Sept 19 1856 near White Waltham Old House on Mr Smith's Farm Maidenhead and Part of Homestead Mr Smiths Farm Near Maidenhead Near Cox Green April 26 1870 (3)
Lillibrooke Manor, first mentioned in 1376 in Berkshire, UK, features a manor house built around 1490 and historic barns, serving prominent families like the Martyns and Englefields before being confiscated during the Commonwealth. Purchased by Henry Partridge in 1656, it remained a family property until the 19th century, transitioning from agricultural use to its modern role as a popular, restored wedding and event venue known for its rustic charm and period features.
Key Historical Periods & Owners:
14th Century (Lollebrok Family): The estate was known as Lollebrok or Lowbroke, with its first official mention in 1376.
15th Century (Martyn Family): The Martyn family acquired the manor, building the current house around 1490, possibly for visits to the Royal Court.
1541 (Englefield Trustees): The Martyns sold the estate to trustees of Englefield House, with Lady Elizabeth Englefield becoming a key figure.
Commonwealth (Confiscation): The manor was confiscated from its Catholic owner during Cromwell's rule, with rumors of a secret priest hole.
1656 (Partridge Family): Henry Partridge, a London cooper, bought the property, keeping it in his family through the 19th century as a working farm.
The extensive barns, including the Great Barn, were part of its working farm history until the mid-19th century.
Restoration & Modern Use: After extensive agricultural use, the barns' magnificence was revealed with the removal of grain bins in 1988. Today, Lillibrooke Manor is a beautifully preserved venue for weddings, corporate events, and filming, blending its historic Tudor architecture with modern amenities.
Richard Suter was born in Greenwich, Kent on 30th March 1798, to William Suter and his wife Sarah Knights. On 7th January 1825 he married Anne Ruth Burn.
English architect. As Surveyor to The Fishmongers' Company he designed the severe Presbyterian churches for Ballykelly (1825–7) and Banagher (1825) on the Company's Estate in County Londonderry, drawings of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1827. He was also responsible for the Model Farm (1823–4), the Lancasterian Schools (1828–30), the Company Agent's House (1830–2—now a hotel, much altered), a range of houses on the south side of the main road (1823–4), the lodge in the Presbyterian churchyard (1828), and the Dispensary (1829), all at Ballykelly, and all Classical. As Surveyor to Trinity House Corporation, he designed houses that were erected by Thomas Cubitt in 1821–3 on a site adjoining Trinity House. For The Fishmongers' Company he designed St Peter's Almshouses, Wandsworth, London (1849–51), and The Old School-House, Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk(1859), in an Elizabethan style.
On the 1841 Census Richard, an architect and lawyer, can be found living in London with his wife Ann (listed as Ruth) and their two children, Richard George and Andrew Burn. Living with them is Edward D Suter. 1851 finds the family living in Tottenham Court in London, by this time Andrew had left the home, but I am unable to trace him on the 1851 Census. In 1860 Andrew marries Amelia Damaris Harrison. Both Richard George and Andrew were to become ordained ministers, with Andrew later becoming a Bishop and emigrating to New Zealand. Sadly in 1854 Anne Ruth was to pass away. In 1861, widowed Richard, Justice of the Peace for Maidenhead, is living at Castle Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire. In 1862 he married Elizabeth Anne Pocock. In 1871 and 1881 Richard and Elizabeth are still living in Castle Hill. Richard was to pass away on 1st March1883.
Richard Suter & Annesley Voysey, architects, had their office at number 35 Fenchurch Street, but they did not have it all to themselves as they shared the premises with W.C. Franks, a tea broker, who will get a separate post some other time. The earliest mention I found of Richard Suter in Fenchurch Street is in 1832 when he is listed at that address in a list of contributing members of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. It says that he had been a member since 1829, but that does not mean he was already at 35 Fenchurch Street in that year.(1) In fact, that seems unlikely as the Sun Fire Office records give Messrs. Short and Co., merchants, as paying the insurance premium on the premises in May 1830. The Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 give the year 1827, but I do not know on what evidence. When Suter and Voysey became partners is also uncertain, but they had known each other since at least 1825 as Suter is named as one of the executors of Voysey’s will which was dated 22 July, 1825. The address given for Suter in the will is Suffolk Street, Southwark. Voysey then lives at Conway Street, Fitzroy Square.