James Dunsmuir and daughters in Hatley Park Italian Garden
- CA RRU 025-001-3-010
- Item
- 1912-1920
Part of Hatley Park Collection
James Dunsmuir and daughters in Hatley Park Italian Garden L-R: Muriel; James; Kathleen; Marion
James Dunsmuir and daughters in Hatley Park Italian Garden
Part of Hatley Park Collection
James Dunsmuir and daughters in Hatley Park Italian Garden L-R: Muriel; James; Kathleen; Marion
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Hatley Castle was designed by renowned British Columbia architect Samuel Maclure for James Dunsmuir. The estate was further developed from 1912-1914 by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall. This included addition of a new entrance on Sooke Road that would bring the visitor down a winding, serpentine road to the main house. An extensive network of roads and trails were added to the estate.
West wall of Italian garden under construction
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
Ground for Italian garden and croquet lawn being prepared. Looking south
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
Ground for Italian garden and croquet lawn being prepared. Looking east
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
Conservatory complex from the west. Man stood in front of conservatory
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The greenhouse and conservatory were constructed and installed by the Lord and Burnham Company and they later used the estate installation in their promotional material. The glass house complex had a full time manager and required 60 tons of coal and 200 cords of wood per year to heat. The ornate conservatory pictured had a central dome of about 30 ft square, with two side galleries, each 60 ft long. Flowers were grown inside that were intended for display in the castle and in later years it was also used for food production. According to a former gardener, interviewed in the 1950s, Laura Dunsmuir said that the conservatory was an extravagance in a private garden and that it should be in a public park.
panoramic photo of Hatley Park from garden ponds. Italian garden is under construction
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden is under construction and early Japanese garden (pre stone lined pond) is visible.
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Preparing the ground for the Italian garden and croquet lawn. Looking north
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
A view of the completed Italian Garden from castle 4th floor window
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
Stables courtyard with 8 horses on display
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Harry Mann holds Dola's horse, Beauty on left, James Dunsmuir Jr. holds two horses and Mann family members hold the remaining 5 horses.
Coachman, William Edward John (‘Fred’) Mann, was in charge of the stables at Hatley Park. Also employed were his sons, Charlie, Bill and Jack. His youngest son, Harry, also helped out in the stables when not attending school. They are standing in the courtyard of the U-shaped stables and garage building. The coachman's home was attached to the stables at the east side of the building and the chauffeur’s home was attached to the garages on the west side. The building was added as part of the extensive estate development by Brett and Hall, 1912-1914.
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Early Japanese garden pond from South west
Part of Hatley Park Collection
New pavilion is installed, as is floating bridge. The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Early Japanese garden pond from South west
Part of Hatley Park Collection
New pavilion is installed, as is floating bridge. South shore of pond is just visible in foreground. The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Neptune Stairs from under porte-cochere, lions not at bottom
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The Neptune Steps and Fountain Court to the north of the castle were added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.
Stables courtyard with 8 horses on display
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Harry Mann holds Dola's horse, Beauty on left, James Dunsmuir Jr. holds two horses and Mann family members hold the remaining 5 horses. Horses are not ready for the photo.
Coachman, William Edward John (‘Fred’) Mann, was in charge of the stables at Hatley Park. Also employed were his sons, Charlie, Bill and Jack. His youngest son, Harry, also helped out in the stables when not attending school. They are standing in the courtyard of the U-shaped stables and garage building. The coachman's home was attached to the stables at the east side of the building and the chauffeur’s home was attached to the garages on the west side. The building was added as part of the extensive estate development by Brett and Hall, 1912-1914.
Japanese garden floating bridge and island from east shore of pond
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The stables and garage building was added as part of extensive development of the estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914. The area in the foreground of the picture was later used for cereal crop growing.
Japanese garden rustic fishing bridge from south west, cherries in bloom
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927. The wooden fishing bridge was one of Noda's additions to the garden.
Sooke Road Gatehouse with a man and woman (and cat) in front
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The gate house on Sooke Road was part of the estate developments made by Brett and Hall from 1912-1914. It was occupied for 20 years by Herman and Theresa Eng. Herman Eng was head gardener at Hatley Park 1913-1932.
Panoramic photo of Hatley Park walled garden from south of the lower pond.
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The walled garden was added as part of extensive development of the estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914. The walled garden contained vegetable and fruit crops as well as the greenhouse complex.
Stables courtyard with 5 horses on display
Part of Hatley Park Collection
James Dunsmuir Jr is just out of shot on left side, holding Kismet's reins. Mann family members hold the other horses. Coachman, Fred Mann is with 4th horse from left.
Coachman, William Edward John (‘Fred’) Mann, was in charge of the stables at Hatley Park. Also employed were his sons, Charlie, Bill and Jack. His youngest son, Harry, also helped out in the stables when not attending school. They are standing in the courtyard of the U-shaped stables and garage building. The coachman's home was attached to the stables at the east side of the building and the chauffeur’s home was attached to the garages on the west side. The building was added as part of the extensive estate development by Brett and Hall, 1912-1914.
Early Japanese garden pond from south west
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Newly installed two humped bridge to island and young landscaping on the island. Castle is visible in the background. The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Waterwheel in Japanese garden, man has his head in the stream behind
Part of Hatley Park Collection
The upper Japanese garden at Hatley Park was designed by Japanese landscape architect Isaburo Kishida. The garden was installed in 1909 and developed by Tadashi Noda from 1913-1927.
Tadashi Noda (back to camera) leading a conversation in the rose garden
Part of Hatley Park Collection
Tadashi Noda (back to camera) was responsible for the Japanese garden at Hatley Park from about 1913-1927. In this image, the group is standing at the centre of the rose garden, just west of the Japanese garden. To his left is John Graham Graham, estate manager, and John's wife, Clara.
James Dunsmuir Jr on Kismet outside Hatley Castle. Kismet is moving.
Part of Hatley Park Collection
James Dunsmuir Jr, known to his family as ‘Boy’, and to others as Jim, was born in 1894. His childhood education took place at Loretto, a private school in Scotland, where he became an accomplished lightweight boxer. After he completed his schooling, Jim went to Montreal and worked as a private secretary at a bank. With a lifelong love of horses, it came as no surprise that he enlisted in the B.C. Horse and later the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) stationed at Willows fairground in Victoria at the outbreak of the First World War. Having taken the cavalry school course in Winnipeg, Jim was made a lieutenant, but he quickly grew frustrated with the seemingly endless ceremonial duties of the CMR. Anxious to contribute to the war in Europe, Jim resigned his commission and set sail for England to join a British cavalry regiment. Jim departed from New York on May 1, 1915, on the luxury passenger ship Lusitania. Tragically, as the ship neared the Irish coast on May 7, it was hit by a German torpedo and sank. His body was never recovered.
This photo would have been taken between 1914 and 1915, while James Dunsmuir Jr was stationed in Victoria. There are similar versions of this photograph in this and other collections.