The ground is named after Frederick William Lillywhite, one of the greatest bowlers of all time, who was the proprietor of the ground at a time when he lived in Brighton and ran the Royal Sovereign Inn in Preston Street.
[1] The first first-class match held at the ground came in 1839 when the Gentlemen of Sussex played the Marylebone Cricket Club.
[3] While in Brighton and trying to cash in on his fame, Lillywhite lost a large amount of money, a fact he blamed on his landlord.
In 1844 he left Brighton for London, after which cricket at the ground declined and ceased to be played.
[4] The ground was located roughly where Montpelier Crescent is today.