Thursday, April 7, 2011

'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood'

An advertisement for 'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood', originally the Charles Hudson estate designed by Hiss & Weekes between 1906 and 1920 in Muttontown. Click HERE to see the brochure from when 'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood' was for sale.

6 comments:

magnus said...

Wasn't Knollwood owned for a brief period by King Zog of Albania and his improbably named bride, Queen Geraldine? Rumor had it that Zog escaped from Albania with much of the country's gold reserve as Mussolini's troops were licking at his heels. Apparently, misguided local hooligans wrecked havoc on Knollwood when the house was abandoned in a search for the Zog trasures (as if he would have misplaced a few gold bars on his way out of Muttontown).

The Devoted Classicist said...

It is interesting that both advertisements put such an emphasis on the property and farm buildings instead of the main house. Granted, the acreage is large and beautifully landscaped, but the limestone house was handsome and not overwhelmingly large.

Anonymous said...

Was "Muttontown Meadows" once part of this estate? I find it strange that a public road was so close to the main gates and the rear gardens.

Anonymous said...

Every time I see "Knollwood" I think of "Spring Hill".I wonder if Hiss & Weeks were influenced by SH when designing this house?

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

http://www.amazon.com/King-Zog-Albania-Europes-Self-Made/dp/0814782833

Overhead shot of the estate from 1966 -

http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=4&lon=-73.53578056497895&lat=40.82575488216391&year=1966

Zorfnog said...

Legend has it that some of the Kings
people did make it to the estate and began to leave or go back home after the king went into exile in the mountains of Albania.
However,it is said there was a bearded gatekeeper that waited a long time for the king,presumably no place else to go,and the tale is that he stashed a bucket of rubies somewhere on the grounds.