Historic Dundurn Castle

Say you hear that there’s a Castle nearby with many rumours of hauntings, but it gets better, you can take a tour! When we first read a little snippet about Historic Dundurn Castle and that it was close by in Hamilton, Ontario, we knew we had to plan a visit.

history of Dundurn Castle

During the War of 1812, the British Army established a military post at the site and occupied the area known as Burlington Heights from 1813-1815. Soldiers camped across the street before marching on Stoney Creek, initiating a pivotal turning point in the war.

The owner, former Prime Minister, Mr Allan Napier MacNab, had the property built as a statement for his place in Hamilton society and incorporated elements of the post into the construction.

It got the “Castle” moniker from the residents of Hamilton but it is more like a Villa. The 40 room stately home took three years to build and was completed in 1835 at a cost of $175,000. This 18,000-square-foot house featured the latest conveniences of gas-lighting and running water. The 32-acre estate also included a dovecot, a two-storey pavilion for cockfighting (the Cockpit), a gardener’s cottage, a gatehouse (Battery Lodge), and a stable (MacInnes Stable).

The so called cockpit where they used to hold cock fights at Dundurn Castle Estate

MacNab was knighted in 1838 because of his role in suppressing the rebellion in Upper Canada. Apart from being a promoter for the Great Western Railway, he also established Gore Bank and held a political career lasting three decades.

Historic Dundurn Castle Estate grounds – photo gallery

Ghosts of Historic Dundurn Castle

Historians of the area are very sceptical in regarding such things as ghosts. So much so that even the tour guides have to sign a contract stating, if they are caught telling ghost stories they will be fired. We were a little confused by this because we think it would add more of a draw to the place. A couple of ghostly accounts have escaped, however.

One such story is of The Wedding Ghost. Obviously, many weddings take place in the beautiful castle grounds, and on one such occasion a photographer, taking a picture of the groomsman noticed a discrepancy in the photo. Behind the young man was an image of a woman‘s face in a pane of glass.

Ghostly reflection – photo courtesy of ghostwalks.com

The image is that of Allan Napier MacNab’s daughter, Sophia. Having spent most of her youth at the estate, Sophia was married into British Royalty at a young age and moved away from the carefree, happy days of her childhood home. Returning only in spirit after her death in 1917 at age 84.

The window that Sophia’s reflection appeared

the tour

Once you’ve purchased a ticket to tour Historic Dundurn Castle, your guide who will dress in period clothing takes you in through the servants’ entrance and courtyard.

Dundurn Castle - servants entrance and courtyard — Servants entrance and courtyard

Dundurn Castle - servants entrance and courtyard with a statue — Servants courtyard

Dundurn Castle has been fully restored to the year 1855. This was when MacNab was at the height of his career. All of the rooms with their furnishings are from that same period, showing the life of a notable Victorian family.

Once into the main house, you pass a bathroom with an intricately tiled floor and two dining areas. The second of these is complete with piano and the table set for afternoon tea.

Period bathroom with tiled floor and cast iron tub at Dundurn Castle — Period bathroom with tiled floor and cast iron tub

Table laid for afternoon tea at Dundurn Castle — Table laid for afternoon tea

Chandelier type light set within a rose ceiling moulding at Dundurn Castle — Chandelier type light set within a rose ceiling moulding

All the time, our tour guide is feeding us information and pointing out objects for us to look at. Although it’s nice having a guide to explain things, telling you the history, we both find it a little overwhelming trying to remember what they’ve said. By the time we managed to snap a few photos, the group had already left and were in the next room.

Awaken that special feeling

As this was Christmas week, the drawing-room was decorated and looked as it would have when the MacNabs’ celebrated the season. The Christmas tree was tall and bushy, with delicate homemade ornaments and candles on the branches.

Christmas tree with 19th century homemade decorations at Dundurn Castle — Christmas tree with 19th century homemade decorations

There was a strong smell of pine with a mixture of orange and clove. You could almost hear the crackle of the fire and feel it’s warmth spread out through the room. Seeing the space like this fills you with the Christmas spirit and really cements how quintessential this season really is. Conjuring up pleasant memories of fresh hot cocoa, snow flurries blanketing the frozen ground and snuggling up with excitement bursting from every pore.

Next was the library and card room, dimly lit but comforting in their own right and both held a strong aroma of cigars. You almost expect to see apparitions flicking ash from their cigars as they sip brandy and peek at their cards. Whilst tall tales evoke in raucous laughter from all echoing along the hall.

the library and card room – slide show

Library and card room
Dimly lit card room

The stairwell and entrance hall are quite striking, although we both expected it to be much larger and more grandiose. Perhaps this isn’t the main entrance, we honestly had no idea! The tour guide was out of sight, as well as the group. As usually is the case we were too busy snapping pics!!!

Dundurn Castles stairwell and hall — Stairwell and hall

The fourth room we entered was the dining room and again looking at the plates and cutlery, you can place yourself in one of those chairs on a winters evening. Partaking of some imported wine, while discussing the importance of the new railway that would connect the coasts together. Perhaps indulging in a few bursts of laughter by the candlelight while awaiting the main course.

dining room table laid for twelve for Christmas at Dundurn Castle — Dining Room

Hurrying through to catch up with the others, we see the cooks quarters and the kitchen. There are even some little titbits of food for us to nibble on.

cooks quarters & kitchen AREA

Cooks quarters with single bed and chair at Dundurn Castle

Cooks kitchen and dining area at Dundurn Castle

It is quite interesting to see how the life of luxury differs from place to place and through the eras of time. For example, I’m sure children of any well off family today, have their own rooms with the largest of everything. The best gaming systems, cell phones, and whatever piece of technology is the flavour of the week however ridiculous it is.

Back in the 1850s, children kept themselves and their caretaker busy by playing a game where you pour brandy over raisins, set it ablaze and see how many you can eat before the flames go out. I’m not certain anybody in this day and age has enough coordination to be able to pull that off! Besides, it would be classed as a safety hazard and child endangerment!

Plate of raisins ready for the children's game at Dundurn Castle — Plate of raisins

There appeared to be a lot more class and elegance in society back in those days, and the objects in their homes told the story of their lives. Since there were no televisions to take the place of babysitters, they had a real live-in nanny. Formal dinners were actually formal, and you sat down as a family to enjoy the meal. Maybe even sharing the experiences of the day and hopes of tomorrow. Paper plates or fast food would have been scorned at if, of course, they had existed. Without all the technology today they actually had human interaction, were taught correct etiquette and were more sophisticated!

The rest of the tour takes you into the bedrooms, bathrooms and basement of Dundurn Castle.

bedrooms & bathrooms – slide show

Full bathroom
Even the porcelain bowl has a beautiful design

In the basement, there are more living quarters for staff, a full kitchen and dining room, luggage room, extra storage and so on.

Dundurn Castle basement -slide show

The large ice box
Original brick hall in the basement
Laundry area in the basement
Old fire buckets
Wine cellar
The pantry filled with jars of jams, pickles herbs and spices
Luggage storage room
Servants dining table

MacNab being very fastidious kept all his personal and business documents in metal cases down in the cellar, which was the safest place being more fire retardant than the rest of the house.

All documents and personal paperwork were kept in metal boxes in the cellar at Dundurn Castle

hamilton military museum

With the initial admission, you also have entry to the Military Museum located on the same grounds. Originally known as the Battery Lodge, it was Sir Allen MacNab’s gatehouse in the late 1830s and sat atop a battery from the war of 1812. It’s great! You can dress up in period clothing and get some great photos just as we did.

In one room a video called Dive Detectives was playing. Two warships had been sunk and lost the bottom of Lake Ontario due to a violent storm in 1812 killing 80 sailors. Divers had been sent to explore the region. Photos of the discovered wreckage have been placed around the room.

short video about hamilton military museum

We really enjoyed this visit to Historic Dundurn Castle, however, the only thing that would have made it better for us would be a self-guided tour option. That way you can meander for as long or short as you wish.