Whitehern channels ‘Downton Abbey’

The historic Whitehern House and Garden is an important part of Hamilton’s history. The McQuestens, who inhabited the home, are considered one of Ontario’s most outstanding Victorian families, and today its biggest summer event aims to show why.

Visiting the historic Whitehern House and Garden in Hamilton is like going back in time. The 19th century estate has been perfectly preserved. Channeling the spirit of the hit TV show “Downton Abbey,” visitors are dressed fittingly for the occasion.

“It was certainly a fashionable and intriguing era and I always love to see it and to be a part of this,” said Gail Green, who attended the event.

“We come here every single Wednesday and we heard about the wonderful celebration and couldn’t wait to be here. Little did we know we’d be dressed so beautiful,” said Peggy Woodall, another attendee.

The garden party is celebrating the era during which Whitehern was inhabited.

In the garden, visitors can enjoy music from that period or pick up an item or two from vendors selling vintage jewellery and crafts.

While the event is inspired by Downton Abbey, Whitehern actually predates the show by about 60 years and has enough history to have its own television series.

“There’s all this great gossipy details about the life of a family and have that here at Whitehern because we have their unedited family letters so we know so much about them and their stories really come to life in this fantastically beautiful setting,” said Elizabeth Tessier.

Three generations of the McQuesten family lived in the house, from doctors to a reverend and politician who was the minister of highways, spearheading projects like the QEW.

“It’s just a wonderful collection of stories and images. We have tremendous collection of pictures of the family with their friends and including the home and the neighbourhood as well,” said Tom Minnes, a supervisor at Whitehern.

With over 4,000 letters and documents in the Whitehern collection, it’s enough to keep people intrigued for many seasons to come.