Sir, - I refer to Rosita Boland's article on the Woodstock Demesne restoration project at Inistioge (December 30th).
As your readers will no doubt be aware, this project is now up and running and is expected to become a major tourism boost to the entire South East over the near future. The Woodstock gardens and arboretum in the heyday of the demesne were rightly regarded as among the grandest in these islands. Even in their decline, they have over many years attracted visitors from all over the world. It is now the intention of Kilkenny County Council to have these attractions restored in as faithful a manner as possible to their former glory. It is envisaged that this will be one of the most ambitious restoration projects ever undertaken in this country.
Unfortunately, over the past 70 years, many artefacts from the gardens and surrounding area have become scattered far and wide and it is difficult for us to piece together the picture of what was there and where particular items were sited within the area. We know from photographs in the Lawrence collection that there were vast amounts of lavish garden furnishings, such as vases, urns, cut stone objects, statuary, a magnificent fountain and lots of other items. If any of your readers have any information on any of these, or indeed on any aspect of the gardens, or if anybody has old photographs, we would be delighted to hear from them. - Yours, etc., Michael Tennyson,
Inistioge Heritage Society, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny.