[4] The manor was abandoned by his descendants during the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain, and the estate was sold to the Bridges family who had departed from their previous property at Grove House in Fulham, Middlesex.

The young couple stayed at Rowling house on the estate for several years before moving to nearby Godmersham and Jane was a regular guest at Goodnestone.

[5][6] In the 1840s, Sir Brook Bridges, 5th Baronet made alterations to the house, adding a grand portico and a new approach drive with a series of terraced lawns with central flights of steps.

The Goodnestone estate passed to the family of the sister of the 6th baronet, Eleanor Bridges, who had married the Reverend Henry Western Plumptre in 1828.

However, significant alterations were made around 1790 when a 3rd floor was added with plinth, plat band and cornice to the hipped roof with stacks to left and to right.

[8] The grand porch features Greek Doric columns, with solid side walls, adding during the development phase in the early 1840s.

[8] To the northern side there are 2 storeys with an attic with plinth, plat band and parapet to hipped roof, with 3 pedimented dormers and rear stack.

On both the northern and southern side of the house is a large pilaster strip buttress and shallow canted bay.

[8] Inside, Goodnestone House has a prominent main staircase located in the large hallway, with open string, enriched brackets, and paired balusters.

[8] The 3 eastern rooms of the property are believed to have been designed by Robert Mylne around 1770 with a central oval entrance hall with niches.

[10] In a survey conducted by The Daily Telegraph it was voted Britain's sixth favourite garden in and was a finalist in the 2009 Country Life Awards.