User:Carcharoth/Article incubator/Star and Garter

Notes for an article on the Star and Garter Home (formerly Hotel) in Richmond, London, UK (possibly two articles). Several places refer to the hotel as "famous", and it is certainly more famous than I had realised.

Article organisation

 * Keep articles on Hotel and Home separate (they are different buildings and need different categories, although the former was on or near the same site as the latter)
 * For the Hotel, consider disambiguation issues
 * For the Home, consider how to cover the Charity aspects

Searches

 * 119 hits in ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Guardian and The Observer (1791-2003) for "Star and Garter Home"
 * 337 hits in ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Guardian and The Observer (1791-2003) for "Star and Garter Hotel" (some of these will be other Star and Garter hotels)
 * 342 hits on NewsUK (regional and national papers back to 1991) for "Star and Garter Home"
 * 16 hits on NewsUK (regional and national papers back to 1991) for "Star and Garter Hotel" (some of these will be other Star and Garter hotels)
 * 1005 hits on The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985 for "Star and Garter Home"
 * 441 hits on The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985 for "Star and Garter Hotel" (some of these will be other Star and Garter hotels)

Star and Garter Hotel

 * 441 hits on The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
 * Notice of sale of the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond: The Times, Monday, Aug 12, 1839; pg. 8; Issue 17118; col C
 * Account of a banquet held by the Irish Society to mark the Earl of Lincoln retiring from the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland: The Times, Thursday, Jul 02, 1846; pg. 5; Issue 19278; col E
 * Public dinner for a charity called The Scottish Hospital (today known as the Royal Scottish Corporation) : The Times, Thursday, May 06, 1847; pg. 3; Issue 19542; col F
 * Ex-Royal Family of France (Count de Neuilly and Countess de Neuilly) stayed there recovering from some sort of lead poisoning from the water pipes at Claremont House (the Count and Countess of Neuilly refers to Louis-Philippe I, King of the French and Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, the former King and Queen of France, living in exile in Britain): The Times, Saturday, Nov 18, 1848; pg. 5; Issue 20024; col C and The Times, Monday, Jan 29, 1849; pg. 4; Issue 20085; col F (the stay was several months long and the group consisted of 88 people occupying between 50 and 60 apartments)
 * Visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to meet the "illlustrious exiles" (the ex-French Royal family), stated to be the Queen's first visit to Richmond for "many years past" and the whole visit sounds very regal and impressive (though sadly the ex-French King would die that August): The Times, Wednesday, Mar 06, 1850; pg. 8; Issue 20429; col A
 * More visits (by the "Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha" and the "Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary") to the ex-French Queen ("Queen Marie Amelie") - by this time the ex-King had died, though the ex-Queen continued to live here for many years in her exile, spending a fair amount of time at this hotel it seems: The Times, Friday, May 27, 1859; pg. 8; Issue 23317; col B
 * Bertie and Queen Vic went to visit Amelie again (with six others named in the article): The Times, Monday, May 30, 1859; pg. 10; Issue 23319; col D
 * Legal arrangements concerning the estate of Joseph Ellis, late proprietor of the hotel: The Times, Saturday, Jul 14, 1860; pg. 11; Issue 23672; col B
 * Details of the slate used for the hotel: The Times, Saturday, Nov 18, 1865; pg. 5; Issue 25346; col A
 * The ninth Cholmeleian Society dinner (see Highgate School) was held here on 29 June 1868: The Times, Saturday, May 30, 1868; pg. 3; Issue 26138; col A
 * Annual dinner of the officers of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders: The Times, Friday, Jun 05, 1868; pg. 12; Issue 26143; col F
 * The Fishmongers' Company had a dinner here (long account and list of names): The Times, Tuesday, Jul 14, 1868; pg. 12; Issue 26176; col A
 * Another confluence of the great and good of European minor and not-so-minor nobility (Prince Auguste of Saxe Coburg Gotha and his wife Princess Leopoldina of Brazil and their three children (we have an article on one of them here - the family had travelled from Brazil for the health of the young princess, but sadly she died 2 years later aged 23); the "Orleans family at Twickenham" probably refers to various surviving children of the ex-King and Queen of France (who had both died by this time); there was also a Baron Itahuma, and the Lietzes; but then they all went off to join others at St Leonard's-on-the-sea to take the sea air and to bathe daily in the sea): The Times, Monday, Sep 20, 1869; pg. 5; Issue 26547; col F
 * And finally we arrive at the big fire! The Times article has more details than the Sydney article mentioned elsewhere on this page. This article includes details of the fire brigades and the cost of the damage: The Times, Thursday, Jan 13, 1870; pg. 5; Issue 26646; col C
 * And a letter from one of those rescued giving yet more details: The Times, Monday, Jan 17, 1870; pg. 10; Issue 26649; col F
 * A rather macabre account of attempts to locate and identify the remains of Lever, the manager who died in the fire (the reference to the Board of Directors confirms that there was a company running the place): The Times, Tuesday, Jan 18, 1870; pg. 10; Issue 26650; col C
 * By March, the company had agreed to open the hotel for the forthcoming season (the bits that were left): The Times, Friday, Mar 11, 1870; pg. 11; Issue 26695; col A
 * Also in March, Lever's remains were found by workmen clearing the ruins: The Times, Tuesday, Mar 15, 1870; pg. 8; Issue 26698; col B
 * Account of the inquest and of the escape of the third person (Mingey, the cellarman); verdict was accidental death: The Times, Saturday, Mar 19, 1870; pg. 12; Issue 26702; col D
 * Advert saying the hotel was now open: The Times, Saturday, Jun 11, 1870; pg. 5; Issue 26774; col A
 * Banquet to celebrate a loan for the Honduras Interoceanic Railway, thrown by the "Honduras minister" (Don Carlos Gutierrez, who we have an article on here); this appears to have been a sordid tale of international loans and finances and money going missing: The Times, Monday, Jun 27, 1870; pg. 9; Issue 26787; col F
 * Those who took part in the fire rescue attempts received awards: The Times, Thursday, Jul 28, 1870; pg. 10; Issue 26814; col E
 * Lots of mentions in the legal columns for the company in 1871, including mention of liquidators - possibly bankruptcy?
 * And the hotel was sold at auction: mortgages of £31,000, sold for £2,700, for a total of £33,700: The Times, Thursday, Mar 30, 1871; pg. 7; Issue 27024; col A
 * The solicitors of the limited company explaining what had gone wrong with the transfer of the license between the failed company and the new one: The Times, Saturday, Apr 20, 1872; pg. 10; Issue 27356; col A
 * More insights into the history and wranglings of the companies, including dates and values of liquidations: The Times, Wednesday, Mar 19, 1873; pg. 11; Issue 27641; col A
 * Glyn and Brandram recitations mentioned (no article on Samuel Brandram, but we do have one on Isabella Glyn): The Times, Wednesday, Jul 09, 1879; pg. 10; Issue 29615; col E
 * Court dinner of the Founders' Company: The Times, Monday, Aug 04, 1879; pg. 7; Issue 29637; col E
 * Fundraising concert for Richmond Royal Hospital attended by the Duchess of Teck and the Duchess of Connaught:The Times, Monday, Dec 01, 1879; pg. 9; Issue 29739; col F
 * A "collation" of the British And Foreign Unitarian Association: The Times, Friday, Jun 10, 1881; pg. 7; Issue 30217; col F
 * The Atlantic Cable dinner: The Times, Thursday, Aug 06, 1885; pg. 10; Issue 31518; col D
 * Extensive description of the hotel company, the hotel (number of rooms and layout), and various valuations and salaries (this contains much useful information, even though it is people trying to raise money through the issuing of shares, so the writing is more than a bit promotional in nature); one of the named directors is Edward Temperley Gourley; : The Times, Wednesday, Jun 08, 1887; pg. 17; Issue 32093; col A
 * Sale of old wines and spirits from the hotel cellars: The Times, Tuesday, Jun 05, 1888; pg. 15; Issue 32404; col E
 * Lots of Tory politicians at a dinner in honour of Sir John Whittaker Ellis MP (this is the Ellis who became the first Mayor of Richmond's, whose father had owned the hotel, and whose brother had inherited it, though the hotel the dinner was held in was a different building as the old one had burnt down); others present included the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Teck, Sir W. T. Marriott (MP), the Hon. P. Greville Nugent (probably Patrick Emilius John Greville-Nugent, 6 August 1852–1925, one of the sons of Fulke Greville-Nugent, 1st Baron Greville), Sir F. Burdett (probably Sir Francis Burdett, 7th Baronet, 1813-1892), Sir E. Hertslet (Sir Edward Hertslet, 1824-1902 - ODNB); Sir H. W. Peek, Captain Selwyn (MP), Mr J. Bigwood (MP), and Mr A. Chancellor: The Times, Tuesday, Jul 17, 1888; pg. 5; Issue 32440; col G
 * September 188 fire reported: The Times, Monday, Sep 10, 1888; pg. 9; Issue 32487; col G
 * The above "E. Herslet" (Sir Edward Herslet) is named as "provisional mayor" in a report on the celebrations of the incorporation of the Municipal Borough of Richmond; fete in Old Deer Park, dinner in the hotel, and fireworks display: The Times, Thursday, Jul 24, 1890; pg. 9; Issue 33072; col C and more details in The Times, Friday, Jul 25, 1890; pg. 13; Issue 33073; col D
 * Plans announced to hold large fete to celebrate 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation: The Times, Wednesday, Jul 15, 1891; pg. 9; Issue 33377; col E
 * Swiss Festival held on 21/07/1891, with music from the Seebold family (probably related to Carl Adolf Seebold): The Times, Wednesday, Jul 22, 1891; pg. 5; Issue 33383; col F
 * The Duchess of Albany (Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont) making school presentations at the pavilion at the hotel, along with Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff; also present was the Duchess's 8-year-old daughter, Pricess Alice): The Times, Thursday, Oct 01, 1891; pg. 4; Issue 33444; col E
 * The Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and his wife stayed at the hotel for a few days: The Times, Friday, Oct 14, 1892; pg. 7; Issue 33769; col F
 * Antonio Mella, proprietor of the hotel, died around 17th August 1892, and a notice appeared in The Times describing how and by when claims should be made against Mella's estate, pursuant to a ruling at the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division (Mella was mentioned in the earlier advert in 1887 as a potential manager of the hotel): The Times, Monday, Dec 12, 1892; pg. 15; Issue 33819; col A
 * Public dinner in aid of Richmond Hopsital ("Princess May's Ward for Children") presided over by the Duke of Cambridge: The Times, Thursday, Apr 27, 1893; pg. 5; Issue 33936; col F, with further details in The Times, Friday, Apr 28, 1893; pg. 10; Issue 33937; col F; and another banquet on 18 November: The Times, Wednesday, Oct 02, 1895; pg. 7; Issue 34697; col D
 * Only an incidental mention of the hotel, but an interesting article on Richmond Lock and Footbridge: The Times, Saturday, Jul 08, 1893; pg. 15; Issue 33998; col D
 * Duchess of Teck opened a bazaar at the hotel in aid of the Missions to Seamen on 13th March: The Times, Thursday, Feb 07, 1895; pg. 5; Issue 34494; col G
 * Richmond High School prizes distributed by the Bishop of Salisbury: The Times, Tuesday, Jul 02, 1895; pg. 6; Issue 34618; col E
 * An "Abercrombie Castle" was director of this hotel and one in Bond Street, though this being stated in an advert for The Oban Palace Hotel And Hydropathic Company Limited gives some idea of the level of business discourse: The Times, Monday, Dec 07, 1896; pg. 15; Issue 35067; col A
 * The wife of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar opened a bazaar at the hotel for the Church of England's Waifs and Strays Society on 25 February: The Times, Tuesday, Jan 12, 1897; pg. 7; Issue 35098; col F; more details here (quite a grand occasion, with the Prince opening the bazaar on the second day, and a related royal Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein opened it on the first day): The Times, Wednesday, Feb 24, 1897; pg. 10; Issue 35135; col A; and again here: The Times, Thursday, Feb 25, 1897; pg. 10; Issue 35136; col B
 * Nice (if small) advert ("Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond-hill, S.W. - This historic hotel commands the loveliest views in the Kingdom. No London fog. Highest class cuisines and wines. Excellent stabling, horses, and carriages. Billiards. Chas. James - manager."): The Times, Thursday, Feb 11, 1897; pg. 2; Issue 35124; col A
 * International Congress of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers ended with a dinner and fete at the hotel, with a band from the Royal Artillery playing in the gardens and fireworks: The Times, Monday, Jul 12, 1897; pg. 9; Issue 35253; col E
 * Second annual dinner of the British Association of Waterworks Engineers: The Times, Thursday, Jul 22, 1897; pg. 14; Issue 35262; col B
 * Following the death of the Duchess of Teck in October 1897, plans for a water fountain memorial announced (possibly near Star and Garter Hotel): [...]
 * Banquet for the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers: The Times, Wednesday, Jun 08, 1898; pg. 12; Issue 35537; col B
 * Banquet for Max Waechter attended by the Mayor and Mayoress on 16 April: The Times, Tuesday, Apr 16, 1901; pg. 7; Issue 36430; col E
 * Leopold de Rothschild chaired the inaugural banquet of the Richmond Horticultural Society: The Times, Thursday, Nov 28, 1901; pg. 6; Issue 36624; col B
 * Mayoral banquet by Mayor Aldin: The Times, Saturday, Dec 21, 1901; pg. 16; Issue 36644; col E (and again the following year: The Times, Saturday, Dec 06, 1902; pg. 6; Issue 36944; col C; and again in 1903: The Times, Tuesday, Oct 27, 1903; pg. 6; Issue 37222; col B; and one in 1905: The Times, Wednesday, Oct 18, 1905; pg. 7; Issue 37841; col F)
 * Princess Louise and the Duke of Argyll at the annual meeting for the National Society for the Protection of Young Girls : The Times, Saturday, Jul 07, 1906; pg. 13; Issue 38066; col A
 * However, the end was nigh... "Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond-hill, for sale, by auction, 25th June 1907" (includes a picture of the hotel): The Times, Monday, May 20, 1907; pg. 13; Issue 38337; col B (another entry said the auction was 'specially reported' in The Times, but that report didn't come up in any searches)
 * Reception following the marriage of Harold Kaye: The Times, Thursday, Sep 10, 1908; pg. 9; Issue 38748; col A
 * Ham and Petersham Rifle Club dinner attended by Prince Alexander of Teck and his wife  Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone: The Times, Wednesday, Oct 07, 1908; pg. 13; Issue 38771; col E
 * The report on the second auction of 6th April 1909 (nice description, but dismal failure as no-one was interested): The Times, Wednesday, Apr 07, 1909; pg. 14; Issue 38927; col B (which says that the "history of the house was described in The Times of Monday" - another missing search result!)
 * Disposed of privately in 1911: The Times, Saturday, Sep 02, 1911; pg. 5; Issue 39680; col G
 * Various obscure annual dinners not noted here, such as the National Orphan Home, which is probably more notable than the Angling Preservation Society or the Solicitors' Benevolent Association - there was also a Star and Garter Hotel Company on the stock market, but which hotel this is for is not stated - it is probably the "limited company" mentioned as building new parts of the hotel in 1864, especially as one of the reports mentioned the building work of 1864 - but need to find out why the Dickens dinner is not mentioned - maybe it was private and not publicised, or maybe need to search for "Star & Garter Hotel"? Also a nice account of a polo match in Richmond Park, the first played there, with the players and their friends dining at the Star and Garter Hotel, in around 1872. The rebuilding in 1873/4 appears to not be mentioned in The Times. Unrelated but fascinating is how much news of the German Emperor is published in the Court Circulars of The Times in late-19th century Victorian Britain, even given that the royal families were related.

The remaining references are more to do with the Home than the Hotel Good place to stop (further references - still 115 hits left - will now be to the home or other hotels and should be picked up in other searches)
 * Key article on the gift made of the hotel to the Queen by the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute (the article mentions Queen Alexandra, so care needs to be taken over distinguishing the roles of Alexandra and Mary - but note that people are now 'motoring' rather than taking horses and carriages) - sum quoted was £25,000 for the freehold - other names mentioned include Sir Frederick Treves and Sir Howard Frank: The Times, Monday, Aug 09, 1915; pg. 11; Issue 40928; col C
 * Mentioned again and Queen Alexandra mentioned again (extra figure of £30,000 to refurbish the hotel): The Times, Tuesday, Aug 10, 1915; pg. 9; Issue 40929; col C
 * Details of the work progressing: The Times, Friday, Jan 14, 1916; pg. 11; Issue 41063; col A
 * Article on the Home here (mention of £50,000 for construction and architect of Giles Gilbert Scott): The Times, Wednesday, Jan 19, 1916; pg. 5; Issue 41067; col B
 * The mention here is clearly Queen Mary, not Queen Alexandra, as two of her children are with her (Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood and Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester): The Times, Thursday, Sep 16, 1915; pg. 11; Issue 40961; col B
 * Interesting details of the fundraising: The Times, Tuesday, Sep 21, 1915; pg. 11; Issue 40965; col E
 * Figure of "little under £20,000" given here (plans to convert into a residential hotel with adjoining restaurant): The Times, Monday, Sep 04, 1911; pg. 9; Issue 39681; col E
 * Another feature article (several interesting details, including that of the past history of the hotel and an offhand reference to Jean-de-Dieu Soult visiting the hotel back in the days of Thackeray and George Meredith and Dickens, when Ellis ran the establishment): The Times, Thursday, Mar 16, 1916; pg. 11; Issue 41116; col F
 * An argument in the courts over which "home" for disabled soldiers should get a bequest! Amazing: The Times, Friday, Nov 30, 1923; pg. 4; Issue 43512; col C
 * King and Queen visited the home and the Queen received the deeds to the property (includes reference to the first president, Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell, and that the patients were housed at Sandgate while the construction took place; also, lots of other names mentioned and description of the ceremony, or what the plans were for the ceremony - there is a mention of "Edwin Cooper", which is the architect Thomas Edwin Cooper, not the cricketer! - clearly the Giles Gilbert Scott plans were abandoned - article also contains details of the construction and architecture and what the different rooms were in the home): The Times, Thursday, Jul 10, 1924; pg. 11; Issue 43700; col B
 * And following the "what was planned" article in The Times, we now have the "what happened", plus quotes from the speech given by the King (details include Cooper's service being voluntary, the large crowds that attended the arrival of the King and Queen, then the speech, with the King referring to the Queen's childhood in White Lodge, and to the earlier fundraising efforts for the Royal Richmond Hospital - other people mentioned in the article as being present included May Whitty - the Cornwell Fund is mentioned - 180 patients - the British Women's Hospital Committee raised £220,000 - dedicated as the Women's Memorial of the War - dedication by Cyril Garbett, the Bishop of Southwark - plus another long list of grandees attending the dedication - but note that the only disabled there were former patients in wheelchairs (i.e. recovered and strong enough to leave) - the permanently disabled were still in Sandgate, to be transferred back in October): The Times, Friday, Jul 11, 1924; pg. 11; Issue 43701; col A

Pictures

 * Category of pictures on Commons
 * 1929 artwork

Hierarchy
Patron: President: Chairman: Several other roles (e.g. Vice-President, Commandant, Governor), not listed here. There are numerous Governors (many without articles).
 * First Patron was Queen Mary (1916-1953)
 * Current Patron is Queen Elizabeth II (from 1953)
 * President is HRH Princess Alexandra (since 1964)
 * John Salmond (in 1937)
 * William Henry Bennett (1852-1931), Chairman of the "Star and Garter Home, Richmond and Sandgate" (Who's Who 2010) - also says "Relinquished all private affairs during the War 1914–19 to take up work with British Red Cross and Order of St John", so he might have been heavily involved in the early years, before it became a charity in 1922.
 * Arthur Stanley chairman of the board of governors from 1922 (when the Star and Garter Home became a charity) until 1946 (ODNB)
 * Alexander Hood (British general) (1888-1980), chairman of Star and Garter Home in 1948 (Who's Who 2010)
 * John Cotesworth Slessor, Chairman of Star and Garter Home 1953 to 1967 (Who's Who 2010)
 * Caspar John (1903-1984), British admiral: "chairman of the Star and Garter Home for disabled servicemen ((1967-1972)" (Who's Who 2010)
 * Charles Henry Pepys Harington (1910-2007), British general: "chairman of the Governors of the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond for disabled ex-servicemen from 1972 to 1980" (Who's Who 2010)
 * Denis Frank Spotswood chaired "the Royal Star and Garter Home (1981–5)" (ODNB and Who's Who 2010)
 * John Stibbon, another chairman (in 1992), but Who's Who 2010 only says "Vice-President" 1996 onwards.
 * David Dobson, Chairman from 1999-2003 (The Times and Who's Who 2010)
 * Current Chairman is Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt KCB (from 2003) (Who's Who 2010)

More information

 * Richmond home opened 10 July 1924 (from 1916 to 1924, presumably in previous building which was the hotel)
 * Seaside branch in Sandgate, Kent (1919-1940)
 * New homes in: Solihull, West Midlands (August 2008); Hampton Court Station, Surrey (late 2013 - see here); and a third unidentified location (in Buckinghamshire)
 * Paraplegic ward during WWI set up by Ludwig Guttman, founder of Stoke Mandeville Hospital
 * Archery team from Star and Garter participated in the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 (precursor to the Olympics)
 * In 1991, Simon Weston appointed Ambassador
 * Other possible links: Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute, British Red Cross Society, British Women's Hospital Committee
 * Dennis Arthur Roberts, OBE for services to the Star and Garter Home
 * Anne Margaret Bryans, "governor and then president of the Royal Star and Garter Home (1975–87)" (ODNB) (Times obituary)
 * Thomas Edwin Cooper (architect), article in the ODNB has details of the building of the Star and Garter Home
 * John Travers Cornwell "£18,000 was raised in his memory for the Jack Cornwell ward of the Star and Garter Home for Disabled Servicemen at Richmond." (ODNB)
 * British Medical Journal (Local News), 23 January 1937: details of the 21st anniversary of the founding of the home (in 1916). States that the president was John Salmond.
 * War posters issued by belligerent and neutral nations 1914-1919 (1920): "15. BERNARD PARTRIDGE. HAVEN. STAR AND GARTER HOME. Poster of the British Women's Hospital Fund, appealing for subscriptions toward the expense of converting the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, into a home for men incurably disabled in the War." The poster (which was published in 1920) can be uploaded to en-Wikipedia, and is here. Can't be uploaded to Commons for another 5 years, as the artist (John Bernard Partridge) died in 1945.
 * Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall (1985-2003).
 * David Lewis Jacobs, Vice-President since 1988 (Who's Who 2010)
 * Edward Lake Gowlland, commandant of Star and Garter Home from 1924-1941 (Who's Who 2010)
 * 56 people listed in Who's Who with Star and Garter Home listed

Other articles

 * John Burn (1884-1958), British doctor: "Anaesthetist at the Star and Garter Home, Richmond"
 * Richmond Hill, London: "The former Royal Star and Garter Home for disabled ex-servicemen on top of the hill"
 * Richmond, London: "A commanding feature on the hill is the former Royal Star and Garter home. During World War I an old hotel on this site, which had been a popular place of entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries but had closed in 1906, was taken over and used as a military hospital. After the war it was replaced by this handsome building providing accommodation and nursing facilities for 180 badly injured servicemen. It was run as a charitable trust, and continues to be, but the trustees have concluded that the building does not now meet modern requirements and cannot be easily or economically upgraded. There are now plans to transfer the 180 patients to three separate sites in other locations, at least one of which they hope will be in or near Richmond. The future of this listed building is at present uncertain. Nearby is the factory, staffed mainly by disabled ex-servicemen and women, which produces the poppies sold each November for Rememberance Day."
 * George Frederick Martin: (1922-1991), British comedian: "In 1986, whilst writing for a new Keith Harris B.B.C. series, he suffered a massive stroke which robbed him of his speech and left him paralyzed on his right side. He spent his last years in the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond, Surrey. In 1992, the Water Rats produced an all star variety show in his memory, at the Churchill Theatre Bromley, the proceeds of which went to the home where he had spent his last years."
 * Nancy Wake (born 1912), British WWII spy: "As of 2009, she is living in The Star and Garter Home in Richmond, London."
 * List of organisations in the United Kingdom with a royal charter: "Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen"
 * List of organisations with a British royal charter: "26 June 1990 Royal Star and Garter Home" (but Star and Garter website says Royal Charter granted in 1979)
 * Elizabeth Bibesco (1897-1945), British writer and daughter of the Prime Minister Herbert Asquith: "In the same year [1916] she organized a large show of portraits by John Singer Sargent at the Grafton Galleries to aid the Art Fund and a "Poets' Reading" in aid of the Star and Garter Fund."
 * List of historic buildings and architects of the United Kingdom: "Sir Edwin Cooper (architect): [...] The Royal Star and Garter Home"
 * New Year Honours 2000: "Miss Jean Oliver, For services to the Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond, Surrey. (Richmond, Surrey)"

Chronology
The following sourced to The Original ‘Star and Garter’, Richmond Hill:
 * Land owned by the Earl of Dysart
 * Small inn built in 1738 by John Christopher (died 1758)
 * Inn rebuilt at a later date (not clear when this took place)
 * Private house built next to inn in 1780 and became part of the inn/hotel
 * More land leased from Earl of Dysart in 1803 to a Richard Brewer (died 1808)
 * Taken over by a Christopher Crean (died 1815) and reopened in 1809
 * Mortgaged in 1815 for £4000 and Crean's widow carried on running it
 * Sold in 1822 to pay off the mortgage and bought by Joseph Ellis (died 1858) for £11,022
 * During the 40+ years it was in the Ellis family, it was once again enlarged
 * In 1858, when Joseph Ellis died, the hotel passed to his son George
 * In 1864 a "limited company" purchased the hotel and a new block and banqueting hall were built (E. M. Barry)
 * 12th January 1870 a fire destroyed most of the hotel except the coffee rooms and banqueting hall
 * The banqueting hall became the hotel's "Grand Concert Hall"
 * Ruined area cleared in 1872
 * New pavilion with large ballroom built in the cleared space in 1873/4 (C. J. Phipps)
 * 1888 fire destroyed the coffee rooms
 * Decline in business "after Victorian era"
 * Auctioned in 1907 and 1909 (but failed to sell or offers were too low)
 * Purchased in 1909 for £18,000
 * Resold twice in 1911/1912
 * During this period, plans to refurbish or redevelop the hotel failed
 * Purchased in 1915 and presented to Queen Mary for use by soldiers paralysed in World War I
 * Demolished in 1919 and site used to build what is now the Royal Star and Garter Home

Much of the earlier history, though (with the exact same wording) seems to come from this book: The royal manor of Richmond with Petersham, Ham and Kew (1907), by N. D'Anvers (died 1933).

Information

 * The Original ‘Star and Garter’, Richmond Hill (Local History notes hosted by Richmond Council)
 * Dickens in Richmond upon Thames (includes details of his visits and celebrations at the hotel); more on Dickens here
 * Australian newspaper account of the fire
 * Samuel Brandram 1824–1892 gave a recital at the Star and Garter (ODNB)
 * Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet (1829-1912), British politician: "Sir John Whittaker Ellis was the 5th son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond, Surrey, from 1830 – 1847..."
 * Charles J. Phipps (1835-1897), British architect: ''"He also designed [...] the Star and Garter Hotel at Richmond (demolished in 1919)..."'
 * Edward Middleton Barry (1830-1880), British architect: "Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond Hill, London (additions, 1865)"
 * London 1899 chess tournament: "Participants were entertained by the City of London chess club at Crystal Palace and the Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond."
 * Various pictures (LOC, and other places, such as here, and here, and here, and a great image here, and another one here)
 * From here: "Twenty-Seventh Anniversary of The First Atlantic Cable. Mr. Cyrus W. Field's Banquet at the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, on August 5th, 1885.  London, 1886, Printed for Private Circulation; 32 pp.; wraps." A copy of the booklet is on the Internet Archive here.
 * Royal Canoe Club : "a group of interested gentleman who met in the Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond on the 25th July 1866 to form the Canoe Club"
 * Nationalism or Cultural Imperialism?: The Château Style in Canada, Rhodri Windsor Liscombe, Architectural History, Vol. 36, (1993), pp. 127-144 (has a brief mention of Barry's "Chateau" addition to the Hotel)
 * Millard Fillmore : Dinner menu: "A Dinner Given by Mr. Peabody at the Star and Garter [Hotel], Richmond [London], to the Honorable Millard Fillmore, Late President of the United States", June 25, 1855; includes clipping on the sculptor, Harriet Hosmer." (Peabody is almost certainly George Peabody).
 * 21 JULY, 1866, inaugural dinner of the Cobden Club, in memory of Richard Cobden and with a speech by William Gladstone.
 * A. E. W. Mason's novel At the Villa Rose, and the detective Hanaud, was thought up after dining at the hotel in 1905:
 * Illustrated London News - Vol 56, Jan - June - 1870: Star and Garter Hotel fire, Richmond [illustration] p96-8 (Ruins of the star and garter hotel at Richmond, illustration on Jan 22nd)
 * 27 July 1899 - nature 60, 297-301 - "An interesting gathering took place at the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, on Thursday last, when a number of friends joined with the members of the Physiological Society in giving a congratulatory dinner to Sir John Burdon-Sanderson, Bart., F.R.S., and Prof. Michael Foster, K.C.B., Sec.R.S., in honour of Her Majesty's recent recognition of the great services they have rendered to science."
 * "The Star and Garter inn was rebuilt as a chateau-like hotel in 1864 and in its early days played host to exiled crowned heads of Europe." - 'Richmond Hill, Richmond' entry in Chambers London Gazetteer, April 2006

Other Star and Garters

 * Lots of other Star and Garter hotels or inns (there were lots - it was a popular name for a hotel or inn)
 * A Star and Garter club in Pall Mall
 * Several references to a hotel in New Zealand:
 * There was also a hotel in Australia
 * There was one in Putney:
 * There was one in Richmond, later renamed the Petersham Hotel (given the date of 1930, this reference is probably to this hotel). The history of the name of the Petersham Hotel is given here.
 * One in Dumfermline as well
 * An example of a very old one : "The Star and Garter Hotel, nearly opposite the War Office, was a fashionable tavern in the time of Queen Anne. Here took place the famous duel between the fifth Lord Byron and Mr. Chaworth in 1765."
 * The one in Kew is mentioned here