Before becoming a wedding venue in Surrey, Kingswood Manor was once a stately home. The story starts in 19th century USA, and was where a German immigrant, Claus Spreckels, made his fortune. He founded the California Sugar Refinery before moving to Hawaii in 1876. Claus supplied sugar cane for the domestic market and went on to create the Spreckels Sugar Company.
Claus was extremely wealthy and gave over $25 million to his five grown children. Claus was most fond of his daughter Emma Claudine, and this was reflected in the gifts he gave her. Emma Claudine was bequeathed an entire city block in Honolulu as well as an endowment of just under $2 million.
In 1893 Emma married Thomas Palmer Watson. Thomas was a grain broker from Yorkshire who was considerably older than Emma Claudine. As a result, Thomas didn’t approve of the coupling and was left in the dark when the marriage ceremony happened.
Claus reminded Emma Claudine of her generous endowment, so Emma returned it. However the damage was done, and Claus’s prominent position in high society prompted the newly wed couple to flee to England.