postcard, picture
Document/Book
Accession Number
2019.006Description
Recto: Black and White photographic image of Craigdarroch Castle showing the South and West Elevations. There is significant ivy growth on the first two floors on the west facade and the first three floors of the Eastern half of the south facade. A white fabric awning has been attached between the third floor bathroom balcony railing and the second floor balcony railing. Posts and fencing are visible in the foreground on the south lawn. Verso: Three-quarters covered in a handwritten description of Craigdarroch's grounds. Written in pencil. Printed directions for where to place address, correspondence, and stamps.Narrative
The ivy growth, size of the foundation plantings, and the absence of a vegetable garden and fire escapes in this image indicates that it predates the 1919 Craigdarroch Military Hospital renovation. The photograph likely dates to the summer of 1916 or 1917. Short posts depicted sticking out of the south lawn suggest that there was perhaps some fencing on the south lawn that was unrelated to the tennis courts that the Department of Soldiers Civil Reestablishment later constructed. The fabric awning in this image is a curious feature. It was likely a sunshade installed during the occupancy of Thomas A. Cameron, brother of Solomon Cameron, the man who won the Castle in the notorious raffle held at the Castle in 1910.
This image depicts features of Craigdarroch not seen in other images of the Castle known to museum staff employed at Craigdarroch in March of 2019. This object is a postcard printed in a photographer’s studio, as opposed to a postcard that was mass-produced on a printing press. The postcard indicates the popularity of Craigdarroch Castle to Victoria tourists during the early 20th Century, and provides new previously unknown evidence of the Castle’s morphology. It was collected for these reasons.
History of Use
Unknown. It was acquired from an EBay seller in New York State.
Date
circa 1916 – 1917Dimensions
9 x 14 cmMaterial
PaperInscription
Dunsmuir Castle,Lady Dunsmuir died leaving 27 acres which was cut up into city lots some selling for 2500 dollars. There is a great many rocks and wild growth all over the grounds. Scotch Broom growing in abundance. Scotch Broom is a bush bearing small yellow blossoms the shape of ladies slippers.
