Diary of Charlotte Anne Bridgeman

Personal diary of Charlotte Anne Bridgeman (1827-1858) written between 10 February 1846 and 6 June 1847 recounting tales of social engagements and leisure activities at their residences of Weston Park, Staffordshire and Castle Bromwich Hall, near Birmingham and their London home. Apart from a ten week period when abroad, Charlotte wrote daily entries in this diary giving details of the activities and movements of her immediate and extended family members which makes it a significant resource for historians of the Bridgeman family. Her observations and comments on society gatherings and members of her social circle provide an insight into the conventions of manners and etiquette at the time. Charlotte's descriptions of the family's engagements and leisure activities, usually with complete guest lists for house parties in which the names of significant public figures often appear, form a revealing picture of the social life of landed and aristocratic families in the mid 19th century.

Lady Charlotte Anne Bridgeman (1827-1858), was the third daughter of George Augustus Frederick Henry Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford (1789-1865) and his first wife, Georgina Elizabeth Moncreiffe (1790-1842). The main seat of the Bradford family was Weston Park, Staffordshire, but they were also resident at Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire. Charlotte's eldest brother, Orlando George Charles Bridgeman (1819-1898), Viscount Newport, married Selina Louisa Weld Forester in 1844 and became the 3rd Earl of Bradford in 1865. Charlotte had at least two other brothers, George Thomas Orlando (1823-1895) and John Robert Orlando (1831-1897) both of whom became clergymen. Charlotte had two sisters, Lady Mary Selina Louisa (1830-1889) and Lady Lucy Caroline Bridgeman, to whom she was very close, usually attending social functions together, having mutual friends and sharing interests and pastimes such as archery, music and the new invention of photography. During the 1850s the sisters became keen photographers and examples of their work, mainly photographs of family members and friends survive today. In 1858 Charlotte and Lucy died within days of each other as a result of a tragic accident at the family home of Weston Park when Lucy's dress caught fire and in trying to save her sister, Charlotte was also fatally injured. Lucy died from her burns 26 November 1858 and Charlotte a few days later on 3 December. They were both buried in the parish church of St Andrew next to the family home.

Source: Alumni Cantabrigienses : a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge, from the earliest times to 1900 / compiled by J. A. Venn. Part 2, From 1752 to 1900. Vol.1.
J. A Venn (John Archibald), b. 1883.; University of Cambridge. Cambridge : University Press 1940

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Bridgeman family and estate papers are held at Staffordshire County Record Office.