Sutton House and Breaker's Yard

Sutton House is a Grade II* listed building located in Hackney, east London. Built around 1530 for Sir Ralph Sadler, a prominent statesman during the reign of Henry VIII, it is one of the few surviving examples of a Tudor house in inner London. The house has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries but retains many original features, including early brickwork, timber elements, and fireplaces.

The building was originally constructed in English bond brick with distinctive diaper work. In the early 1600s, alterations were made for Captain John Milward, including the addition of a staircase in the west wing and decorative strapwork wall paintings. Around 1700, further internal changes were made, including panelling and a new staircase with barley-twist balusters. During the mid-18th century, the house was divided into two dwellings, and the central section of the north façade was re-faced in brick. Later additions in 1904 gave the building its present courtyard plan and included new rear ranges.

The exterior of Sutton House reflects its long architectural history. The front (north) elevation features three storeys with a recessed central section and projecting wings. Windows are a mixture of 18th- and 20th-century sashes with red brick arches and decorative detailing. The east wing was rendered in the 19th century, and various reused Tudor elements can be found around the building, including doorways and stonework. The courtyard elevations and the rear of the house also display a combination of Tudor and Georgian features, with reset windows and brick arches.

Inside, Sutton House retains a rich mixture of period features. These include Tudor stone fireplaces with carved spandrels, early 18th-century panelling, original timber partitions, and C16 cellar recesses. The staircases span several eras, from an early 17th-century dog-leg stair with painted shields and ornate door surrounds, to an 18th-century open-well stair with ramped handrails. Elements such as garderobe chambers, service rooms, and reused structural timbers give insight into how the house evolved over time.

The house served a variety of uses after its division in the 18th century. In the late 19th century, it became St John’s Institute. It was purchased by the National Trust in 1938, funded through the W.A. Robertson Memorial Fund as one of nine war memorial acquisitions. A plaque inside the house commemorates this designation.

Sutton House is not only architecturally significant but also an important historic survival, offering a rare glimpse into domestic life in Tudor and post-medieval London. It remains open to the public under the care of the National Trust.

Created: 21  April  2025  Edited: 21  April  2025