Bridge Place 1545 C1680 1638 1638 C1680 1704 1823 on site of ancient Court Lodge Garwintons of Bekesbourne owned it, the last of whom was Thomas Garwinton who died in the 11th year of the reign of Henry lVth (C1411). Bridge Place went to a daughter of his by marriage to the Hauts of Hautbourn and by another female of that name to the Isaaks, who had also some estate here many ages before that. From this family part of it went somehow to the Lawrences. Henry Lawrence held the court lodge in the 36th year of the reign of Henry VIII about the middle of Queen Elizabeths reign they both joined in a sale of it to William Patrick Esq; grandfather to Sir Edward who parted with it and the manor to Mr Arnold Braeme of Dover. was the property of Sir Edward Partherich (Patrick?) and his wife. Manor of Blackmansbeny bought by Sir Arnold Braems from Partherich. Braems was from a family out of Flanders, ie Flemish. His father(Charles) was a merchant in Dover. Sir Arnold was elected MP for Dover in 1660 and was knighted at Canterbury on May 27th 1660 for services to King Charles II. He pulled down the ancient Court Lodge and built Bridge Place. Bankrupted himself by so doing. Built of handmade Dutch bricks brought over from Holland and landed in Sandwich. Died at Bridge Place in 1681. Married first Joanna, 2nd daughter of Walter Henflete (or Septvans) of Bekesbourne, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Dudley Digges, Master of the Rolls, & thirdly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer, of Wingham,Bart. During his life Bridge Place often visited by the artist Cornelius Janssen. Nov 15th 1660 Samuel Pepys records a meeting with Sir Arnold Brames, “And did myself walk homewards (hearing that Sir W Pen was gone before in a coach) to overtake him and with much ado at last did in Fleet Street, and there I went in to him, and there was Sir Arnold Brames, and we all three to Sir W Batten’s to dinner, be having a couple of servants married today” They all had dinner and then made ofietings of money - Pepys gave 10 shillings & thought most of the others gave more. Dec 27th1660 Pepys diary:— “This afternoon there came in a strange lord to Sir William Batten’s by a mistake and enters discourse with him, so that we could not be rid of him till Sir Arn. Breames and Mr Bens and Sir W. Penn fell a-drinking to him till he was drunk, and so sent him away.” Oct 5th 1661 Pepys diary-”And at night Sir W.Penn and I alone to the Dolphin, and there eat some bloat-herrings and drank good sack. Then came in Sir W Warren and another and staid a while with us, and then Sir Arnold Brames, with whom we staid late and till we had drunk too much wine. Subsequently owned by his son, Colonel Walter Braems who died in 1692- heirs could not afford it’s upkeep. In the 17th century it was the largest country house in East Kent after Chilham castle — had a large deer park and aviary. visited by the artist Schellinke. Described the house as containing, in addition to Braems’s own fine residence, a large number of rooms, chambers, halls and other good appartments. The grounds were ‘very well kept pleasure grounds with fruit trees, well watered by a fast flowing stream of wonderfully clear sweet water, (the Nailbourne). This splits up into several branches and rivulets; also some fish ponds in which trout is bred. There are also some vineyards. .. also a brewery, bakery, wine—press, hop garden, barns, stables, oxen, cows, sheep, pigs, geese, ducks ....’ sold to John Taylor of Bifrons by Sir Thomas Braems- pulled it all down apart from one wing. Held by the Taylor family until ..... .. purchased by the Marquis of Conyngham. Bridge Place re-let after an auction of contents - belonged to Rev Hughes at this time.