House & Family History: For most of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries Littleton was the seat of the Wood family. William IV is said to have stayed here on a number of occasions when friendly with Lady Caroline Wood. Circa 1900 the house was purchased and fully restored by Sir Richard Burbridge, managing director of Harrods department store, using timber from the original Houses of Parliament. In 1917, following Burbridge's death, Sir Edward Nicholl, a shipping tycoon and member of Parliament, bought the estate and lived there until 1928. In 1931 Norman Loudon, a Scottish businessman (Flicker Productions cameras and books) purchased Littleton Park, together with 60 acres of grounds, including a stretch of the River Ash, for £5,000. In 1932 he founded Sound City Film Producing & Recording Studios, and made two movies for MGM. In 1946 the studios were purchased by Sir Alexander Korda's British Lion Studio Company. In 1955, following insolvency, the company became British Lion Films Limited, under the National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC). In 1964 the government sold the studios to a group led by Michael Balcon, succeeded in 1965 by Lord Goodman. In 1984 Lee International PLC purchased the studios. In January 1995 a consortium led by the Scott brothers, Ridley and Tony, acquired Shepperton for about £12 million. In 2001 it was purchased by the Pinewood Studios Group (at Heatherden Hall) for perhaps £35 million and was floated, as Pinewood Shepperton plc, on the London Stock Exchange. In 2005 the company acquired Teddington Studios.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 18, 1854.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Wood family, 17th century until 1876. Sir Richard Burbridge, circa 1900-17. Sir Edward Nicholl, 1917-28. Norman Loudon, 1931-46.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: Littleton is part of Shepperton Studios, owned by Pinewood Studios Group, and used as offices and for film location filming.

House Open to Public: No

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://pinewoodgroup.com/

Historic Houses Member: No