When most of us think about Battlefield House we immediately vision the re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek which takes place on it’s grounds every Spring (something you should not miss) or being in a wedding party and going there after the ceremony to take pictures. But did you know that there’s much more to this very historic site? Like doing a tour of the house that the Gage family built back in 1796 and being transformed back in time, or walking up the hill and climbing the stairs to the top of the 100 ft Battlefield Monument where you get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. Not to be outdone, the grounds of Battlefield house is lush, well manicured and tempting to sit under a tree with your favourite book and take things easy.
I was fortunate to get a personal guide tour of the historic house, the gardens and the monument when I visited a couple weeks back as part of our dedication to highlighting things that can be done in Ontario. Our tour started through the rustic looking front door which was probably hand carved by a skilled trades person (well, it seemed that way) which was adorned on both sides by lovely iron lanterns. The type you’d expect a coachman to have. On entering you’re immediately hit by the scent of “old”. Not musty as was the scent at Dundurn Castle, but more of a smell of an empty house that wasn’t lived in. The painted wooden floors squeaked and gave a sort of hollow noise as you moved though the hallway and glanced at the rooms on the main floor. Straight ahead was a staircase leading to the second floor, which I learned wasn’t part of the original home but added later on. On the left side was the kitchen which was still functional, with a fireplace that took me back to my days watching Little House On the Prairie. I’m sure some delicious meals were prepared here and I could almost hear the chatter you’d get in a kitchen as meals were being prepared and enjoyed on the huge wooden kitchen table.
One couldn’t miss the lovely wallpaper which was revealed on part of the wall just off the entrance, which would have been the way the walls were dressed back when the Gage family occupied the home. It’s a restoration work in progress and I can’t wait to go back, even just to see the finished project. On the right side of the entrance was the grand room and the main floor was complete with a bedroom at the very back, just off the kitchen. With great use of windows, the house is brightly lit and allowed for wonderful views of the grounds. The walls were decorated with many paintings and pieces that gave the visitor the feeling of stepping back in time and being absorbed into history. I could clearly see how daily life would have been in this home so many years ago. But remember I had the personal guide tour, by a very knowledgeable tour guide (wish I could remember her name).
We then made our way up the staircase to the second floor where one could view the master’s bedroom as well as the other bedrooms and just off the bedroom to the front of the house, there’s a room dedicated to a Military Museum (see pics above for a couple pieces of the artifacts). The paintings on the wall in the hallway gave me a sort of creepy feeling… blame that on all the older horror movies I’ve watched over the years. The highlight of the top floor is the balcony that stretches across the front of the house. I could see myself sitting here on a summer’s evening as the sun sets in the background with a panoramic view of the property and hills as a backdrop.
A tour of Battlefield house is not complete until you make your way down the stairs into the root cellar, where on the right side of the staircase you can see the exposed brick that were used in construction, sill in pristine condition. The area in the basement is now used mainly during school tours where the kids can participate in crafts and other tour activities.
You’ll notice that I didn’t spend much time on the actual history of the house or the lives of the people who lived here, as I feel this is something you should really experience for yourself. The guided tours are simply amazing and very educational without the feeling of being in a classroom setting.
With the tour of the house complete, we made our way through the garden and up the stairs leading to the Battlefield Monument. If you’re lucky you may see a rabbit or two hopping around as you make your way up the concrete stairs. Certainly a local landmark, the Battlefield Monument has been part of the local landscape since 1913 and was built to commemorate a century of peace between the British and the Americans. Through the massive doors that reminded you of the entrance to a castle, you can climb the internal stairs up to the lookout deck. Here the view is absolutely stunning so bring your camera. With a majestic view of the grounds of the property, you’ll get a good idea of the work that’s being done to preserve this historic site and on a clear day you can also see as far as Toronto across the lake.
Battlefield House Museum & Park
77 King St. West
Stoney Creek, Ontario
L8G 5E5
Phone: 905-662-8458
Fax: 905-546-4141
Website: www.hamilton.ca/museums
Email: battlefield@hamilton.ca
Admission Rates
Adults (18-59) $6.50
Senior (60+) $5.50
Student * (13-17) $5.50
Child (6-12) $4.50
Infant (5 and under) Free
Family ** $16.50
* Student = 13-17 or with valid student ID
** Family = two adults and dependent children under 18
Hours of Operation
July 1 to Labour Day: Tuesday to Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
Labour Day to June 30: Tuesday to Sunday: 1 – 4 pm
(Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)
Depending on availability, they will gladly open outside of regular hours for pre-booked groups.
So what about the re-enactment of the Battle Of Stoney creek? Personally I’ve not been to it yet, but I’ve marked of my calendar to be there bright and early next spring, so I can see for myself how the war was won! Do check out the website at http://www.battlefieldhouse.ca for more details about the re-enactment.
I’d like to thank Susan Ramsay and the wonderful staff at Battlefield house for accommodating us with an insightful tour of Battlefield House and The Monument. I’d also like to invite you to join us on Facebook and keep connected with all that there is to do in the fascinating Province of Ontario. Simply click on the Facebook image below to connect.
