photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Zak | all galleries >> Daily Bute >> Daily Bute 2013 >> January 2013 > 8th January
previous | next
08-JAN-2013

8th January

a decent day at last,
I put the wellies on and headed down Loch Fad
and along the path to the empty(but alarmed!) Woodend House,
19th century Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean use to live here...



Nikon D80
1/125s f/5.6 at 18.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Johnny JAG09-Jan-2013 20:19
What a shame to see it empty.
Alastair Fenton 09-Jan-2013 08:48
Never mind Edmund Kean ! Bill Thomson and his white Austin-Healey 3000 lived there in the 60s.
Guest 09-Jan-2013 04:21
I could be wrong but I thought the wee building near the gate was the Chapel. The minister of the Gaelic Church performed the marriage in 1863. As it was referred to as Woodend Cottage also on old maps, I wonder if Mr Kean added to the original building.
AlanB Paisley 09-Jan-2013 00:32
Sorry to see the state of this property. When young I used to play in the grounds and visit Woodend as I was at school with the Bute Estate Factor's son. His family occupied the house in the 50s. Always thought that Kean's cottage was the gatehouse.
Guest 08-Jan-2013 23:39
All very interesting. Had forgotten about that house.
Derick Oaten 08-Jan-2013 21:53
Thanks Zac, I'd always imagined Kean's Cottage to be a much more simple dwelling than it is. Derick
The Traveller 08-Jan-2013 21:16
Records show the house itself is little altered from Kean's original vision, but the view has been somewhat marred by the the addition of a 3-bay timber shed by the last owner.

The estate is entered through a fine set of gate piers topped with busts of Massinger, Shakespeare, Garrick, and Kean.
The Traveller 08-Jan-2013 21:08
Wonderful stuff. I'd always been curious about this one, and what might or might not actually still be surviving there now.
Guest 08-Jan-2013 19:21
Thank you Zak, Woodend has special meaning to me,in 1863 there was a wedding
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment