The MP for Seaford who linked dahlias with convicts
Sir Godfrey Webster (the 4th Baronet Webster) was the MP for Seaford June 26 and has a fascinating history.
He was born in 1748 and although I have not been able to discover anything of his early life, he settled for a career in politics, becoming MP for Seaford on April 26, 1786.
He represented the Whig (Liberal) party, replacing Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Peter Parker who was the previous (Tory) incumbent for the town.
Sir Godfrey married Elizabeth Vassall, who was the daughter of a wealthy Jamaican plantation owner and the couple toured extensively.
They lived at Battle Abbey (Sir Godfrey's father had earlier bought the Abbey, Bodiam Castle and Robertsbridge Priory). They had had two children (Godfrey and Harriet), when Elizabeth ran off with 20 year old Lord Holland whilst the couple were visiting Italy.
English Heritage owns a portrait of Sir Godfrey painted by the French artist Loius Gauffier (1762-1801).
It depicts Sir Godfrey in Florence – so while he was having his picture painted she was presumably dallying!
Lord Holland took Elizabeth to Spain and while there she saw dahlias growing and sent some back home; she is therefore credited with introducing the flower to Britain.
It is not surprising that Sir Godfrey divorced his wife but his son Godfrey (the 5th Baronet) continued his mother's tradition.
He had an affair with Lady Caroline Lamb who was later to be a Prime Ministers wife and had an affair with Lord Byron.
This Sir Godfrey could not afford the upkeep of Bodiam Castle and it became ruinous and covered with ivy. Although a firm of Hastings Builders wished to buy the castle to demolish it for road-building material, he eventually sold it to 'Mad' Jack Fuller, then the MP for Lewes.
Sir Godfrey was MP for Seaford for four years until June 26, 1790. He also gave his name to a ship (an east Indiaman) which was notorious for taking convicts to Australia. Many of the convicts used the false name of 'Godfrey Webster' when they arrived in the antipodes and the surname lives on in Australia.
He died on June 3, 1800 aged 51 years.
His son, Sir Godfrey Vassall Webster was the MP for Sussex from 1812 to 1820 and I was fascinated recently to find this hand-bill at Seaford Museum.
It was printed in Lewes and is dated March 1820. It shows that the younger Sir Godfrey was not too popular with the voters!
The Martello Fields have seen many different events over the years – in March 1793 Seafordians were entertained by troops practicing by firing their weapons at an effigy of a Frenchman.
Nothing so barbaric last weekend when the Seaford BikeFest was held there! It was a huge success and attended by Seafordians of all ages.
Well done to our Mayor for having the vision and the courage for holding the event. Thank you to all those who attended including the police and fire brigade.
I for one hope this becomes an annual event.
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Weather for Lewes
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
