Wiarton, Ontario, Canada: The Corran Ruins
Part of a public park, the Ruins were once the 17-room castle-like mansion of a Member of Parliament.
- Address:
- 92 Hwy 6 N., Wiarton, ON, Canada
- Directions:
- In the Spirit Rock Conservation Area, on the east side of Hwy 6 about one mile north of downtown, and about a quarter-mile once you reach the top of the hill. Follow the gravel road to the parking lot.
- Phone:
- 519-376-3076
- Admission:
- Free
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The ruins of a large stone mansion can be found in the Spirit Rock Conservation Area north of Wiarton. Construction started in 1882, financed by Member of Parliament Alexander MacNeil, who named the estate The Corran, Gaelic for "land running into the sea," which was also the name of his birthplace in Ireland. When completed it contained 17 rooms overlooking the bay and had large flower beds and a stone barn used for storage. As with many large mansions, it eventually became too expensive to maintain and was uninhabited by 1964.
The province took control of the property, but because of its isolated location, the house was subject to frequent vandalism. In 1971 vandals set it on fire and all that remains now are the stone walls.
If you are adventurous, there is a spiral staircase nearby which leads down from the cliff to the water's edge.
[Signmanjoe, 06/16/2015]Nearby Offbeat Places
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