MARLOW (GREAT), a borough and market-town and
parish, in the hundred of DESBOROUGH, county of BUCKINGHAM,
35 miles (S. by E.) from Buckingham, and 31
(W. by N.) from London, containing 3763 inhabitants,
of which number, 2532 are in the borough. The ancient
name of this place was Merlaw, supposed to oe
derived from the Saxon word Mere, a marsh, and Law
or Low, a hill. The town, situated on the banks of the
Thames, consists of two principal streets, which cross
in the market-place: the surrounding scenery is replete
with variety and beauty. Races are held in July; ana
there is a good news-room. The river is here crossed
by a wooden bridge, but an iron suspension bridge is in.
progress of erection. There are some paper-mills and
copper-works in the neighbourhood, which, with the manufacture
of lace and covered wire, and rope-making, furnish
considerable employment to the labouring class:
there is likewise a good trade in corn, timber, and malt.
The market, held on Saturday, has nearly fallen into
disuse; a pleasure fair is held on the 1 st of May, and
another for cheese, &c., on the 29th of October. The
principal civil officer is a high constable. The borough
first sent representatives to parliament in the 28th of
Edward I., and continued so to do till the 2nd of
Edward II., when the privilege ceased for upwards of
four hundred years, but was restored upon petition to
the House of Commons in the 21st "of James I., and
has since been exercised without intermission: the
right of election is in the inhabitants paying scot
and lot; the number of voters is about five hundred,
and the high constable is the returning officer. The
living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Buckingham,
and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books
at £ 13. 6. 8., and in the patronage of the Dean and
Chapter of Gloucester. The church, dedicated to All
Saints, is a venerable structure, and contains several
ancient monuments. There are places of worship for
Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. In 1628,
Sir William Borlase bequeathed estates for teaching
twenty-four poor children, apprenticing six of them
annually, and teaching twenty-four women to make
bone-lace, and for a man to keep a house of correction.
A National school for children of both sexes is
supported by subscription. In the 7th of James I., John
Brinkhurst devised to trustees almshouses for six poor
widows, and 5s. per quarter to each inmate. The Royal
Military College, established at High Wycombe in 1799,
was removed to this town in 1802; but, in 1812, it was
again removed to Sandhurst in Berkshire.