At
some small distance from
Twickenham lay the villa of Marble Hall on the banks of the Thames.
George II built this house for his mistress, the Countess of Suffolk.
Plain on the outside, the interior was considerably pleasing and furnished
in elegant comfort.
According
to J Norris Brewer, Lady Suffolk was the daughter of Sir Henry Hobart,
and was first married to Mr Howard, afterwards Earl of Suffolk. "She
quitted the court about the year 1735, and uniformly passed her summers
at Marble Hall, living here in a very retired way. She was extremely
deaf for many years, but was an agreeable companion, and fertile in
court anecdote, which she communicated freely. On leaving the court
she married Mr George Berkeley."
