Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1684 to 1844. Country house built circa 1704, probably to designs by Robert Mylne. Altered and enlarged in the late 18th century and again in 1838 and 1844, the later two phases to designs by Rickman and Hussey. Built of red and blue brick with some bright red dressings and ashlar and render dressings with a slate roof.

Monument Types

• FORMAL GARDEN (FORMAL GARDEN, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• HOUSE (HOUSE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• LANDSCAPE PARK (LANDSCAPE PARK, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TERRACE (Ornamental Terrace, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TREE AVENUE (TREE AVENUE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• WALL (WALL, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1684 AD to 2050 AD)
• FORMAL GARDEN (FORMAL GARDEN, Modern - 1901 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Description from record TR 25 SE 24 :
(TR 25355436) Goodnestone House (NAT) (1) II* Goodnestone House On the Salvage List called Goodnestone Park. The ground and first floors were built in the early C.18 by Brook Bridges who died in 1717. The second floor was added and alterations effected in the late C.18 by his great grandson, Sir Brook Bridges, third Baronet, who died in 1791. Now flats. 3 s. 9 w. Red brick and grey headers. Stone stringcourse, cornice, parapet and w. surrounds. Hipped slate roof. Gl. bars intact. The 5 centre w. bays of the east and west fronts project slightly with an ashlar ped. over. The west or entrance front also has a deep central projection of the height of 2 s. ending in a massive stone portico of 4 fluted Doric cols. standing on 2 steps with a triglyph frieze and ped over. Doorway in stone architrave surround with projecting cornice over and double doors of 8 moulded panels. Small mod. projection at the north west angle. The east front has a cartouche with supporters and acoronet in the ped., architraves over the first fl. ws. and peds. above the 3 centre ones. Central doorway flanked by stone pilasters with a roundheaded w. on each side also flanked by pilasters with a continuous cornice over the whole. To the north is a recessed service wing of lower elevation, 2 s. and attic, 5 w. and 3 pedimented dormers. The interior has French marble chimney pieces. (2) KENT GOODNESTONE PARK DOVER GOODNESTONE TR2554 II* G414 C18 landscape park, with farmland and woodland, c.1000ha, with C19/C20 garden of 3 1/2 ha beside the house. Goodnestone House built c.1704 for Brook Bridges on site of older building, altered and enlarged late C18 for Sir Brook Bridges, third Baronet. Entrance and approach drive originally on eastern side, moved to western side of house 1844-45 by Rickman and Hussey for Sir Brook William Bridges. Stables and offices adjacent to north, and walled kitchen garden complex of c.2ha, mainly C18 extending 250m further north as far as the churchyard of Holy Cross Church. Dower House C15, altered C18, 150m north-north-east of Goodnestone House and forming part of eastern enclosure of walled garden. The Well House, C17, 30m west of south-west corner of walled garden, demolished 1965. C19 lodge 400m south-west of Goodnestone House.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
GOODNESTONE THE STREET TR 25 SE (West side) 3/89 Goodnestone Park 13.10.52 (formerly listed as Goodnestone House) GV II* House. Circa 1704 for Brook Bridges, altered c.1790, probably to designs by Robert Mylne c.1770, and 1838 and 1844 by Rickman and Hussey all for Bridges family. Red and blue brick with some bright red brick dressings and ashlar and rendered dressings with slate roof. Entrance front: Originally the house was 2 storeys, raised to 3 c.1790, with plinth, plat band and cornice to hipped roof with stacks to left and to right. Nine bays, the centre 5 in projecting centre piece with pediment. Nine half- sized glazing bar sashes on top floor, and 6 full sized on first and ground floors, all with heavy stone surrounds, with large pedimented Greek Doric porch, with solid side walls behind screen. South Elevation: large pilaster strip buttress and shallow canted bay as also on north elevation both extending full height. East front: the original entrance front, 3 storeys. 9 bays, all glazing bar sashes with heavy stone surrounds, the centre 5 projecting with pediment enriched with arms of Sir Brook Bridges after 1842. The central 3 glazing bar sashes on the first floor are pedimented. Central triple arcaded entry on ground floor, with cornice on pilasters and 2 semi- circular headed glazing bar sashes flanking double half glazed doors. Side wing to right (north), 2 storeys and attic with plinth, plat band and parapet to hipped roof, with 3 pedimented dormers and rear stack. Five glazing bar sashes on each floor with a forecourt enclosed by a wall in English bond brickwork. Interior: fine main staircase, in spacious stair hall, with open string, enriched brackets, paired balusters, alternately fluted and barley sugar enriched square newels, column-type balusters on half-landings, with swept and ramped handrail, and ramped raised and fielded dado panelling. Suite of 3 eastern rooms probably by Robert Mylne, c.1770 with central oval entrance hall with niches and painted with drops of flowers and antique style decoration, and flanking rooms with bowed ends (expressed in the exterior bows). The house was the seat of Sir Brook Bridges, whose daughter Elizabeth married Jane Austen's brother Edward in 1791. Jane Austen was a frequent guest, especially from 1791 to 1797, and the house and estate figure prominently in her correspondence and undoubtedly also in her work. (See B.O.E. Kent II, 1983, 335; See also The Field, May 4 1985; see also house guide, George Plumptre, 1979; see also G. Holyoake, Bygone Kent, 3/5/May 1982)
Listing NGR: TR2541554411 (4)

Historic England archive material: BF082390 GOODNESTONE HOUSE, GOODNESTONE File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

<1> OS 1:10000 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE48163.

<2> DOE (HHR) Dist. of Eastry R.D., Kent. Sept. 1960 17 (OS Card Reference). SKE40438.

<3> Reg of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic interestin Eng Eng Heritage part 24 Kent 1987 (OS Card Reference). SKE49131.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading