Sir Thomas Kitson

Thomas Kitson was a Sheriff of London and one of the wealthiest members of the Mercers’ and Merchant Adventurers’ Companies.

Kitson came to London as a youth and began his mercantile career as an apprentice to Richard Glasyer, the London mercer and merchant adventurer. Having obtained the freedom of the Mercers’ Company in 1507, he quickly rose through the ranks serving as warden (1525-1526) and master (1534-1535) of the company. In a meantime, Kitson was also elected a Sheriff of London for 1533-1534.

During his career, Kitson was able to develop the extensive mercantile network and business transactions. He dealt at the cloth fairs or staples held at Antwerp, Middelburg and elsewhere in Flanders.

Like other wealth merchants at the time, he had properties in London, Antwerp, in the counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset, as well as the manors of Hengrave in Suffolk and Colston Bassett in Nottinghamshire.

Kitson also built a splendid Hengrave Hall in Suffolk.