Woodcock
Carden - The Source of the Name "Carden" and the Woodcock
on the Logo.
Born
in 1811 in Ireland, John Rutter Carden took over the family
castle when he came of age. The estate had been neglected and
the tenants were accustomed to living rent free. Landlord killing
was common in those days, so when Carden decided to charge rent,
his tenants often tried to kill him. He got the nickname "woodcock"
because like the bird, he was hard to hit.
In
his forties, Woodcock Carden became an unlikely folk hero -
because of a girl. Eleanor Arbuthnot was only eighteen, and
an heiress. Carden fell in love. He was also under the delusion
that she loved him back. Carden believed that she secretly wished
to declare her love, but couldn't because her family was "holding
her prisoner".
He
pursued her in Ireland, England, and abroad. He tried to "rescue"
her - he kidnapped her. For that he was tried and convicted.
Meanwhile, he impoverished himself. His Irish tenants approved
of his passion, and folk songs about him became quite popular.
Neither
Eleanor nor Woodcock Carden ever married. |
