There’s no denying that Ontario is rich in history, especially when it comes to its landmarks and historic homes. Hamilton’s Auchmar Manor House is one we’ve definitely noticed; not only for its 1800s structure but because it was recently used in a new Netflix series.
You’ll want to make your way to the city of Hamilton for a little history tour. Though you may not be able to enter its premises at the moment, the house is a a sight to see from afar.
According to Ontario Parks’ administered website, Historic Places, the house sits on a four-hectare property right at 88 Fennell Avenue West, and it’s known as Auchmar.
It’s a two-storey, stuccoed brick manor house and per Doors Open Ontario, the Auchmar Estate was built around the years 1852 to 1854. It is “considered to be the last surviving country estate on Hamilton Mountain.” It exemplifies Gothic Revival style architecture and it’s full of history.
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It was completed around 1855 and is now protected by an Ontario Heritage Trust conservation easement, owned by the City of Hamilton.
Its story goes as follows; the manor was built for the Honourable Isaac Buchanan, a local Scotsman, entrepreneur, politician, and civic leader from the 19th-century. Per Friends of Auchmar, it’s described as a “magnificent house” that was allegedly visited by notable figures like Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Allan MacNab, Pope John Paul II – when he was Cardinal, and the Prince of Wales in an 1860 Royal visit.
At one point during World War II, according to Historic Places, it served as a convalescence home for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Now, the home has been used quite a few times, more notably in TV series such as Netflix’s new show Code 8 Part ll.
According to Netflix, they transformed the Gothic Revival-style mansion into an abandoned orphanage for the show.
But that’s not all. Tourism Hamilton has a page that lists where films have taken place in the city and there are six occasions in which Auchmar Estate was mentioned – BYUtv’s Ruby and The Well, Shudder’s Slasher: Reunion, Good Witch Season 6, FX/Hulu Miniseries Mrs America, Stardust and Murdoch Mysteries Season 12.
If you’re interested in visiting the house, you can do so during Open Doors Ontario this May for both in-person and virtual tours. It’ll be open May 4th and 5th from 10 AM to 4 PM.
This is a one-of-a-kind experience so if you’re looking for something educational yet rewarding to do this spring, pay Auchmar Manor House a visit.
Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Netflix, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.
Karen Doradea
