An Elegant Estate Lovingly Restored Continues to Dazzle

It's a landmark building that is a highlight of a  visit to the area. But it is also destination unto itself.

Langdon Hall is more than a century old. The Main House, with its grand front hall and dining room, was built in 1898 as a summer home for Eugene Langdon Wilks, a grandson of the New York fur trader and real estate magnate John Jacob Astor.

Langdon Hall was designed in the style of summer homes of the tome in the U.S., using a Federal Revival style that was popular during the 1890’s. Intended mostly for summer use, the house included thirty-two rooms. Construction was finished by 1902. Tatses were said to be American.

After Wilks' wife, Pauline, died in 1914 of cancer, Langdon re-married Marguerite Briquet in France. They had three daughters, and the family divided their time between New York City, their château near Tours, France and Langdon Hall. Eugene Langdon Wilks died in 1934 at his château near Tours. Just before the Second World War erupted, the French army commandeered the Tours château, so Marguerite and her three daughters returned to Canada and took up permanent residence at Langdon Hall. Only Catherine, the eldest, remained at Langdon Hall with her mother and her own daughter. Catherine later married Garth Thomson.

Marguerite Wilks died in 1961 and was buried in Galt. Her daughter Catherine inherited Langdon Hall. Catherine and Garth Thomson lived at Langdon Hall until 1980. They sold the mansion in 1982 with about thirty surrounding acres. With the sale of Langdon Hall, Wilks family ownership of these grand residences came to a close.

In 1987, William Bennett and Mary Beaton purchased the property. William an architect, along with Mary, developed their dream of a Country House Hotel. Renovations took a year and a half to complete. Langdon Hall Country House Hotel opened in 1989.

Today’s Langdon Hall has been brilliantly refurbished, and has consistently won all kinds of awards.

The place is pricey and well worth the cost. Even, if you cannot afford to stay there right now (maybe tomorrow), the place is still worth a visit for all it offers.

It provides a taste of an elegant past lovingly restored and made contemporary with dignity.