In September we did some exploring of the Bruce Peninsula, including Wiarton and surrounding area. One site of historical interest is Spirit Rock Conservation Area where you can see the ruins of the Corran, a 17-room mansion built by Alexander McNeill in the late nineteenth century.

Alexander McNeill and His Estate

In 1872 Alexander McNeill (1842-1932) immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland with his wife Hester. Two years later their only son Malcolm was born. McNeill was a lawyer and the Member of Parliament for North Bruce from 1882 to 1901.

In 1881 or 1882 McNeill purchased 121 hectares of land north of Wiarton, Ontario to build his estate. He developed the property into lawns, orchards, and gardens, which included 500 varieties of rose bushes. It is said that the black rose was transplanted from a bush that Mary Queen of Scots slept under before her execution.

After the death of his wife in 1890, McNeill asked his friend Alfred Lewis to bring his family from England and manage the estate, which he did until his death in 1931.

The Corran

McNeill named his 17-room mansion after his birthplace in Northern Ireland. The word “corran” is Gaelic for “point of landing running out to the sea.” The Corran was built out of stone mined from the property.

A plaque at the site of the ruins describes the Corran in its prime:

• cement steps leading to a wide verandah
• entrance with stately ferns and gold fringed oriental rugs
• carved spiral staircase
• toilet on a marble pedestal and deep sunken tub
• library with bearskin rug and horsehair sofa (most extensive private library north of Toronto!)
• stained glass, rich brocade drapes, the best wallpaper, rare figurine collections, carvings, fine art, and the best chinaware

Demise

Hester McNiell died before the building of the Corran was complete and when Alexander McNeill died in 1932 the estate was left to their son Malcolm. Unfortunately, under his management the family fortune dwindled away. At Malcolm’s death in 1956 the estate went to his housekeeper, Sally Simmons. As she was unable to maintain the property it was sold to a Toronto resident in 1960.

Without a permanent resident, the Corran fell victim to vandals. It was sold to the Conservation Authority in the 1970s and in 1976 was destroyed by fire, leaving the ruins you can visit today.

More About the McNiell Estate

If you’d like to see more of the Corran ruins and surrounding land and water, take a look at this video:

Papers related to Alexander McNeill are held by the Bruce County Archives and listed here.

Sources

• “Alexander McNeill” via Wikipedia
• Plaque by the Grey Sauble Conservation Area
• “Spirit Rock & McNeill Estate Conservation Area” via Grey Sauble Conservation Area