"WOLFORD CHAPEL" - Dunkeswell, Devon, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member SMacB
N 50° 50.419 W 003° 13.615
30U E 484023 N 5632091
Wolford Chapel is owned by Ontario Heritage Trust, and is literally Canadian territory after the deed was donated to the people of Ontario in 1966 by British publisher Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth.
Waymark Code: WM154Z9
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/17/2021
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Weathervane
Views: 3

"Wolford Chapel – an Ontario Heritage Trust-owned property in England – is associated with significant British elements of Ontario's heritage. It was built by John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, to serve as a place of worship for his family on their estate. It is also the burying place of Simcoe, his wife Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim Simcoe (1766-1850), and six of their 11 children. In 1966, the John Graves Simcoe Memorial Foundation acquired the property on behalf of the people of Ontario from the owner of the estate, Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth, a British publisher. The Ontario Heritage Trust accepted title to the chapel in 1982 from the John Graves Simcoe Foundation, which also provided funds for its long-term care.

As Upper Canada's first Lieutenant-Governor, Simcoe was responsible for introducing the rudiments of British government to Upper Canada. Troubled relations between Britain and the United States made the defence of the infant colony one of his priorities. He founded York (Toronto) as a naval base for Lake Ontario.

Elizabeth Simcoe accompanied her husband to Upper Canada and recorded many of her experiences in her diaries. A talented artist, she drew maps to assist with government business and composed drawings and watercolours of provincial scenes.

In 1963, the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario placed plaques to John Graves Simcoe in the Legislature of Ontario and at Wolford Chapel in England. Three years later a plaque was unveiled to Elizabeth Simcoe near the site of the Simcoe's former summer home, Castle Frank, on the edge of the Don Valley in Toronto.

Since the Trust acquired the site, restoration work has been performed on the chapel. The Trust works in partnership with the John Graves Simcoe/Wolford Chapel Committee, a local group of British citizens who are responsible for maintaining and promoting this special site for Ontario in England."

SOURCE - (visit link)


"In 1963, the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario placed plaques to John Graves Simcoe in the Legislature of Ontario and at Wolford Chapel in England. Three years later a plaque was unveiled to Elizabeth Simcoe near the site of the Simcoe's former summer home, Castle Frank, on the edge of the Don Valley in Toronto."

"In 1966, the John Graves Simcoe Memorial Foundation acquired the property on behalf of the people of Ontario from the owner of the estate, Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth, a British publisher. The Ontario Heritage Trust accepted title to the chapel in 1982 from the John Graves Simcoe Foundation, which also provided funds for its long-term care."

SOURCE - (visit link)

The plaque reads -

WOLFORD CHAPEL
This family chapel on the former estate of
Upper Canada's first Lieutenant-Governor,
John Graves Simcoe, was given to the people
of Ontario by Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth. At
a ceremony held on September 27, 1966, the
Honourable John P. Robarts, Prime Minister of
Ontario, accepted the deed to the chapel and
grounds from Sir Geoffrey and title to an
essential right-of-way from Mr. A. G. LeMarchant.

The John Graves Simcoe Memorial Foundation

 

Address or location of plaque: Wolford Chapel, Dunkeswell, UK

Physical location of plaque: Village

"Ontario Plaques" Website for this "Plaque": [Web Link]

A web-site for more details.: [Web Link]

Description of any physical remains at site of "Historical Plaque": Complete chapel

This 'Plaque' describes: An 'Event'

Condition of sign: Good

Is this a bilingual sign?: No !

What is the second/third language?: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
A "Visited" only remark, will be deleted.
No Waymark owner "Visits" allowed when setting up the Waymark.
Subsequent visits, at another time with photo are acceptable.
NOTE: All photos must include the 'O.H.P.Plaque' at its location to qualify for a "Visited"
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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T-Team! visited "WOLFORD CHAPEL" - Dunkeswell, Devon, UK 03/20/2023 T-Team! visited it