Kenilworth Plantation St. Bernard Parish, LA |
Kenilworth is a West Indies style plantation house located along Bayou Terre-aux-Boeufs in St. Bernard Parish. There's controversy about the date of construction and the original owners. Some researchers say the house was built as early as 1759, others say 1779, others claim a few years later. |
The sign at the house itself reads 1759. The thing that isn't in dispute is that it's very old indeed and an architectural and historical jewel. It's possible that developers Vincent Rillieux and Jean Chauveau may have been responsible for the construction, as they were among the earliest owners. |
Rillieux was an engineer and inventor who served in the militia at the Battle of New Orleans; he was, also, the g-uncle of painter Edgar Degas. The Bienvenue family owned it for about 40 years, beginning in 1831, and that name was associated with the property for many years. |
An interesting feature of the house is that it was built in the old fashion -- without nails, using only pegs. It suffered terrible damage in the levee failures of 2005, but has been meticulously restored. |
Above, Kenilworth, ca. 1930's; top photo and photo below, March, 2012. |
2012 photographs are courtesy of Infrogmation@WkimediaCommons and 1930's photo is courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
The link to this page is: http://old-new-orleans.com/NO_Kenilworth.html Another page you might enjoy: Beauregard House, Chalmette Battlefield Back to Old New Orleans Whispers - Home |