Richard Lyster

Sir Richard Lyster was Judge and the Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Henry VIII and Chief Baron of the King’s Exchequer from 1546-1552. He married Isabel, the widow of Sir John Dawtrey (collector of customs under Henry VII) and lived with her in the building which is now known as the Tudor House Museum.

He attended Queen Anne Boleyn’s coronation, riding in the procession beforehand. He also took part in the trial of Sir Thomas More and was Henry VIII’s divorce lawyer.

During the Reformation he was accused of allowing Roman Catholic masses but this was not illegal in 1547.

Following his first wife’s death, he married again. Richard Lyster died in 1553 and in 1567 and his widow erected a tomb to him in St. Michael’s church.