Annandale National Historic Site facts for kids
Annandale House
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| Location | 30 Tillson Avenue Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada N4G 2Z8 |
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| Official name: Annandale House / Tillsonburg Museum National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1997 |
Annandale National Historic Site is a very special place in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. It's a National Historic Site of Canada, which means it's important to Canada's history. The house was built in 1880 by Edwin Delevan Tillson and his wife, Mary Ann. Edwin was the first mayor of Tillsonburg, and his father, George Tillson, founded the town! The Tillsons moved into their new home in 1883.
What makes Annandale House so unique is its amazing interior design. It's like a time capsule showing off the "Aesthetic Art Movement" style from the Victorian era. Because of its incredible decorations, the site was officially named a National Historic Site in 1997.
What is the Aesthetic Art Movement?
The Aesthetic Art Movement was a popular design style that started in England. It became very trendy across North America in the 1880s and stayed popular for about ten years.
People who followed this movement believed in "art for art's sake." This meant that art and design should be beautiful just because they are beautiful, not necessarily to teach a lesson or tell a story.
Some famous people connected to this movement include:
- The architect John Ruskin
- The designer William Morris
- The American painter James Whistler
- The famous writer and playwright Oscar Wilde
Inside Annandale House, you can see lots of examples of the Aesthetic Art Movement. Look for it in the wall coverings, painted ceilings, and fancy fireplaces. You'll also spot it in the beautiful stained and etched glass and the detailed carved wood. Annandale House is one of the few homes in Canada that still shows this unique style so well.
Oscar Wilde's Visit and Influence
The Irish author, poet, and playwright Oscar Wilde was a huge supporter of the Aesthetic Art Movement. In 1882, he gave a lecture called The House Beautiful in Woodstock, Ontario. During his talk, he encouraged people to find beauty in their everyday lives. He said, "Find your subjects in everyday life; your own men and women, your own flowers and fields, your own hills and mountains, these are what your art should represent to you."
Mary Ann Tillson, Edwin's wife, actually went to Oscar Wilde's lecture. She was very interested in what this unusual man had to say. She took his ideas to heart when she decorated her new home. She mixed traditional Victorian designs with subjects from her own life, just as Wilde had suggested. This is why Annandale House is such a perfect example of the Aesthetic Art Movement!
See also
- Aestheticism
- Doors Open Canada
- Oscar Wilde
- Tillsonburg
