Bridget Fitzalan-Howard, former owner of Carlton Towers, near Selby, has died

Bridget Fitzalan-Howard, the former wife of Lord Martin Fitzalan, died peacefully on July 25, according to her family.

Lady Fitzalan-Howard, along with her husband, Martin Fitzalan-Howard, became a champion of Selby Abbey, among other ecumenical projects, and worked hard to promote its restoration under the patronage of the Queen Mother.

She was also at her husband’s side during his years spent restoring his family home, the Victorian gothic Carlton Towers, in Carlton, near Selby.

Born in 1926, Lady Fitzalan-Howard was the daughter of Lt Col Arnold Ramsay Keppel. In 1948 she married Lord Martin Fitzalan-Howard, who following a distinguished army career, moved with his wife to the traditional family home of Carlton Towers.

Establishing themselves at nearby Brockfield Hall, the family set about restoring the badly-neglected estate and house, on behalf of Mr Fitzalan-Howard’s parents Lord Howard of Glossop and Baroness Beaumont. During the 1980s, both Lady and Lord Fitzalan-Howard, and their children, were given small roles in a production of A Handful Of Dust, based on the Evelyn Waugh novel.

The property has now firmly established itself in the popularity of the game-hunting world and hold regular shoots. In April, the grounds also hosted the Selby Game Fair.

During these years Lady Fitzalan-Howard became a mother to Clare, Sarah, Amanda, Rose and Philip.

Her funeral will take place on Tuesday, August 9, at 2pm, in Holy Trinity Church, Stockton-on-the-Forest.