Willowbank Estate facts for kids

Willowbank is a beautiful old mansion in Queenston, Ontario, Canada. It's a very special place because it's considered a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's an important part of Canada's history!

A Historic Home

Willowbank is famous for its amazing look, which mixes two old styles: Classical Revival architecture (like ancient Greek buildings) and a "Picturesque" way of designing the land around it.

The mansion is named after the lovely willow trees that used to grow there. It's a great example of the large homes built by rich settlers in the early 1800s in a place called Upper Canada. Willowbank was built between 1832 and 1834 for Alexander Hamilton. He was the sheriff of the Niagara area and the son of Robert Hamilton, who helped start Upper Canada.

The house was designed in the Greek Revival style, which was very popular for grand homes in North America at that time. Willowbank is one of the best examples of these buildings still standing today!

A famous architect named John Latshaw designed Willowbank. It was built using local Whirlpool Sandstone. What makes it special are its eight hand-carved columns that go up two stories high. The front doorway is also considered a masterpiece of Greek design.

The mansion is set in a beautiful landscape that looks very natural, almost like a painting. This outdoor area is also protected, just like the house itself. Willowbank sits on a hillside, looking over the village of Queenston. If you look at it from the bottom of the hill, you'll see thick trees around a large, neat lawn. The old driveway winds up the hill, giving you only quick peeks of the house until you see it fully. There aren't any formal gardens, making it seem like the natural land was used to create a perfect setting for this impressive mansion.

Willowbank is protected by laws to make sure its outside and the land around it aren't changed in a bad way. It's protected by the Ontario Heritage Act, it's a National Historic Site, and it's also protected by an agreement with Ontario Heritage Trust.

School of Restoration Arts

Willowbank is also home to the School of Restoration Arts. This school teaches all the skills needed to fix and care for old buildings. They use historic buildings that need work as places for students to learn. Willowbank itself will be the first "workshop" for the school and will become its main office once the restoration is finished.

The school wants to be the top place in North America for learning about how to save and restore old properties. They also plan to become a company that does heritage restoration work. Willowbank is run by people who love history and old buildings. They opened the School of Restoration Arts to teach the special skills needed to preserve these important places.

The school's goals include:

• Teaching how to fix and save old buildings.
• Finding new ways to use old buildings so they can be kept safe.
• Learning how to record and save parts of old buildings that might be torn down.
• Exploring different programs and groups that help save heritage buildings.
• Helping people find jobs in restoration and build new skills.
• Fixing historic sites and showing others how to do it.
• Getting more people interested in saving and restoring old buildings.
• Finding the right materials to use for restoration work.

What Students Learn

The school's learning is very "hands-on." This means students learn by actually doing and creating real restoration projects. This kind of learning is quite rare in Canada.

The school offers different ways to learn:

• Master classes: These are practical sessions led by an expert craftsperson. Students work on a restoration project together.
• Apprenticeship programs: These are part of the work being done to restore Willowbank itself.
• Lectures and Seminars: These are talks and discussions to learn more about the topics.

Tours and Events

You can visit Willowbank for tours during the summer months. From September to May, you can visit by making an appointment. Willowbank is also available to rent for meetings, conferences, and formal events. They also host cultural and heritage events, showing off the many talented musicians and artists in the Niagara Region.

Images for kids

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  Willowbank front entrance

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  Willowbank plaque

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  Willowbank back side