Woodstock Visit

Woodstock House & Gardens.

Signage everywhere but for some reason, I never ventured toward the gardens when passing through the village of Inistioge. I thus didn't connect this place with the many grand country houses dotted around the country which were burned down at the height of the fight for Ireland's impending freedom and then left to rot. Many of the houses which were spectacles to behold prior to this and were utilised sometimes as show-pieces, and which employed hundreds of people in the locality, now stand as husks in overgrown estates. The grounds and boundaries of the estates also, unrecognisable, existing only in historic photographs and maps. Fortunately for Woodstock, the site has been partially rescued and is currently maintained albeit on a less grander scale by volunteers under the guidance of Kilkenny County Council. The once thriving and busy vegetable and fruit gardens and green houses are now confined to a few patches of vegetables maintained by a handful or workers. The grounds however are well maintained for what exists and a fine selection of original period ornamental trees still stand proud on the site. Even though the true splendour of the original gardens can only be viewed through black and white photographs, the scale and extent can nonetheless be appreciated just be strolling around the site. Unfortunately, the house itself is now in a serious state of decay and almost beyond rescuing having missed out or been overlooked for various economic reasons during the boom time when opportunities were possibly more plentiful. No matter what sentiment people have toward these estate houses, it cannot be denied that they represent an intangible connection to the islands history and to see what was probably a magnificent building in it's day now in such a sorry state is a tragic fact.
















1. www.askaboutireland.ie
2. www.jerpoint.com



































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