+ 21st Baron FitzWalter (1914-2004)
Michael Rhodes
in 1295, died at his home, Goodnestone Park, Canterbury, Kent, 16
October, 2004, aged 90.
Fitzwalter Brook Plumptre was born 15 January, 1914, son of George
Beresford Plumptre (a younger brother of the 20th Baron), and was
educated at the Diocesan College, Cape Town, and Jesus College,
Cambridge (BA 1937).
Career: Justice of the Peace for Kent, 1949; Capt, The Buffs (Reserve),
served in World War II; a Governor of King's School, Canterbury.
He married in 1951, Margaret Melesina, daughter of Herbert Wm Deedes,
of that BLG family and descended from the Barons Ashtown, by whom he
had five sons, Julian, Henry, George, William and Francis.
Burke's says that with the death of the 20th Baron in 1932 the peerage
became dormant (Debrett says it fell into abeyance), and Fitzwalter
Brook Plumptre was, 28 May, 1953, summoned to Parliament by writ, on
the termination of the abeyance. (Why did the peerage become
dormant/abeyant when the 20th Baron had brothers living?)
The peerage now passes to his eldest son, Julian Brook Plumptre, b. 18
Oct, 1952.
Source: Daily Telegraph 18 Oct, 2004.
--
Michael Rhodes
Michael Rhodes wrote:
> The Baron FitzWalter, JP, 21st holder of a peerage of England created
> in 1295, died at his home, Goodnestone Park, Canterbury, Kent, 16
> October, 2004, aged 90.
He died on Thursday 14 Oct.
Michael Rhodes
Daily Telegraph 22 Oct, 2004
The 21st Lord FitzWalter, who has died aged 90, inherited one of
England's most venerable peerages, and was responsible for rebuilding
his family home, Goodnestone Park, in Kent.
When he moved into the elegant Queen Anne house with his young family
in 1955, it was not in the best repair, having been occupied by the
Armed Forces during the Second World War and then let to a tenant. Four
years later, a fire broke out which removed the roof, gutted the top
two floors and caused serious damage to the main rooms on the ground
floor, though the furniture and paintings were rescued.
FitzWalter's agent advised him to pull down the remains and build a
"sensible" modern house; but he ignored the advice, and over the next
18 months the property, which had been built by an ancestor, was
carefully reconstructed.
It was a source of quiet pride to him earlier this year when the house
celebrated its 300th anniversary.
FitzWalter Brook Plumptre's resolution in restoring the house was all
the more remarkable for the fact that he had been born far from Kent,
on January 15 1914, in the South African town of Barbiton, where his
father was serving as district commissioner.
The FitzWalters first came to England with William the Conqueror; they
included Robert FitzWalter who led the barons in forcing King John to
sign Magna Carta. Their barony, granted in 1295, is the third oldest
surviving title in the English peerage. It fell into abeyance in 1756,
and was only called out by Henry, the 20th baron, in 1924.
The niceties of lineage seemed of little consequence to young Brook
when he was sent to the Diocesan College at Cape Town; but after his
uncle Henry's death in 1932, when the title again went into abeyance
and his side of the family came directly in line to inherit, Brook's
father brought them back to the Goodnestone estate.
In 1935 Brook went up to Jesus College, Cambridge, to study Estate
Management, but he had little time to put his training into practice
before the outbreak of war. He joined the Buffs, with whom he went to
France in 1939 and took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk. After
serving in Britain he spent the latter part of the war in India.
On returning to England he started to farm, and in 1951 married
Margaret Deedes, the youngest sister of Lord Deedes. Following the
death of his father's older brother, who had been unable to inherit,
the abeyance of the peerage was terminated, and Brook succeeded as the
21st Baron FitzWalter.
He proved particularly outstanding as a breeder of Sussex beef cattle
during the 1970s and 1980s. In partnership with his wife he built up
the Deedstone herd (whose name was a combination of Deedes and
Goodnestone); it became one of the most renowned in the breed's
history.
However, the FitzWalters' most notable achievement was the restoration
and development of the gardens at Goodnestone Park, which are now among
the most admired in the country. Typically, Brook FitzWalter gave all
the credit to his wife, demonstrating a considerable degree of personal
modesty.
One Sunday, when the gardens were open to the public and he was working
with a rake and wheelbarrow, a visitor asked: "Who lives in the big
house?" Quite unabashed, he replied: "Someone called Lord FitzWalter."
FitzWalter played an active role within the Country Landowners'
Association, serving as a popular president of the Kent branch. He was
also for many years both a magistrate and a governor of The King's
School, Canterbury.
A quiet countryman at heart, he most enjoyed local affairs and the
village life of Goodnestone, in which he was deeply involved for nearly
60 years.
Brook FitzWalter, who died on October 14, is survived by his wife and
five sons. The eldest, Julian (born in 1952), succeeds as the 22nd Lord
FitzWalter.
Don
Would you have any information about the sons of Baron FitzWalter? Are
they married and do they have any children? I would be interested in
knowing more about them.
Thank you,
Don Kuchison
Michael Rhodes
Don, the eldest son, Julian, now 22nd Baron, married in 1988, (Alison)
Sally Quiney, and they have 3 sons, Edward, Tom and Max.
The second son Henry, married in 1981, Susie Payne, and has issue.
The 3rd son, George, married in 1984, Alexandra, daughter of Prince
Michael Cantacuzene, Count Speransky, and has issue.
The fourth son, William, married in 1991, Joanna Dargue, and has issue.
The fifth son, Francis Plumptre, is I think, single.
--
Michael
Don
Thank you so very much for the information, Michael. It is most
helpful. I did do a search and found bits and pieces of information
about the sons, but your assistance completed the information. Francis
is married and has two children. Thanks again for taking the time to
find the information for me.
Take care,
Don