Heart Of The Estate

 A look at the main house at Moorside. Aside from the present, a good portion of the house is open for visits. Mackenzie King made this place into another home. He lived at Laurier House in the city, willed to him by the widow of his predecessor as leader of the Liberal Party- Wilfrid Laurier- and that house is similarly also open to visitors as a national historic site.

It was here that King entertained the great and the good, including the Churchills and Roosevelts, particularly as the world went back to war.

King had a distinct interest in collecting pieces of old architecture, some from the old world and some from the new. He would incorporate some into what were called follys, and others would be found here and there on the estate, like this regal lion.

During his time here, King's interest in gardening took him in new directions, both as a work obligation and for pleasure.

Gardening applies to around the house, but also to formal gardens that run down the slope towards the woods.

This panel looks at two of his follys.

While this looks at the layout of the two formal gardens- the French and the English garden.

There was a wedding party here while I was visiting, having photos taken.

A look back through the French garden at the house.

And down slope at the English garden. We'll carry on here tomorrow.