Dundurn Castle

Well we're a bit behind on the blog! The weekend BEFORE last we went to Dundurn Castle the home of Sir Allan Napier McNab who was the first Prime Minister of Upper Canada as well as the first lawyer and banker in Hamilton. This was all AFTER his distinguished military career and as you will see he had a pretty fancy house! It has been restored to how it would have looked in 1855 at the height of his term. Restoration was done based on the diary of his daughter who would have been 13 at the time.

The front of the house


The front hall


The drawing room (pink for the ladies)


The loo!! McNab was the 1st person in Upper Canada to have a flushing toilet. He also had indoor plumbing for his bath and sink! This house was ULTRA modern (it also had gas lighting before there were street lights in the area)


The servants quarters were also very modern, although built below ground there were light wells, gas flares in the kitchen and a pump in the scullery. The kitchen had a copy of Mrs Beeton on the table! : )


They also brewed their own beer. : )
The cock-fighting ring (in it's own little house) is now used for weddings!

The guides were really great! They knew their stuff (both about the castle itself and other information about the time). We had lunch at the coach house and also went to the war museum which is very close by.

More on our adventures soon!
love lumpkin