Thunderbolt's Cottage - Tocal Homestead

Off to photo club tonight so not much time to take photos today. This is another photo from Tocal Homestead. The building is Thunderbolt's Cottage.

Fred Ward worked at Tocal before becoming the notorious bushranger Captain Thunderbolt.

Fred was the youngest of 11 children of Michael and Sophia Ward. He was probably born in 1835 at about the time his family moved from Wilberforce to Windsor. The family then moved to Maitland in about 1846. Fred's father was a convict and his mother a free immigrant.

In August 1856 the lessee of Tocal, Charles Reynolds, indicated that he had known Fred Ward for some years. Reynolds said "He was employed by me for a year as stockman and horsebreaker.

Oral tradition says that while working at Tocal Fred Ward lived in the overseer's Cottage which was built around 1835. It is the association of Ward with this cottage that has led some to call the building 'Thunderbolt's Cottage'.

Below is a link to the life of Fred Ward, Captain Thunderbolt.

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Ward_(bushranger)

[Joyce]

Fascinating history Babs and a great capture

[Sue]

Great history Babs, and the photo is fabulous.

[sally agnew]

A really interesting old building Babs. Thunderbolt had a cave just out of Tenterfield :)

[Chris K]

love the photo Babs and good to read about Thunderbolt again. I have been past Thunderbolts Rock many times. Did you shoo all the people over to the left so you could get a clear picture :)

[Margo]

Interesting old building

[Rachel]

Lovely to know the history of such a building

[Babs]

@thistle @sioux @777margo @mrsrcg

[Babs]

Thanks. Thunderbolt was quite notorious.

[Babs]

@hermann Thanks Sally. Yes I know he is quite famous in Tenterfield. Wevebeen there and the mention of Thunderbolt is everywhere. He was very naughty wasn't he.

[Babs]

@cruiser Thanks Chris. No I didnt shoo everyone away. I just shouted FIRE and that got rid of them. Only kidding. There was a lot going on and it is quite spread out so not too difficult to get some of the pictures

[Sally Ings]

Alway nice to the the history of places and people

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Great capture of a really interesting looking building. Interesting history, too, Babs.

[Colin Fawsett]

Great capture

[gloria jones]

Great shot, composition, textures

[Leana Niemand]

Very interesting!

[tony gig]

Wonderful shot and information Babs.

[Peter]

great image Babs with a lovely narrative, checked out the link very interesting, Robin Hood he was not just a plain and simple rogue:)

[Margaret Obey]

Lovely architectural shot Babs

[Margaret Brown]

Great shot and history Babs

[Susan]

Lovely capture, Babs. Interesting old structure.

[Molly]

An interesting historical shoT.

[bkb in the city]

Another fine shot with good info

[M0ments in time]

Interesting history behind your picture of the day

[Jen Hudson]

Interesting, . Always fascinating to read of past history. They certainly had hard lives but I guess it made them hardy people.

[Pat Knowles]

Wonderful story you tell Babs. Love the very clean sharp lines of this house.....such blue sky you have too!

[Rosan]

Great capture. Fun to visit historical places and fascinating to learn about the people who lived there.

[Gena Pegg]

So charming even now. Great shot and bit of history.

[Rachel]

I like all that rustic looking brickwork.

[Elaine]

What a great building so much photography opportunists and a fascinating read too Babs.

[Paula W]

I like the rustic feel to this and great textures with the fading whitewash on the bricks.

[Marnie]

Lovely old building Babs.

[Gillian]

Great shot of a bit of history.