Tuesday Treasures

Pictorial Tuesday   Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.

June 2017 - Wilmot ON

Castle Kilbride is the former residence of James Livingston, a Canadian member of parliament, and owner of flax and linseed oil mills.

It was built in Baden, Ontario in 1877 and named after Livingston's birthplace in Scotland. The major feature of Castle Kilbride is the interior decorative murals in the style of the Italian Renaissance.

The construction of Castle Kilbride took about one year to complete and finished in 1878. It was constructed by a local man known by the community as David Gingerich. James Livingston asked the designer to make the front lawn in the shape of a heart in tribute of his love for his wife, Louise.

The Castle dominates the landscape with its towering Belvedere, clean design, exotic furnishings and interior artistry like no other private residence in Canada.

The trompe-l'œil technique used in the murals gives the illusion of a third dimension. The building is also an outstanding example of an Italianate villa of its place and time, and at the time of its building was a tribute to the reputation of its owner as the so-called 'Flax and Oil King of Canada'.

These two photos of the dining room and entrance are from the Stratford Tourism site.

The Castle was home to the Livingston family for three generations from 1877 to 1988. The last generation sold the home to a developer and the Castle was left vacant for 5 years and began to deteriorate rapidly.In 1993, the Township of Wilmot purchased the home and intensive restoration began.