Eldon House is a historic house and museum located in London, Ontario. The Eldon House property was converted into a public park, now called Harris Park.[1] Eldon House is the oldest continued residence in the city of London.[2] It was inhabited by the family of John and Amelia Harris from 1834 until they gave it to the City of London in 1959. The original owner, Captain John Harris, named Eldon House after the Earl of Eldon, whom he admired.
As a museum, Eldon House offers tours and programming including yearly events such as Canada Day, Victorian Christmas, and in city-wide celebrations of heritage and culture.
This Georgian property was built in 1834, originally on 11 acres (45,000 m2) of land.
Captain John Harris met his wife Amelia Ryerse in 1815. The Ryerse family were prominent Canadians and British Loyalists. The pair married in June 1815 and had twelve children; ten survived and grew up in Eldon House. On 10 September 1834, Amelia Ryerse Harris, John Harris, and their then eight children moved into Eldon House and occupied it thereafter for the next 125 years.[3] Their seven daughters were distinguished members of the London social scene and some married members of the British military. Upon John's death, the house passed to each of their three sons, John Fitzjohn, Edward William and George Becher. Edward William was responsible for an addition to the house, added in 1877.
George Becher Harris, a partner in the Harris brothers law firm, married Mary Elizabeth Lucy Ronalds (known as Lucy), who was the only great-grandchild of both nurseryman Hugh Ronalds and fur trader William Robertson. John Askin was another of her great-grandfathers.[4][5] Lucy and George raised their four children at Raleigh House, a few blocks north and in Eldon House, and in 1887 took over ownership of Eldon House from George's brother Edward. Lucy eventually inherited Robertson's fortune and the contents of the Ronalds family home in Brentford, England. Due to the influx of wealth, the family was able to take an extravagant world tour in 1897. Many of the family's heirlooms and souvenirs are still on display at Eldon House.
After George's death in 1923, his oldest son, George Henry Ronald Harris took over ownership of the home. Ronald was a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada and worked as a mining engineer in Greenwood, British Columbia (1900–1); Quebec; Mossammides, Angola West, Africa (1901–03); East Africa Syndicates (1903–4); and Cassinga Concessions, Angola (1905–8). Many of his souvenirs, especially weaponry from Africa, are on display. Ronald Harris and his wife Lorna Gibbons lived in Eldon House with their three children: George, born in 1910; Amelia Lucy, born in 1913; and Ronald Sutton (Robin) born in 1919 and with Ronald's older sister, Amelia (Milly) Harris. After the death of George Henry Ronald Harris' sister in 1959, his children donated the house and gardens to the City of London.
An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate The Eldon House's role in Ontario's heritage.[2]
Further readingedit
Robin and Terry Harris, eds. The Eldon House Diaries: Five Women's views of the 19th century' Toronto: Champlain Society, 1994.
Christopher Doty 'The Specter of Eldon House' 'The Specter of Eldon House'
Nicholas and Elizabeth Clinch, 'Through a Land of Extremes: The Littledales of Central Asia', a book that has Eldon House as one of its backdrops.
Referencesedit
^"Eldon House". www.historicplaces.ca. 10 January 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2009-09-24.. Eldon House Historical Plaque. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
^Harris, Robin S.; Harris, Terry G., eds. (1994). The Eldon House Diaries: Five Women's Views of the 19th Century (Ontario Series). The Publications of the Champlain Society. p. 3. doi:10.3138/9781442618589. ISBN978-0-9693425-3-3.
^Ronalds, BF (2019). "Before Eldon House: Lucy Ronalds Harris' Background & Upbringing". London and Middlesex Historian. 27: 44–55.
^"Lucy Harris née Ronalds". Sir Francis Ronalds and his Family. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eldon House.
eldon, house, historic, house, museum, located, london, ontario, property, converted, into, public, park, called, harris, park, oldest, continued, residence, city, london, inhabited, family, john, amelia, harris, from, 1834, until, they, gave, city, london, 19. Eldon House is a historic house and museum located in London Ontario The Eldon House property was converted into a public park now called Harris Park 1 Eldon House is the oldest continued residence in the city of London 2 It was inhabited by the family of John and Amelia Harris from 1834 until they gave it to the City of London in 1959 The original owner Captain John Harris named Eldon House after the Earl of Eldon whom he admired Eldon HouseLocation481 Ridout Street North London Ontario CanadaArea11 acresBuilt1834Original useResidential houseCurrent useMuseumArchitectural style s GeorgianOwnerCity of LondonWebsitewww eldonhouse ca As a museum Eldon House offers tours and programming including yearly events such as Canada Day Victorian Christmas and in city wide celebrations of heritage and culture The Museum is affiliated with CMA CHIN and Virtual Museum of Canada citation needed Contents 1 History 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThis Georgian property was built in 1834 originally on 11 acres 45 000 m2 of land Captain John Harris met his wife Amelia Ryerse in 1815 The Ryerse family were prominent Canadians and British Loyalists The pair married in June 1815 and had twelve children ten survived and grew up in Eldon House On 10 September 1834 Amelia Ryerse Harris John Harris and their then eight children moved into Eldon House and occupied it thereafter for the next 125 years 3 Their seven daughters were distinguished members of the London social scene and some married members of the British military Upon John s death the house passed to each of their three sons John Fitzjohn Edward William and George Becher Edward William was responsible for an addition to the house added in 1877 George Becher Harris a partner in the Harris brothers law firm married Mary Elizabeth Lucy Ronalds known as Lucy who was the only great grandchild of both nurseryman Hugh Ronalds and fur trader William Robertson John Askin was another of her great grandfathers 4 5 Lucy and George raised their four children at Raleigh House a few blocks north and in Eldon House and in 1887 took over ownership of Eldon House from George s brother Edward Lucy eventually inherited Robertson s fortune and the contents of the Ronalds family home in Brentford England Due to the influx of wealth the family was able to take an extravagant world tour in 1897 Many of the family s heirlooms and souvenirs are still on display at Eldon House After George s death in 1923 his oldest son George Henry Ronald Harris took over ownership of the home Ronald was a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada and worked as a mining engineer in Greenwood British Columbia 1900 1 Quebec Mossammides Angola West Africa 1901 03 East Africa Syndicates 1903 4 and Cassinga Concessions Angola 1905 8 Many of his souvenirs especially weaponry from Africa are on display Ronald Harris and his wife Lorna Gibbons lived in Eldon House with their three children George born in 1910 Amelia Lucy born in 1913 and Ronald Sutton Robin born in 1919 and with Ronald s older sister Amelia Milly Harris After the death of George Henry Ronald Harris sister in 1959 his children donated the house and gardens to the City of London An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate The Eldon House s role in Ontario s heritage 2 Further reading editRobin and Terry Harris eds The Eldon House Diaries Five Women s views of the 19th century Toronto Champlain Society 1994 Christopher Doty The Specter of Eldon House The Specter of Eldon House Nicholas and Elizabeth Clinch Through a Land of Extremes The Littledales of Central Asia a book that has Eldon House as one of its backdrops References edit Eldon House www historicplaces ca 10 January 2007 Retrieved September 26 2013 a b Eldon House Archived from the original on 2008 05 16 Retrieved 2009 09 24 Eldon House Historical Plaque Retrieved 2009 09 24 Harris Robin S Harris Terry G eds 1994 The Eldon House Diaries Five Women s Views of the 19th Century Ontario Series The Publications of the Champlain Society p 3 doi 10 3138 9781442618589 ISBN 978 0 9693425 3 3 Ronalds BF 2019 Before Eldon House Lucy Ronalds Harris Background amp Upbringing London and Middlesex Historian 27 44 55 Lucy Harris nee Ronalds Sir Francis Ronalds and his Family Retrieved 28 March 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eldon House Eldon House 42 59 05 N 81 15 20 W 42 98484 N 81 25545 W 42 98484 81 25545 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eldon House amp oldid 1106280875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
