Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Edmund Kean, 1824. Symmetrical, 2-storey, 3-bay classical house with single storey, single bay piended wings recessed to outer left and right. Painted harl; painted sandstone dressings. Raised base course; eaves course beneath corniced eaves; painted blocking course. Narrow strip quoins; painted margins; projecting cills; columnar entrance. Single storey, 2-bay rectangular plan outbuilding to rear; whitewashed harl; painted margins.

SE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: boarded doorway centred at ground; surrounding doorpiece comprising flanking detached columns, plain frieze, cornice, block pediment, raised keystone; single window aligned at 1st floor. Single windows at both floors in bays flanking entrance; single windows centred in piended wings recessed to outer left and right.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: stair window off-set to right of centre; small opening centred at ground; single windows at both floors in bays to outer left and right. Boarded openings in piended wings to outer left and right.

Boarded openings at ground; 24-pane timber sash and case glazing at 1st floor. Graded grey slate piended roof; replacement rainwater goods. Coped, whitewashed wallhead stacks to NE and SW; octagonal cans; corniced wallhead stacks to piended wings; octagonal cans.

INTERIOR: interesting interior; particularly fine drawing room.

OUTBUILDING: single doors in both bays. Graded grey slate roof; lead flashings.

Statement of Special Interest

Empty 1996. A modestly detailed but high quality classical villa set on the banks of Loch Fad. Built as a sanctuary for Edmund Kean, a celebrated actor whose public image was permanently tarnished by a court case brought against him by his mistress' husband. Having discovered his wife's affair, Mr Alderman Cox sued Kean in January 1825 for ?2,000 as compensation for "...the loss of the affection and company of his wife." Cox was awarded damages and Kean's reputation suffered terribly. Bouts of depression and heavy drinking followed and Woodend quite literally, became his sanctuary. Although the house was a refuge for Kean, his wife, Mary, thought very differently - "...he took 22 acres of land from Lord Bute's Factor ... as sterile - as damp - as forlorn - as desolate as you can conceive - built and furnished a house in a spot where there was no road or any creature within three miles of the place - he paid two pound an acre for what was not worth five shillings ... it was a madness done by the desire of Mrs Cox to hide me in..." A more objective impression is given by Susan Chambers, Mary's sister, when in 1824, she assisted with the removal. "To say it is beautiful is not in my mind saying half enough ... the building ... consists of a pretty stone vestibule and hall, stone staircase, on one side a very good dining room, doors of communication to Edmund?s library ... - the windows of the whole are down to the ground - on the other side is a very pretty bedchamber ... next to it is a large kitchen, a water closet in the hall, a large landing place leads you on one side to a drawing room 30 feet by 20 and high in proportion ... On the other side of the landing place there are two excellent bedchambers ... the whole of these apartments are beautifully furnished and when papered and painted ... will be truly magnificent." Kean and his wife eventually separated and the actor died in poverty in 1833. That same year, Lord Bute purchased Woodend (or Kean's Cottage as it was sometimes known) so as to prevent "...its falling into the hands of any person" of whom he did not approve. Although the interior was not seen 1996, previous notes emphasise its interest, with particular reference to a painted drawing room. The estate?s coach-house, cottages, gatelodge and entrance gateway are listed separately.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.