William Lambe,
PHILANTHROPIST,
Was a native of Sutton Valence. He was sometime a gentleman of the chapel to King Henry VIII, and a great favourite of that prince. He was a member of the Clothworkers' Company, "and among many other extensive charities, out of his great love of learning, and for the place where he was born, erected at his own cost and charges in 1578, a free Grammar School in the parish, for the education and instruction of youth, allowing yearly to the master £20, and £10 to the usher, and to the former a good house and garden to reside in." He also founded at Town Sutton six almshouses, having an orchard and gardens to them, for the benefit of six poor inhabitants, and allotted the sum of two pounds to be paid to each of them yearly. He died in the year 1580.
[See "Fuller's Worthies," "Stow's Survey of London," and "Hasted's Kent."]