The House is double brick construction made from locally quarried red clay. As was the custom of such farmhouses in the 19th century, the House consists of a second floor, main floor, as well as a cellar.       Located on the main floor are the parlour and dining room with fireplaces, the main entranceway, a farm kitchen with a Dutch oven, a carriage room, and two smaller rooms originally used as bedrooms. The second floor has four bedrooms and labourer's quarters separately accessed from the kitchen.

The home is complete with five fireplaces, with chimney cupboards found in both the parlour and dining room. The original kitchen was located in the cellar, with the fireplace and Dutch oven used for cooking.     The farm kitchen is now restored with its original wood plank flooring and functional fireplace.      Many of the windows found throughout the House contain hand blown glass panes imported from England at the time of construction.             When the House is open, our very knowledgeable volunteers will provide guided tours of the entire premises, interpreting the furnishings and artifacts found throughout.

Several of the trees located on the grounds, including the spruce and pear trees, were planted by the Bovaird family.             The Heritage rose gardens feature many original species, some dating back to 1500.        Our orchards and herb garden have been carefully nurtured to best represent those of the 19th century.

Be sure to see the Map Room, featuring the original 1859 Tremaine map of the Brampton area and Peel Region. Also on view is a full-sized reproduction of the recently discovered and restored 1857 Bristow & Fitzgerald surveyor's Map of Brampton - poster-sized prints of which are available in the Carriage House Gift Shop.        The year 2000 Millennium Project gazebo is now again available for weddings, photography and outdoor functions after it was recently TOTALLY trashed by hooligans, who thought it was great fun to destroy public property.       Closed circuit cameras have now been installed throughout The House and oversee the entire property.

   OUR  "NEWEST"  BUILDING

          Be sure to visit with us soon and see our newest acquisition which was recently disassembled and moved from a farm on Gore Road.  This rare 1850's milk house would have served as a pioneer refrigeration unit and is probably the first 'new' building on this property in over a century !!!

              Inside, a large trough filled with blocks of ice or cool water would hold several large milk cans. Of particular interest are the two small, low portals in the walls at either end of the trough that would have enabled a nearby stream or water from a well to be diverted in such a way as to allow a constant flow of cool water to pass right through the 'milk house'.

        A Haunted Child's Crib ???

             Recently, two groups of Brampton Brownies visited our House and were enthralled by the story behind the child's crib.  So much so that they insisted its history be posted on this website so they may show it to their parents and friends:
              "With her daughter expecting her first child, the future grandmother found and purchased a very unique, rare and quite expensive crib for her expectant grandchild.
               After the baby was born, its mother would sometimes hear gentle noises from the room and on a few occasions saw a smoky, light specter or slight outline of a woman standing at the foot of the bed, overlooking the sleeping child.  The mother felt no harm nor threat the first few times, but as the frequency of appearances increased she telephoned her mother who had originally purchased     the crib.
         Needless to say, the 'grandmother' had little faith in the stories.... until,
         Until she was baby-sitting her grandchild one evening and heard strange sounds and upon entering the bedroom, saw the very same wispy image of a lady standing at the foot of the crib.  Although also not fearing any impending danger, she immediately removed the baby from its bed and swore that no child should ever sleep in this crib.
         Not wanting to destroy the lovely antique piece of furniture, it was donated to Historic Bovaird House with the understanding that '...no babe nor child ever sleep thereon'.

         Many feel that perhaps a young child passed away in this crib many years ago and that for years its mother must have stood at the foot of the bed, remembering this unfortunate event.  When the mother died, perhaps her spirit still visits this unfortunate site - not in a menacing nor harmful manner, simply a mother mourning her young child.
          We've had 'ghost-busters', persons with E.S.P. and noted parapsychologists visit, and almost ALL are drawn to this piece of furniture.  What about you ????

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