Bridges baronets

Escutcheon of the Bridges baronets of Goodneston, Kent (cr.1718), and Bridges, Baron FitzWalter (cr.1868)

The Bridges baronetcy, of Goodnestone in the County of Kent, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 19 April 1718 for Brook Bridges, son of the Treasury official Brook Bridges (1643–1717), Auditor of the imprests.

History

His son the 2nd Baronet died in 1733 as High Sheriff of Kent. His grandson, the 3rd Baronet, represented Kent in the House of Commons.

In 1842, the 5th Baronet, grandson of the 3rd Baronet, unsuccessfully claimed the ancient barony of FitzWalter (which had been in abeyance since 1756) as a descendant of Mary, sister of the 17th Baron FitzWalter. He later sat as a Member of Parliament for Kent East. In 1868 he was created Baron FitzWalter, of Woodham Walter in the County of Essex, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The peerage became extinct on his death.

The 5th Baronet was succeeded by his younger brother as 6th Baronet; on whose death the title passed to his first cousin, the 7th Baronet, son of the Rev. Brook Henry Bridges, third son of the 3rd Baronet. When he died this line of the family also failed and the title was passed on to his first cousin, the 8th Baronet, son of the Rev. Brook Edward Bridges, fourth son of the 3rd Baronet. He became a Jesuit missionary in India. He died unmarried and on his death in 1899 the baronetcy became extinct.

The seat of the Bridges family was Goodnestone Park in Kent. The house was built in 1704 by the 1st Baronet, before he held the title.

Bridges baronets, of Goodneston (1718)

• Sir Brook Bridges, 1st Baronet (1679–1728)
• Sir Brook Bridges, 2nd Baronet (1709–1733)
• Sir Brook William Bridges, 3rd Baronet (1733–1791).
• Sir Brook William Bridges, 4th Baronet (1767–1829)
• Sir Brook William Bridges, 5th Baronet (1801–1875) (created Baron FitzWalter in 1868)

Baron FitzWalter (1868)

• Brook William Bridges, 1st Baron FitzWalter (1801–1875)

Bridges baronets, of Goodneston (1718; reverted)

• Sir Brook George Bridges, 6th Baronet (1802–1890)
• Sir Thomas Pym Bridges, 7th Baronet (1805–1895)
• Sir George Talbot Bridges, 8th Baronet (1818–1899)

Extended family

After the death of the last Baronet in 1899 the Goodnestone Park house came into the Plumptre family through the marriage of Eleanor Bridges, daughter of the 4th Baronet, to Rev, Henry Western Plumptre. In 1924 the abeyance of the barony of FitzWalter was terminated in favour of the latter's grandson Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre, son of John Bridges Plumptre.

See also

• Baron FitzWalter

External links

• Goodnestone Park