The Villiers Family

The Reverend Charles Villiers and Florence Mary Tyssen- Amherst were married in Swaffham, Norfolk, on 19th October 1860. Florence gave birth to nine children, three daughters and six sons. Three of those sons, Edward, Charles and Evelyn, served in the Great War.

After the death of her husband in 1893, Florence lived in St Alban’s, Hertfordshire, and by 1912 was renting Melton Hall from the Wood Family. Florence maintained a house in Melton for the rest of her life and, after Melton Hall, she lived at the Red Towers on Yarmouth Road where she died on 7th October 1927.

Edward Villiers’ son, John Michael (known as Michael), was born in 1907 and went on to follow in his father’s footsteps in the Royal Navy. By the end of his career, Michael had been knighted and achieved the rank of Vice-Admiral. Michael lived for many years at Decoy House in Melton. On his death in 1990, a memorial service was held in St Andrew’s Church. There is a memorial to him inside St Andrew’s Church room, the extension to which he and Lady Villiers provided funding towards.

Charles Hyde Villiers

Edward Cecil Villiers

Evelyn Fountaine Villiers