, BCC and The Book of Marlow, by AJ Cairns )

 

 

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