Goodnestone Park

Goodnestone Park is a house dating from circa 1704, originally built for Brook Bridges. It was altered around 1790, likely with designs by Robert Mylne circa 1770, and subsequently in 1838 and 1844 by Rickman and Hussey, all for the Bridges family. The house is constructed of red and blue brick, with some bright red brick dressings, and ashlar and rendered dressings, all topped with a slate roof.

The entrance front was originally two storeys, raised to three circa 1790, and features a plinth, plat band, and cornice to a hipped roof with stacks to the left and right. There are nine bays, with the central five bays projecting and topped by a pediment. The top floor has nine half-sized glazing bar sashes, while the first and ground floors have six full-sized sashes. These windows are set within heavy stone surrounds, and a large, pedimented Greek Doric porch with solid side walls stands at the centre.

The south elevation has a large pilaster strip buttress and a shallow canted bay, mirrored on the north elevation and extending the full height of the building. The east front, the original entrance front, is also three storeys with nine bays, all with glazing bar sashes and heavy stone surrounds. The central five bays project with a pediment bearing the arms of Sir Brook Bridges, added after 1842. The central three first-floor windows are pedimented, and the ground floor features a central triple arcaded entry with cornices on pilasters, flanked by two semi-circular headed glazing bar sashes leading to a double half-glazed door.

A two-storey side wing is attached to the right (north), with a plinth, plat band, parapet to a hipped roof, three pedimented dormers, and a rear stack. The wing has five glazing bar sashes on each floor. A forecourt is enclosed by a wall constructed in English bond brickwork.

Inside, a fine main staircase is located within a spacious stair hall. It has an open string, enriched brackets, paired balusters, alternately fluted and barley sugar enriched square newels, column-type balusters on the half-landings, a swept and ramped handrail, and a ramped raised and fielded dado panelling. A suite of three eastern rooms, perhaps designed by Robert Mylne circa 1770, includes a central oval entrance hall with niches and painted floral and antique style decoration. Flanking rooms have bowed ends, reflected in the exterior bows.

Goodnestone Park was the seat of Sir Brook Bridges, and his daughter Elizabeth married Edward Austen, brother of Jane Austen, in 1791. Jane Austen was a regular guest from 1791 to 1797 and the house and estate are prominent in her correspondence, and likely influenced her work.