Lester-Garland House
This house, a large, brick
Georgian residence has been reconstructed to be used as a
museum and education centre to rekindle, promote and
celebrate the strong historical and cultural links between
Newfoundland and the west of England, especially those
between Trinity and Dorset.
Lester-Garland House
provides a visible means of interpreting the historic links
between Poole (and the hinterland region known as Wessex)
and Trinity (and the northeast coast of Newfoundland), the
role of Trinity as a centre of trade and commerce in the
17th, 18th and 19th centuries and especially of the culture
that sprang from these linkages and associations.
Considerable research
has been undertaken and completed on the history and into
the design of the original structure. Copies of the
original diaries, dating from 1761, of Benjamin and Isaac
Lester and of other members of the family and of business
records of the various owners of the property have been made
available to The Society. The history of the residence, those
who lived and worked there, the business firms owning or
operating the premises over the years, and of all the
aspects of the social. economic, commercial, education, artisanal, professional, medical, cultural, developmental,
political and religious history of Trinity and the
surrounding area have been well documented, researched and
published. This collection of information and archival
material is one of the finest concerning any structure or
town in Canada.
The recollections of
the last family who occupied the house (1928-1948) regarding
its interior and exterior design, decoration, repairs,
furnishings and use made of the rooms and property were
recorded in 1993. Samples of all the types of interior finishings and furnishings from the house were saved and
assembled. Photographic reproductions showing various
exterior and interior aspects of the residence as well as
its surroundings have been collected. These photographs date
from at least 1891 to the present. Archival material,
including original plans for a house, ledgers and other
business documents plus the diaries of the Lesters are also
available. Samples of bricks were tested by the Atlantic
Masonry Research & Advisory Bureau, Inc. at the University
of New Brunswick for a number of construction specifications
and were examined also at the University of Bournemouth,
Dorset. Samples of mortar taken from the existing
foundations and brickwork and of beach sand have been
analysed by the School of Conservation Science, University
of Bournemouth.
The reconstruction of the
1819 house was undertaken on the exact place where it once
stood. It has incorporated in this reconstruction the
original stone foundations and portions of the end walls
(shown) remaining from the demolition conducted in the 1960s
(as found in August 1995)
and
the original and, as required, new brick. The design,
structure and architectural details of both the exterior and
interior of the house are based on architectural,
archaeological and historical research, photographic
reproductions dating from the late 1800s to the present,
archival materials, and detailed interior furnishings saved
from destruction by the Trinity Historical Society. Items of
furniture removed or earlier sold from the house have been
located. The building has been restored to represent the
various historical periods of the different structures that
have existed on the site. The existing and stable stone
foundations and brick fabric on the site have been retained.
The Lester-Garland
house is open from mid-May to mid-October from 10 am - 5:30
pm daily. The price of admission, $10.00 per person,
children 12 years and younger are admitted free of charge,
includes entry to seven historic sites in the town -Visitors
Centre, Lester-Garland House, Lester-Garland Premises
(Ryan’s Shop), Cooperage, Green Family Forge, Hiscock House
and the Trinity Museum - and may be purchased at the Visitor
Centre. Visitors to Trinity are encouraged to purchase their
admission pass at the Visitor Centre but may purchase it at
any of the seven historic sites.
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