Dundurn Castle - Hamilton, Ontario

I hope you enjoy this little peek at one of my favourite places to visit in southern Ontario. Every time I go, I see or learn something new. This Canadian National Historic Site is not really a castle at all. Dundurn Castle was built by Sir Allan Napier MacNab, and completed in 1835 at a cost of $175,000.00. Seventy-two rooms made up its 18,000-square-footage (1,700 square metres) and 42 of them are now open to the public after being restored to what they would have been in 1855. Sir John A. MacDonald, first Prime Minister of Canada, and England's King George VII were among those entertained there. Some interesting facts from the tour: -- Dundurn Castle was the first home in the province to have gas lighting and running water. The water was pumped through the house by a young boy who earned $2.00 per month for his service. -- The Scullery Maid was a young girl of 9 or 10. She washed the dishes from the entire household's seven meals each day. Her wage -- $1.30 per month. -- Refined sugar was delivered in a solid, paper-wrapped cone. It was shaved or chipped off when needed. The cost of a cone of sugar - $75.00. The cost of a new home - $100.00. -- Sir Allan MacNab was often accused of treating his servants too well. :) The Victorian Kitchen Garden was a project undertaken by the City of Hamilton as part of the restoration. This formal garden is walled in Scottish fashion, and has a series of walkways and beds full of fruit, flowers, herbs and vegetables that would have been grown during Sir Allan NacNab's lifetime at Dundurn. The garden is maintained the old fashioned way by hand, and all natural.