Bridget of York

Another of our local benches commemorating famous people with a connection to Eltham. This one is by St Mary’s Community Centre.

Bridget of York was the seventh daughter of King Edward IV. She was born at Eltham Palace in 1480. Just before her third birthday, her father died and her uncle Richard III came to the throne, acting as protector for Edward’s son, also called Edward (one of the princes in the Tower). To support his claim to the throne, he promptly declared Bridget and Edward’s other children illegitimate. Bridget’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville, fearing what further action might be taken against them took her children and fled to Westminster Abbey, where they stayed for around a year until the King promised he would not harm his brother’s daughters and they left to live at court.

Two years later, Richard was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth and Henry VII took the throne. He repealed the act of illegitimacy and married Bridget’s elder sister Elizabeth. Bridget expressed a desire to enter a convent and went to Dartford Priory in around 1489. It has been suggested that one reason for her decision was that she had enjoyed the year she had spent in the environs of Westminster Abbey. Another may have been that King Henry having married her eldest sister was busily marrying off her other sisters to members of his court. Her request was supported by the King’s mother and he agreed.

Dartford Priory was a closed establishment and it is thought that Bridget only left it on two occasions. In 1492 she attended the funeral of her mother and later that of one of her sisters. Despite this she remained in contact with her sister Elisabeth, the Queen consort, who paid regular mosey to the Priory for Bridget’s support.

Bridget died in 1507 and there is a record that King Henry VII paid for her gravestone (Elisabeth had died in 1503). Dartford Priory was largely demolished following the reformation under Henry VIII to make way for a Royal Manor.