Page 10 - CambridgeLookingBackNeat

CAMBRIDGE: LOOKING BACK

Langdon Hall’s roots firmly

planted in Cambridge

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY LANGDON HALL

What began with a glance at a property Tragedy struck in 1914 when Pauline Wilks died of cancer, despite
advertisement in some New York papers in 1858 the fact the couple travelled to Europe to find a cure. It was there
in 1915 that Wilks married Marguerite Briquet, the Swiss nurse who
would result in the creation of a world-class hotel had provided care for his ill wife and they had three daughters.
and spa facility in Cambridge known as Langdon Until Wilks’ death in 1934 at his chateau near Tours, France, the
Hall. family had spent their time travelling between France, Langdon
Matthew Wilks, who spotted the ad for a Galt-area property called Hall, and New York City. But when the chateau was commandeered
Cruickston Park, decided it would be ideal to spend the summers by the French army before the start of the Second World War,
in ‘British’ territory and purchased the estate, eventually adding Marguerite and her daughters permanently moved to Langdon
to it until it had grown to 1,000 acres. Hall.
According to Langdon Hall's website it was the youngest of Wilks’ Her eldest daughter, Catherine, was the only one of her sisters to
seven children with his wife Eliza Astor Langdon - Eugene Langdon remain with her mother at Langdon Hall and later married Garth
Wilks - that would bring his father’s plans for the property to Thomson. Upon Marguerite’s death in 1961, Catherine inherited
fruition. The younger Wilks, great grandson on his mother’s side the property and lived there with her husband until 1980 and sold
to American real estate tycoon John Jacob Astor, returned to the mansion in 1982, along with 30 surrounding acres.
Cruickston Park at the age of 37 after attending school in England The future of Langdon Hall took a new turn when William Bennett,
and working in Western Canada and married Pauline Kingsmill, a Toronto-based architect, and his wife, Mary Beaton, discovered
the great-granddaughter of Galt’s founder, William Dickson. the estate and purchased the property in 1987. Following nearly
In 1898 Wilks purchased 29 acres at the northwest corner of the two years of renovations, Langdon Hall Country House Hotel
Cruickston property, plus an adjoining 76 acres, and commissioned opened in 1989.
an architect to start designing a new residence. Bennett had already experienced what it took to reimagine a
The construction of Langdon Hall, its design inspired by spacious historic property after working with a group of business partners
summer homes in the U.S. and featuring 32 rooms encompassing to redevelop the Millcroft Inn & Spa in Alton, as well other
25,000 square feet, was completed by 1902. The couple – who had properties in Toronto including the St. Lawrence Market.
no children - used the estate as their summer retreat and spent
winters abroad.

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