Sir William Hewett

Born in Wales, Hewett made his fortune as a clothier in London and was knighted by the Queen Elizabeth. He was master of the Clothworkers’ Company in 1543 and the first member of the Clothworkers to reach the position of Lord Mayor (1559). As sheriff of London, he was charged with carrying out the sentences of execution upon Lady Jane Grey and her husband in 1553.

Hewett was known as a substantial property owner. He had a country house in Highgate, a manor in Essex and various manors and estates in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire which brought him an annual income of around £6,000 a year.

His only heir was his daughter Anne, which was allowed to marry to his apprentice who saved her from a drowning while she was a child. It was a quite democratic gesture as Anne had several affluent suitors. She inherited around £50,000 or over £3.8bn. in today’s terms.