Cannington Manor Provincial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cannington Manor Provincial Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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All Saints Anglican Church
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 Cannington Manor Provincial Park
Location in Saskatchewan
Cannington Manor Provincial Park
Location in Canada
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| Location | Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Nearest city | Carlyle |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | Saskatchewan Provincial Parks |
Cannington Manor Provincial Park is a special historic park in Saskatchewan, Canada. It's found in the south-east part of the province, near the RM of Moose Mountain. This area was once home to an English colony started in 1882 by Captain Edward Michell Pierce. It became a provincial park in 1986.
Cannington Manor is located west and north of Highway 603. The park is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south-east of Moose Mountain Provincial Park. It is also about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Moosomin.
Contents
An English Colony in Canada
Captain Pierce, the founder, set up an agricultural college here. He wanted to teach young men from wealthy English families how to farm. These students were sometimes called remittance men. They paid about £100 a year to learn farming and homesteading skills.
Some brothers named Ernest, Billy, and Bertie Beckton built a ranch house called "Didsbury." This house was part of the Cannington Manor colony.
Life in the Colony
Life in Cannington Manor was very different from other settlements. The people here enjoyed activities common in upper-class English society. They had horse racing, polo matches, and even plays. They also played billiards, soccer, and tennis.
This was a big contrast to other settlers nearby. Most homesteaders worked very hard just to survive. They had to improve their land to get ownership from the government.
Soon, the colony grew into a busy community with about 200 residents. Many buildings were constructed to support them. These included a dairy, a school (which also served as a town hall), and a blacksmith shop. There was also the Moose Mountain trading company store and the Harold Fripp flour mill. A land titles office, a carpenter shop, and the Mitre hotel were also built.
Why the Colony Ended
The Cannington Manor colony did not last forever. Several things led to its decline.
Captain Pierce, who started the community, passed away on June 20, 1888. After his death, important people began to leave. For example, C.E. Phipps moved his land titles office in 1891. Teachers and storekeepers also moved away over the next few years.
A major reason for the decline was the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Between 1901 and 1902, the railway line was built about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of the village. This distance was a problem for the community. In those days, people traveled by horseback, and being far from the railway made it hard for businesses to thrive.
On top of these challenges, there was a drought. Grain prices also dropped. These problems made it very difficult for settlers to continue their way of life at Cannington Manor.
Exploring Historic Sites
Cannington Manor Provincial Park has two main areas.
One area is about 15 hectares (37 acres). Here, you can find the remains of the old village. There are also several buildings that have been rebuilt to look like the originals. A schoolhouse from the 1920s now serves as the park's visitor center.
All Saints Anglican Church was built in 1884. It is still used today and is near the center of the village site. This church is a very important historic place in Canada.
The second area is about 32 hectares (79 acres). It is located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) west of the village site. This part of the park has an old farmyard. It includes a large wooden house built in 1888. This house is known as the Humphrys / Hewlett House. It also has the remains of two stone outbuildings. The Humphrys / Hewlett House is also listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. Both the house and the church were officially recognized as historic sites in 1986.
Gallery
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The Humphrys/Hewlett House built in 1888 (2015)
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The Humphrys/Hewlett House and plaque (2015)
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Archaeological site at Cannington Manor (2015)
See also
- List of protected areas of Saskatchewan
- List of historic places in rural municipalities of Saskatchewan
- The French Counts of St Hubert, Saskatchewan
- Tourism in Saskatchewan
