Situated behind the village pump on the hill in Inistioge village, Woodstock
Heritage Museum houses an eclectic collection of photographs,documents,
artefacts and memorabilia pertaining to Woodstock Demesne, its history and
people, the burning of the house and recent restoration project, returning the once famous gardens to there original glory.

The Museum building itself was originally a Billard and club room for the
professional employees of Woodstock. In 1922 it was commissioned by the new Free State to accommodate the 1st Civic Guards in the locality, (seven in total), where they remained until 1939. It then became a community hall for dances, socials and meetings. It was vacated in the 70's and became derelict. In the late 1990's the building was restored and the upper floor was renovated to housethe Woodstock Heritage Museum.The Museum has a series of Black and white photographs by Carmel Cleary, commissioned by The Kilkenny County Council, to show the progress of the restoration. There are also some old coins and artefacts found in the area of Inistioge, some dating from the 13th Century.

The Museum is open weekend from November 1st to May 1st and daily during the rest of the year. Times vary, but afternoons prior to your walk around the demesne or on your return, are best. There is a small charge of €2 for adults and €1 for children, seniors and students. All proceeds go to the running cost of the museum and of course we appreciate any donations.

THE PLEASURE GARDENS

The gardens at Woodstock were renowned, even in there day, for being a haven for botanists and horticulturists. William Tighe collected a vast array of plants, shrubs and trees from all over the world. The museum has excerpts from
Agricultural journals of the 19th century which describe the gardens in great
detail..........."In the centre of the kitchen garden is a very spacious Rose trellis, which is viewed from the pleasure ground on either side through highly ornamental
cast-iron gates in the garden wall, which not only relieve the eye, but form an
object of considerable attraction, and will be rendered more so when Mr.
Butler's pyramidal Pear trees get furnished.

The above is an excerpt from: The Cottage Gardener and Country Gentleman's
Companion - January 1857.Another extract, from "The Garden", an illustrated weekly journal of
horticulture - September 1884, refers to Lady Louisa and her particular style:"Into the vegetable grounds or out the visitor can go by means of four large, ornamental, gilded gates. We left on the southern, and found ourselves in one of the flower gardens. This is terraced, and and each is reached by handsome rows of steps on each side,extending the whole length of the garden wall. Bedding out is still maintained, but with a very desirable blending of the more showy hardy perennials, of which Lady Louisa Tighe is a pronounced patroness."

MARY "PSYCHE TIGHE"

The Tighe Family lived at Woodstock for about 150 years. During that time various family members came and went, visiting for long periods of time or vacating for a few months to the family seat at Rosanna, Co. Wicklow. Henry
Tighe, a second son and Lawyer, married his first cousin, Mary Blachford in 1793. Mary, later known as 'Psyche' Tighe after a long volume of poetry she wrote, spent her declining years at Woodstock. She died, aged only 38, at
Woodstock while trying to recuperate from TB. A life size statue of Mary, by Florentine sculpture Bartolini, used to grace the entrance hall and a reclining figure by Flaxman now reposes in the vault in the Mausoleum in the local
graveyard and is well worth a visit.

WOODSTOCK HOUSE

Built in 1745 by Architect Francis Bindon, Woodstock House was an important seat in County Kilkenny for over 150 years. The location, high above the village, with beautiful vistas sweeping down to the river Nore, was perfect for that happy mix of country tranquility and parties for both pleasure and politics. Its riverside setting enabled boat loads of visitors to sail from Waterford and New Ross up the tidal river for picnics, often held at "The Red House" a building perched right on the river's edge. Visitors from Kilkenny City, traveling by horse drawn carriage, would also converge on the 1,000 acres of parkland and forest to enjoy the pleasure and hospitality offered by the Tighe family. The socialising and dancing would often continue late into the summer night.The main house at Woodstock had some unusual features, most notably a light shaft in the centre of the building, a 19'8" square with windows through it to filter light from the top down throughout the house. Although the single storey wings on either side of the house were added in 1804-06 by a different architect, William Robertson, they blend in very well with the original structure. At the rear of the house, the centre window was made into door opening to steps edged with decorative iron railings, leading down to the winter
gardens.

THE WALKS

One of the most successful features at Woodstock is the feeling of intimacy that is evident, despite the amazing vistas, the feeling of space, the planned walks and the openness of the grassy areas.

Woodstock Forest

The Monkey Puzzle Walk was originally planted in 1845 but the trees failed to thrive due to rust damage. Replanted in 1860 on mounds, with proper drainage of stones and gravel which promoted healthy root action, the trees flourished and the walk was to become the finest and longest Monkey Puzzle avenue in Europe.

Delighted by the success of his 31 pairs of Araucaria Araucaria, William Tighten planted the Silver Fir Walk in 1878, with 45 pairs of these majestic trees lining an avenue visible, as were the Monkey Puzzles, from the ornamental steps leading to the winter or sunken garden gracing the back of the house.The above is a section of a letter sent to Major Hamilton, following the burning of Woodstock House, July 2nd, 1922. Several letters are on display at the
Museum, detailing the correspondence between the Major and William Rogers, written during the weeks surrounding the tragedy, from the agents office in Inistioge.