Woodstock House and Wings
Photograph of Woodstock House and Wings in Inistioge, County Kilkenny
Woodstock House and Wings
Woodstock House and Wings
Photograph of Woodstock House and Wings in Inistioge, County Kilkenny
Woodstock House and Gardens are located in the south east of Kilkenny, just outside the picturesque village of Inistioge.
The house was built between 1745-1747 for Sir William Fownes. The designer was named Francis Bindon, who was one of the best-known architects of his time.
Sadly, the house was destroyed by fire in 1922 and is empty at present.
Origin
The history of the Woodbrook Estate goes back to 1703. It was at that time that Stephen Sweet of Kilkenny bought a large amount of land from the 2nd Duke of Ormonde.
When Sweet died in 1725, he left the property to his grandson William Fownes. Fownes got married to Lady Elizabeth Ponsonby who was the daughter of Lord Ponsonby, the first Earl of Bessborough. Her dowry helped to pay for the building of the house.
The Gardens
The gardens at Woodstock overlook the River Nore Valley. They were once known as one of the great gardens of Ireland. This was mainly due to the efforts of Lady Tighe and her gardeners.
Arboretum
Photograph of the Arboretum in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny
Arboretum
Arboretum
Photograph of the Arboretum in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny
They were largely developed between 1840 and 1885 and combined a wide range of gardens. They also included two popular avenues; The Monkey Puzzle Avenue and the Noble Fir Avenue.
The arboretum (a garden devoted to trees) at Woodstock is home to some fine specimens of trees from Asia and South America. There are also over 4 miles of footpaths, which have all been restored since 1999.