Cannington Manor Provincial Historic Park: Rich Lifestyles in 1880s Saskatchewan

Cannington Manor Provincial Historic Park is a designated Canadian Historic Plac e. Situated in the southeast part of the province, it’s a open air, living history museum open summers.

What sets it apart from other museums is its unique history as a settlement for the well-to-do younger sons of the British aristocracy of the 1880s.

What’s at Cannington Manor?

Life in Canada in 1882 was more often one of hardship, than not. However, for a select group of English immigrants, Cannington Manor promised–and delivered over the next decade and a half–the life of an English Squire in Saskatchewan.

Today, some of the original buildings on the 15 hectare park land have been restored or replicated and are open to go inside during the months when park staff are on site.

These include the Bachelors Cabin (or Le Mesurier Home), Carpenter’s Shop, Newman’s House, Blacksmith Shop, All Saints’ Anglican Church, and Humphrys/Hewlett house.

Around the Manor

The sites of buildings that no longer exist are marked, including the flour mill, Moose Mountain Trading Company Store, parsonage, teacherage, school/town hall, and land titles office. A 1920s schoolhouse serves as the park’s visitor reception centre.

From glee club and Town Hall theatre, to soccer and foxhunting, this Victorian era community brought their lifestyle with them from England.

While the exteriors of the buildings are similar to those in many open air museums, the interiors stand out. Constructed and furnished for the middle class, the spaces are more open and the interiors more ornate, including features such as a two-storey entry hall and grand staircase.

The Humphrys/Hewlett house even has a darkroom with a built-in photographic processing table!

Next to the house there are also remnant walls of the Humphrys hog barn and pork plant.

Although the Village site is the only part of the original area that has been restored, I also enjoyed a visit to the Humphrys-Hewlett house site, about two miles away.

The house, much to my sorrow, was boarded up, so I couldn’t go inside. It features full interpretive signs, though, so you can imagine what it would have been like to live in it.

Linda’s Pick of the Displays

I’ve visited Cannington Manor a few times while enjoying this part of the province. I always enjoyed the visit as my own ancestors were English and had lived nearby (not during Cannington Manor’s era though), in Wawota.

My pick of the displays was the Visitor Centre museum, particularly its timeline and map of the original site. It was full of photos depicting the heydays of this non-traditional group of Saskatchewan settlers.

Covers of three easy reader fairy tale and fable ebook retellings set in the old west.

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I know my ancestors weren’t lucky enough to have had college educations, never mind this type of fine lifestyle.

Demonstrations

I also enjoyed the demonstrations, especially the rope making. Prairie museums tend to focus on blacksmiths or activities to do with tractors and horses for their demonstrations.

A costumed interpreter was also baking cookies in one of the houses using an old wood-burning stove. These insights into pioneer life made this museum particularly interesting as it was unusual to see.

Life for the “Young Pups”

Fast Fact: The settlement’s young college men (nicknamed “pups”) established the society of the community.

Indeed, the “pups” built a 26-room house that had a ballroom, billiard room and servants’ quarters.

Even their horses were pampered with a mahogany-lined stable and a brass nameplate above each stall!

Prohibition, in what is the modern-day prairie provinces, lasted from 1875 until it was repealed in 1892. The Manor, however, was always well known for its whiskey camps. Saskatchewan also experienced another decade of prohibition with restrictions on alcohol sales from 1915 to 1925.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

This is only a couple of hours drive for me, so I’ve visited a few times. However, we did camp nearby with friends once, so if you’re looking for a camping spot, I can recommend the campgrounds at nearby Moose Mountain Provincial Park.

Or, if you’d like a grown-up getaway, my sister and I enjoyed our stay at the Bear Claw Casino and Hotel on the White Bear First Nation.

Who Should Visit Cannington Manor?

Cannington Manor is particularly interesting for families, due to the activities and demonstrations that will engage the kiddies.

However, it’s also interesting for grown-ups to explore how this diverse group of settlers lived when they first came to the prairies. If you enjoy museums, this is an hour or two should see stop.

How to Visit Cannington Manor Provincial Historic Park

Cannington Manor is situated 16 km N of Manor, or 29 km NE of Carlyle on grid roads. It’s 26 km SE of Moose Mountain Provincial Park.

Typically open from the May long weekend until the end of August, you can check hours, special events, and programming on the Tourism Saskatchewan website.

Take a virtual tour of the history of Cannington Manor with SaskParks on YouTube.

Get the summer news on Cannington Manor on their Facebook page.

Plan your itinerary with Google maps. If you enjoyed this article, please pin it to share later!

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