Twenty-five million dollars. That’s the price tag for Braemar House. Can you believe it?
Right here before us stands Braemar House a stunning example of Regency architecture. Built in 1847 it’s one of the few remaining Regency cottages in the Montreal area. Imagine a time when Westmount was dotted with farms. This grand house is a testament to the transformation of Montreal in the mid-19th century. It stands as a symbol of the city’s burgeoning bourgeois class.
Braemar House wasn’t always so grand. It began as a collaboration between John Eadie and William Footner. Eadie an actuary. Footner a wine merchant. They purchased land in 1846. The next year Braemar and its twin Clairevue were built. Footner’s son possibly designed Braemar. Some believe George Browne collaborated on the design. Sadly Clairevue is long gone. Today a girls’ school occupies its former site.
The house changed hands frequently. In 1850 John Redpath a Montreal sugar tycoon owned it briefly. Then T C Morgan a merchant acquired Braemar. In 1866 Eliza Lane Ross took ownership. Legend claims Ross a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria named the house after Braemar in Scotland near Balmoral Castle. While the official story is less dramatic. The Gaelic translation of Braemar means hillside beauty. This perfectly describes Braemar House’s location on Westmount’s The Boulevard.
The stately verandas are among the most distinctive features. They wrap around both floors. The upper veranda offers a breathtaking view of the St Lawrence River. In 1924 architects Barott and Blackader updated the house. They added neo-Georgian details. The restoration of Braemar House was a monumental task. Opera singer Sharon Azrieli purchased it in 2010 for 1.5 million. Years of careful work restored the home’s original beauty.
Braemar House has endured. Its history is as fascinating as its architecture. The house has witnessed the rise and fall of Montreal’s Anglo elite. It stands as a silent observer of Westmount’s evolution. A piece of Montreal’s past. And a very expensive one at that. It’s an incredible testament to the enduring spirit of history.