Gazette, April 12, 198!

 

Diary

  Will's historic legacy

ANOTHER fascinating
chapter in the strange

tale of a French
nobleman’s life and
death in Bridge has

opened with the
discovery of his will in
London.

Charles de Secondat, Baron
de Montesquieu. died at
Bridge in 1824.

He was the grandson of the
famous French philosopher
and had fled to England after
the horrors of the French
Revolution.

The baron was born in 1749,
fought in the American War
of Independence and was
decorated by George
Washington with the Cincin-

Charles Louis Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu. nat1Meda1_

After the war he returned
to France, but was so
disgusted by the Revolution
that he came to England in
1790.

He settled at Bridge Hill
House, just off the main road
near the present Highland
Court.

Although he briefly went
back to France after the
restoration of Louis XVIII, he
returned to Bridge and died
here.

In his will, he left his

estates to his godson in
Ireland. but also
remembered his servants

and the Canterbury hospital.

The village's unofficial
historian Mr John William-
son, who has been piecing
together the baron’s life and

..

times, says:f“He left £100 to
his coachman, the same
amounts to his waggoner and
to the Canterbury hospital."

Mr Williamson, of Beech-
mount, Conyngham Lane.
says he has been given a copy
of the will to ‘add to the
history he has on the village.

Researcher

It was given to him by a
London‘ researcher who
tracked it down in the Public
Records Office.

Mr. Williamson has been
researching the baron’s life
for many years.

In 1979 he welcomed to the '

village the baron’s descen-
dant. who lives at Chateau de
Labreade, near Bordeaux.
Two years ago Mr William-

son went to the moated
chateau.

The baron. who was a
Roman Catholic, is buried in
Bridge churchyard.

Mr illiamson says it was
unusual at that time for a per-
son of the Catholic faith to be
buried in a Protestant chur-
ch.

Just as unusual is a com-
memorative plaque inside the
church to the baron.

Another interesting fact
revealed by the will is the
restrictions it placed on the
baron’s family.

He asked to be buried in the
parish church of the place
where he died and ordered
that his funeral should not
cost more than £70. a great
deal of money in those days.

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