The Park at Goodnestone © PE Blanche 2001 The Church of Holy Cross from the walled garden © PE Blanche 2002

As I had already said on the page about the Church at Goodnestone, this is an "Estate Village" and this is the Estate. The actual house, as shown above, was originally built between 1700 and 1704 by Brook Bridges who had purchased the house from the Engeham family and a monument to Sir Edward Engeham and his family still remains in the nearby Church of the Holy Cross. The were two subsequent alterations by the 3rd and then the 5th Baronet including the moving of the entrance hall from the East side of the house to the West side during the last restoration. The work was carried out between 1844 and 1845 by Rickmann and Hussey of Birmingham who had remodeled the Church five years previously. Perhaps the 5th Baronet thought it better to try out this firm on the Church before starting on the house?!! Without going into a huge amount of detail, the house and grounds passed down through the family to the present day. The family had a close connection to the Fitzwalter family through marriage and in 1841, Sir Brook William tried to claim the ancient Barony of Fitzwalter. He was unsuccessful at that time but did later obtain the Fitzwalter name by letters patent in 1868 after a long and distinguished political career. However, he died without having any children and his brother who inherited the title, also had the same aversion to producing progeny. The title to the land passed to a sister who married into the Plumptre family and their Grandson was able to reclaim the Fitzwalter title in 1924. The title again became dormant after his death but was again reclaimed by his nephew in 1953. The third daughter of Sir Brooke Bridges, the 3rd Baronet, Elizabeth married Edward Austin in 1791. Edward was later to take the name Knight and was the eldest brother of Jane Austin. Edward and Elizabeth lived at Rowling, part of the Godmersham Estate and Jane was a regular visitor here. I have made reference on the page about the local Church that the gardens are open in the Spring and Summer and opening times are usually printed in the local newspapers. When I went there this Spring I arrived a little early and happened to meet Lord Fitzwalter as he was preparing to open for the day. He is obviously very proud of his gardens and quite rightly so.

See also: Holy Cross Church, Goodnestone.