Country House

A walk to the local Duke of Hamilton's 18th century hunting lodge completed in 1734. Gutted by fire in the 1940s it lay in ruins until the 1970s, when it was given to the nation in lieu of taxes following the death of the 14th Duke of Hamilton. It was restored to its former glory between 1978-1987.

He lives in a house
A very big house in the country
Watchin' afternoon repeats
And the food he eats in the country
He takes all manner of pills
And piles up analyst bills in the country
Oh, it's like an animal farm
That's the rural charm in the country

My album of the day is "Another Music In A Different Kitchen" by Buzzcocks. One of the original punk bands with clever lyrics from Pete Shelley whose voice floats above grinding guitars. I buy my pictures of abandoned houses scattered across the Outer Hebrides from John Maher the drummer, who now lives in Harris.