The origin of Hatley Castle

Historic Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University is a Canadian landmark and a connection to Edwardian life on a grand scale. It’s also a complicated and contentious legacy of the ongoing colonization of Indigenous Lands.

James Dunsmuir was a coal baron, industrialist, former Premier and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. He was also a controversial figure who was known to use his wealth and power ruthlessly. Viewed by some as a builder of early British Columbia, Dunsmuir left a complicated and contentious legacy. His family home, the historic Hatley Castle, is a Canadian landmark and a connection to Edwardian life on a grand scale.

James Dunsmuir envisioned a medieval castle for his retirement home. In 1907, he purchased Hatley Park, 250 forested and rolling acres overlooking Esquimalt Lagoon — fitting for what would be the largest private residence on the west coast at the time.

Dunsmuir wanted Hatley Castle to echo his Scottish heritage: a place he could fish, hunt and play the role of gentleman farmer. His wife, Laura Dunsmuir, had her heart set on a home with an impressive interior suitable for lavish entertaining.

They both got what they wanted. Featuring a magnificent foyer with a huge fireplace and wrap-around double staircase, plus more than 20 bedrooms, it would be impressive enough to awe – and large enough for the younger six of their 10 children to live there comfortably as well.

“It doesn’t matter what it costs, just build me what I want,” Dunsmuir was fond of saying. BC architect Samuel Maclure, by then renowned for working with Francis Rattenbury on Government House in Victoria, enthusiastically complied.

Hatley Castle, complete with a central Norman tower and elegant terraces, was finished in just 18 months. In May 1910, the Dunsmuir family moved in. Hatley Park was a like a small city. The census of 1911 lists more than 100 people living on the site, from groundskeepers to domestic servants.

Hatley Castle was Dunsmuir’s home until his death in 1920. Laura continued to reside in the castle until she died in 1937.

Hatley Castle: a history in five objects

1. The Doorbell: The bronze doorbell is tucked to the right of the impressively solid golden oak doors with brass door handles featuring Scottish rampant lions. Easy to miss at first glance the bell is set in a heart-shaped frame that holds a whimsical seated angel. The electric doorbell signaled more than visitors: it was a mark of wealth to have electricity throughout a building in 1910.
2. The fireplaces: Eight wood-burning fireplaces on the castle’s main floor speak to the lavish construction and décor budget. They were there to add style and a sense of comfort to large rooms. Building heat came from steam radiators and hot-water pipes. Each fireplace tells a story, from the nautical themes of the blue-tiled dining room hearth with an inset shell and mermaid figures, to the carved Scottish thistles around the fireplace in Dunsmuir’s office.
3. The side saddle: The Dunsmuir family enjoyed riding and there are a number of photos showing them on horseback in Hatley Park. The side saddle in the Dunsmuir Room of the Hatley Castle museum is evidence of a bucolic life, says Royal Roads Archives Manager Jenny Seeman. “It’s a nice piece of Edwardian endless leisure time.”
4. The mirrors: Matching ornamental mirrors hung above a pair of facing Italian black marble fireplaces in the 1,200-square-foot Greek revival Drawing Room. They’re further evidence that no expense was spared for Hatley Castle’s interior. This massive room, about the size of a modest house, is where Laura Dunsmuir entertained society friends. It was designed to impress. The horizontal mirrors were sold at auction in 1939 after Laura Dunsmuir’s death, but one was recently re-purchased by the Friends of Hatley Park and RRU for $11,000. Once more, it hangs where it was meant to be.
5. Billiard room fireplace inglenook: A nod to the architect of Hatley Castle, the clay bricks used to build the simply designed recessed inglenook were manufactured at Clayburn Village in Abbotsford B.C. The brick plant was founded by Charles Maclure, brother of Samuel Maclure.

Museum treasures: window on the past

After Laura Dunsmuir’s death, none of her children could afford the $1,500 monthly upkeep on the castle. Hatley Park would be sold, valued at about $260,000.

With her personal items left to the family, the rest of the castle contents were sold at a five-day auction in 1939. The 25-cent auction admission was a small price to pay for south Vancouver Island residents to finally get a look at the spectacular interior of famed Hatley Castle. For 45 cents, they could even take a round-trip bus service from downtown Victoria and make a day of it.

The 25-page auction catalogue listed silver, fine dishware, art and “luxurious house furnishings.”

Some of the items auctioned off were destined to return to Hatley Castle. While many are on display in the Dunsmuir Room in the castle’s museum, others are back in their original place in the grand home, such as the large chandelier that hangs in the library/lounge.

Other treasures returned include a vase with transparent jade green celadon glaze and an oversized German beer stein with a decorative lid, a massive mug clearly made for serious celebrating.

In the castle overlooking Esquimalt Harbour, they are beautiful physical reminders of the strong connection between the building today and its lavish past.

The road forward

Hatley Castle overlooks our present-day Royal Roads University campus and has a view to the colonial past.

From the castle, you can see a long way. And so can we.

We have a long-term vision for our future. One in which we continue to move out of the castle and into the community, to warmly welcome all people and communities, and to move proactively on our journey of reconciliation with Xwsepsum and Lekwungen ancestors and families on whose lands our campus located.

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As we celebrate 25 years as a public university, we’re also celebrating our past in order to transform the future. Read more about life in the of our weekly series exploring the past, present and future of Royal Roads: royalroads.ca/25.