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Welcome to The Marlow Society
These pages are regularly updated, please select here to view the latest version.
On this page (shortcut links):
The Marlow Society is a registered charity (no. 262803) whose efforts are devoted to the preservation and development of Marlow and the surrounding villages and countryside.
We seek to represent all those who enjoy living in, working in, shopping or just visiting our beautiful town situated on the banks of the River Thames, in the foothills of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
With great sadness we report that Martin Blunkell passed away Sunday 26th June 2022. Martin has been the very active and welcoming Chairman of The Marlow Society for many years and so much more. A true gentleman and a good friend to Marlow and so many people. Selflessly working hard, with high integrity and ability, in the interests of Marlow and in helping others.
A tribute to Martin can be read here...
60 yrs old in 2020
We were formed in 1958 as the Marlow Bridge Preservation Society whose purpose was to prevent the 1832 suspension bridge from being dismantled and replaced by a modern structure. The Marlow Bridge Preservation Society became The Marlow Society in 1960.
Don't lose it!
There is a Planning Application - 20/07411/FUL - to build across the current public access from Liston Rd to New Court / Liston Court.
The plan does not clearly show an alternative access.
This is an important, and pushchair and mobile scooter friendly, route from Liston Rd (incl Car Park) to the High St and to the south and east.
Your help is needed to maintain this public right of way. Please read how you can do that here ....
... this is still not resolved
Marlow Studio Project
Proposal to build on 90 acres of Green Belt land at Little Marlow Lakes Country Park
The Marlow Society Exec committee consulted with Members and in Feb 2022 concluded... The Society's leadership is persuaded that the proposed development would not benefit Marlow and the nearby parishes. In July 22 the Society submitted it's formal objection to the planning application.
Status 10 Aug 22: The planning application was submitted to Buckinghamshire Council and was available to view for only a month before the closing date for comments of 23 July 22. Given the application has over 400 pages, a number of the first comments submitted were of course requesting that this date be extended, but this date is still showing as the official close. However, Comments are still being submitted and published to date.
The Marlow Society submitted objection to the Planning Application can be viewed here ( .pdf )
The planning application reference is: 22/06443/FULEA
The planning application can be viewed at:
https://publicaccess.wycombe.gov.uk/...
The December 2021 - Chairman's Report can be read here
There's lots to do .. if you can become actively involved in furthering the aims of the society, please contact us - tmssecretary@ marlowsociety.org.uk
An active group within the Marlow Society is the Local History Group. Researching, producing history articles, conducting guided walks and answering questions about the history of Marlow and the surrounding area are some examples of what they do.
Read more about the Local History Group.
If you have any questions about Marlow's history you can contact the group at:
tmslocalhistorygroup @marlowsociety.org.uk
Marlow Bridge
The protection and maintenance of Marlow's beautiful bridge is an ongoing challenge - preventing overweight vehicles, while keeping the bridge an open and practical route for local traffic.
visit page ... This page notes some of the thoughts on how to achieve this and some of the specific events and issues that help illustrate the situation.
Marlow Remembers WW1
All displays and information from the Marlow Remembers World War 1 project can be viewed in the Marlow History section of this website.
visit Marlow Remembers WW1 - www.marlowsociety.org.uk/ MRWW1
The British Association for Local History - www.balh.org.uk - selected the Marlow Remembers WW1 Association as the winner of the 2019 Research and Publication Award for the article and display: From Beer to Bombs. These publications can be viewed in this section.
The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a European Union legal instrument ensuring the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data.
The GDPR policy of the Marlow Society can be found here.
Please help us stay in contact by emailing tmschair@marlowsociety.org.uk with the message 'GDPR. I/We agree to the Marlow Society holding my/our personal details.', followed by your name(s).
Events:
Abbreviations: LHG = Local History Group,
AIM = Archaeology in Marlow, MAS = Marlow Archaeology, MAG = Marlow Archaeology Group (AIM + MAS).
AGM 2022
The Marlow Society's Annual General Meeting will held at Christ Church URC, Oxford Rd on Friday 27th May at 7:30pm.
Information and the Executive Committee Report can be found here...
Local History Group Talks in 2022
Some of the talks are held at Liston Hall, some are virtual meetings via Zoom,
please see the Events page for all the talks,
and, for those via Zoom, near the time of a talk for more details and to request the link ( which will be different for each meeting )
Marlow Archaeology Group (MAG) talks are also listed here, with more information and poster available on the Events page
Would you like occasional email notifications of forthcoming events? Select here to add your email to our mailing list.
Current and Future Events:
Sun 21-Aug-22
2:00pm
meet at Little Marlow Church
Little Marlow Walk
Sat 10-Sep-22
10am - 4pm
Marlow Place
Heritage Open Day
Sat 10-Sep-22
2:00pm
leave from Marlow Place, Station Rd
Heritage Open Day Walk - Victorian Marlow
Thu 22-Sep-22
7:00pm
Zoom (MAG)
Ashes under Uricon
Speaker/Contact (category)
Brewing in Marlow (video) - a talk by Janet Smith at the Buckinghamshire Local History Network conference 24-Oct-20.
Of Locks and Weirs - a Marlow History article by Janet Smith - added July 2020
Locks and weirs are an integral part of the management of the Thames. Our weir, in particular, is often seen as a recreational asset, where canoeists can enjoy practicing their white-water skills. It is, in fact, a piece of industrial archaeology with a very long history.
In Memory:
follow this link to dedications to departed friends
Martin Blunkell MBE (1942 - 2022)
The very active and welcoming Chairman of The Marlow Society for many years and so much more.
Some Past News Items:
Some of these items go back a few years, but continue to be listed here for background interest or, in some cases, as illustrations of the Marlow Society's policy and involvement.
The Obelisk
The restoration work on the Obelisk was completed September 2018.
During the restoration, some elements that worsened the decay were discovered: when the gravel around the plinth had been removed, this showed that water seeping through the gravel had been retained and thus created a pool from which water 'wicked' up the plinth encouraging the spalling we have seen.
Further work revealed that the drain below the plinth was blocked. It also revealed the well from which the public water pump in Market Square was supplied. The drain is being rebuilt. ...
A Positive Impact
(22 Aug 16 but still valid) Soon after the Marlow Bookshop opened in Spittal Street I visited to say, on behalf of the Society, how much I appreciated the new shop's façade and, in particular, the high quality signwriting on the shop sign.
visit page
Nesta Liston's gift to Marlow
The picture of Nesta Liston, which had been in New Court House since its gift to the town and until its sale to the private sector, is now installed in Liston Hall.
... read more
Select image to visit page.
These are two examples, in recent years, of co-operation between the Society and the major property owner in Marlow. We will seek other similar opportunities whilst strictly maintaining our independence.
The Marlow library is a very valuable asset - there is information via this link to the Bucks CC, Library website.
This bench in front of the library was donated by the Marlow Society, to mark the society' 60th anniversary. visit page ...
Parking Meters in Marlow: There has been an intention to put parking meters on town centre parking bays that are currently free to park on for a short stay.
more information and background
The Global Business Park management organisation ran a public consultation on suggested improvements to the A404/Marlow roundabout (Westhorpe Interchange). The consultation ran to 1st Feb 2019.
More information on their website globebusinesspark.co.uk
WDC Regeneration Strategy for High Wycombe, Princes Risborough and Marlow
Wycombe District Council commissioned this strategy so that it could, in part or whole, be combined with those of the other districts and the county council, to create a Buckinghamshire-wide regeneration strategy when the new unitary authority came into being in April 2020. .. based on the Forward
Some Past Events:
Follow this link for information on Past Events ...
