Ardwold - Sir John Craig Eaton and Lady Eaton

Ardwold was the home of Sir John Craig Eaton and Lady Eaton - the name means "high green hill" in gaelic. Built in 1911, it was demolished (some of the thicker walls requiring dynamite) only 25 years later in 1936. By all accounts it was one of the most dramatic houses in all of Canada, second only to Casa Loma next door. The land was purchased in 1909 and the existing home, Anne Arthurs's Ravenswood (1867-1909) was torn down. Architect A. Frank Wickson then designed the 50-room Georgian style estate, which included the expected music room, billiards room, and 14 bathrooms. But the house also included an elevator, a 5-room nursery suite complete with its own kitchen, a private hospital area, and an underground tunnel to the half-acre glassed in conservatory and indoor swimming pool. But guests were first introduced to the mansion in the two storey great hall complete with a pipe organ that Sir John would often play.

As with many estates along the escarpment just above Davenport Road, the 11 acres of gardens and grounds at Ardwold were noteworthy as well. The view south over Toronto was enhanced by the formal Italian-inspired gardens and fountains. Unfortunately the Ardwold estate was sold in 1936 after Sir John died of pneumonia in 1922, and Lady Eaton moved to her King City chateau. The land was divided up into what is now the Ardwold Gate subdivision. The only remaining building from the estate is the Ardwold Gatehouse - now a single family residence on the east side of Spadina Road just north of Ardwold Gate.

Ardwold is just one of the many estates that have stood along "The Davenport Hill" in Toronto.

Short URL to share for Ardwold historic photos: wholemap.com/Ardwold
Address for Ardwold: 1 Ardwold Gate, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - M5R 2W1
Latitude, Longtitude for Ardwold: 43.67916343850496, -79.40697658019876

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of Estates_and_Houses photos.

Historic photos of Ardwold

1909		Ardwold Gate - 480 Davenport Road 116 years ago - Casa Loma - 1909 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Model T in the driveway out front of Ardwold - home of Sir John Eaton and Lady Eaton, Spadina Road 114 years ago - Casa Loma - 1911 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Looking up to the Glass cupola from the grounds of Ardwold 113 years ago - Casa Loma - 1912 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Lodge on Spadina at AustinTerrace, entrance to Ardwold 113 years ago - Casa Loma - 1912 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915		Looking northwest from Casa Loma tower across Spadina House and Ardwold 110 years ago - Casa Loma - 1915 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918		Interior of Eatons residence at Ardwold - piano and artwork 107 years ago - Casa Loma - 1918 Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1920		Sir John Eaton and Lady Eaton (left) and group at Ardwold Estate 105 years ago - Casa Loma - 1920 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1922		Ardwold Estate demolished 1936 for Ardwold Gate subdivision 103 years ago - Casa Loma - 1922 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1922		Garden Wall along Spadina Rd outside Ardwold 103 years ago - Casa Loma - Thursday, July 20, 1922 Max temp: 26.7°C - Min temp: 11.7°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1922		Ardwold - Sir John Craig Eaton's mansion - looking n.e. at right behind trees is Glen Edyth 103 years ago - Casa Loma - 1922 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1922		South side of Ardwold in the snow 103 years ago - Casa Loma - 1922 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1926		Fashions at Ardwold from Simpson Co - a dancing frock of organdie and brown and white painted chiffon with black lace 99 years ago - Casa Loma - 1926 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1926		Wedding fashion parade at Ardwold in front of glassed in conservatory and indoor pool 99 years ago - Casa Loma - 1926 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1929		Entrance to Ardwold, Eaton family residence, Spadina Road 96 years ago - Casa Loma - Wednesday, September 18, 1929 Max temp: 12.8°C - Min temp: 5.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)