Craigdarroch Castle

Between 1887-1980 Craigdarroch was built by Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who became a wealthy coal baron on Vancouver Island. Dunsmuir died before it was completed so never even lived here. His wife resided until her death in 1908 with many of the younger of their ten children. The estate encompassed 28 acres surrounded on three sides by a massive 20' high stone wall. Formal gardens, huge lawns, riding stables, tennis courts, ponds, streams, meadows and splendid views of the city and harbor below were the envy and ire of the common folk upon whose coal mining backs the Dunsmuir fortunes were made.



The red slate roof was made from a quarry near the Vermont border.











Oak paneling came from Chicago; Spanish mahogany,western red cedar, cherry, Hawaiian koa, rosewood,
maple, holly, oak and walnut were all used extensively throughout the castle.
Exotic woods such as jarra rosewood made intricate parquetry.