Bleak House

As I was taking photos of this gorgeous but dilapidated mansion, Mr PP fell into conversation with a gentleman from Finland (whose English was excellent), and whose wife (see far left) was also taking pictures. The couple have been visiting the island regularly for nearly twenty years and learned some of the house's history from a local boatman. 

Apparently, the owner died, sometime around 1997, since when the family have been in dispute over the house's future. Each family member is reluctant to spend money on the place, while their share of the inheritance is uncertain. And so, as the feud continues, the poor house falls into further dereliction and has been subject to intruders. 

Clearly, it has had a gorgeous garden in its day, with a fabulous stone staircase, and commands wonderful views over the Atlantic, so I do hope all comes to a happy conclusion and it is restored. Dickens' Jarndyce v Jarndyce comes to mind: will there be any money left to fund the restoration after the slow-moving lawyers have taken their cut?

So, this is the background we were told but, as with all such cases, rumours spread and develop in the telling. Here's another view of the same house and the story behind it from Orchid99.