Sorry! I didn't get back here to give the answers for this weeks peek!
this weeks peek was thanks to my_logic!
these were pictures on the grounds of "The Larnach Castle" in New Zealand. here is the story of this place:
The Story of William Larnach
William James Mudie Larnach , of Scottish descent, was born in 1833 in New South Wales, Australia. His banking career began in Melbourne then followed the gold rush to the Australian goldfields where he was manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Ararat. His bank was a tent and his equipment consisted of dogs, a gun, and strong boxes.
Gold was discovered in Otago, New Zealand, in the 1860's. Larnach was offered the position of manager of the Bank of Otago in Dunedin, which serviced the extensive goldfields. He sailed for Dunedin in 1867.
Larnach's brillant career encompassed his merchant empire Guthrie and Larnach, banking, shipping, farming, landholding, politics and ... speculation. He travelled extensively and was a cabinet minister, holding various portfolios, over a period of twenty five years.
Larnach was married three times and had six children. He was pre deceased by his first two wives and his eldest daughter, Kate. He took his own life in the New Zealand parliament buildings in 1898.
Building Larnach Castle
Larnach was a man of great vision and created a magnificent residence for himself and his family.
A story is told that William Larnach and one of his sons went for a horse ride along the top of the Otago Peninsula to choose the best site for their home. Today you can still see why this site was chosen as it has wonderful panoramic views of Dunedin, Otago Harbour, the Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean.
First the site was clear-felled, then the hill site was levelled by putting pegs into the volcanic rock and pouring salt water on them to split the rock. Approximately 200 men spent three years building the shell of the Castle and then gifted European craftsmen spent 12 years embellishing the interior.
Materials from all over the world were used - marble from Italy, slate from Wales, tiles from England, glass from Venice and France. No expense was spared in creating Larnach's dream home! Many New Zealand native woods were also used - kauri, rimu floors and honeysuckle panelling. In 1885 a 3000 square foot Ballroom was also added.
The Larnach Family
Larnach's first wife Eliza Guise, had six children - Donald, Douglas, Kate, Colleen, Alice and Gladys. Eliza died at the age of 38 when Gladys was still a baby. Larnach then married Eliza's half sister Mary Alleyne. They were married for 5 years when sadly Mary also died at the age of 38. Larnach then married a much younger lady, Constance de Bathe Brandon. Larnach was struck by tragedy when his favourite daughter Kate died in her 20s. The children were all sent to England for their education. This meant long sea voyages and a lot of time away from the Castle.
After Larnach's suicide in 1898 the family was torn apart by legal battles over Larnach's property as he died intestate. The family then sold the Castle in 1906..
AS FOR THE DOOR IN THE TREE:
it was inspired by the story, "Alice in Wonderland"
Although the book was very much in fashion as the Larnach children were growing up, and William and Eliza had decided to call thier third daughter Alice, we could only speculate as to whether there was any connection. To our knowledge there is no reference to the story amongst the family archives.
However, since the 1930s (under the ownership of Mr Jackson Purdie) the Larnach Castle garden has featured statues of the Duchess and Knave of Hearts from the original Tenniel Drawings.
"When we came here we found the figures of the Duchess and Knave" says Margaret Barker. "I have always loved the story of Alice in Wonderland ever since I was a child and it was wonderful to discover these statues amidst the overgrown garden."
The Alice in Wonderland theme has been an amusing element to carry through in the garden with various new items being added to the gardens over the years.
A "Curious Door" has recently appeared in a tree trunk in the new South Seas garden. Margaret Barker explains. "After the Mad Hatters tea party Alice discovers a door in a tree. We thought it would be fun to include this idea in our garden. The door is actually the original from the Tower that we discovered when we bought the Castle in 1967, it has tremendous character and really looks the part of the ‘curious door’ of Wonderland". Unlike Alice’s door this one does not open and lead into the long hall, but silently sits there, perhaps waiting for some magic words or a spell to lead the visitor into a different world.
On the 11th of November 2007, his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, Peter Chin, unveiled a bronze sculpture of 'Alice'. To commemorate the 40years of the Barker family's guardianship of the Castle, Margaret Barker commissioned Christchurch sculptor Stephen Glesson to undertake this work.
The sculpture of 'Alice' has been done in true Victorian fashion, complete with golden hair.
The sculpture has become a focal point for the Castle, in which various children's events involving the Alice in Wonderland theme have been incorporated, with our staff acting out various characters.
1899 - 1967 "A Castle in Decline"
Larnach Castle has had many owners between the Larnach Family and the current Barker Family. The Castle has had many uses, as a lunatic asylum, a hospital for shell-shocked soldiers, a nuns retreat and the Ballroom was once even used as a sheep holding pen!
1900
Auction of furniture and chattels. Used as a holiday retreat for nuns.
1906
Government buys Castle for 3000 pounds. Castle then used as a mental hospital and for shell shocked soldiers.
1918
Castle vacant - suffered much theft and vandalism.
1927
Mr Jackson Purdie purchased the Castle and spent a large sum of money restoring buildings and grounds. The Castle became a showplace filled with antiques. Electricity connected.
1939
Mr Purdie, with failing health decides to sell - no interest - so contemplates demolishing the building and selling the material.
1940
Castle goes to auction, bought by Mr Armstrong for 1250 pounds.
1941
Sold to Mr Stedman. During WW2 over 80 US soldiers billeted here.
1959
Mrs Empson purchased the Castle.
1967 - Current "The Barker Family's Restoration Project"
In 1967 Margaret and Barry Barker purchased Larnach Castle. Margaret Barker remembers the dreadful state of the buildings and grounds. The Ballroom had been used to pen sheep, the Castle was empty of furniture, leaking like a sieve, in a terrible state of disrepair and the grounds were overgrown. When the Barkers bought the Castle many people thought (and told them!) that they were crazy to take on such a mammoth and apparently impossible task.
Now, as for spirits haunting this place:
The first Mrs. Larnach died alone, as all the other family members were away at the time, and she is said to make her presence felt near the bedroom in which she died.
The Larnachs' daughter Katie is said to haunt the ballroom, built to celebrate her 21st birthday in 1886. She died just a few years later of typhoid.
The specter of Larnach himself might linger in the castle. In 1898, after learning of an affair between his young third wife and one of his sons from his first marriage, he ended his life by shooting himself in the head.
and for that GORGEOUS stairway!
The spiral staircase up the centre of the building is made of local timber, and the banister of one piece of wood cut into curved pieces and joined by tongue and groove. It is a Georgian hanging staircase - there is no centre pole and the stairs are self-supporting.
but, i've not been feeling 100% lately, and haven't even lined up anything for the next go round. plus the psychic circle and the PTR thread keep me pretty busy as it is when I'm on here! lol! plus trying to keep up with my own psychic readings and tarot card readings.
