No written remarks can adequately describe the quality craftsmanship evident in absolutely every detail of IDYLWYLD. Two foot thick walls of local hand-cut limestone were used in the construction of this 8460 sq ft Second Empire French Mansardic styled mansion with 3+ floors, basement, a tall corner tower, and patterned slate roof. Construction began in the 1870s on 13 acres of which the house originally had a London Rd address (Barber Avenue with its stone gate pillars was the laneway). It was built for J.D. Williamson the proprietor of The Golden Lion a very successful downtown department store who wanted only the very best of the best for his new home. The 2 carved stone lions guarding the front steps are a lasting tribute to Mr. Williamsons connection to his store. The interior has a centre hall floor plan layout with 18 rooms-of which 8 are bedrooms. Significant interior features include The soaring 13 ft ceilings with a wide variety of intricately handcrafted plaster mouldings and murals; Hand-selected woods of mahogany, ash, cherry, and black walnut in the waist-high wainscoting and 18-inch baseboards, Elaborate arched doors and trim; Magnificent black walnut staircase winding up 3 full stories; Quarter cut oak flooring framed with intricate walnut, cherry, and maple parquet; Imported Italian fireplaces; Etched glass panels; and Detailed engraved bronze hinges and hardware. The property is a private park-like 0.84 acre L-shaped mature treed estate-size lot located on one of Guelphs finest residential streets in the heart of the very desirable downtown Exhibition Park neighbourhood. There are 2 prestigious plaques prominently displayed on the exterior wall at the front entrance as a reminder to visitors of the buildings architectural historic significance. The City plaque in part reads, IDYLWYLD is probably the best-preserved home of the 1880s and is a worthy example of its architectural style. (id:10452)

Property Details

Listing Office: Royal LePage Royal City Realty Brokerage