Our Values and Commitments

The Manor House, built in the 1860s by John Draffin, an Irish merchant who ran a successful general store on Main Street in Newboro, has a rich history. After marrying Margaret Bell from Carleton Place, Draffin built his soaring manor home in the 1860s. After Draffin's death, the Manor House was sold to the Anglican Church in 1895, which transformed it into a rectory until 1945. Subsequently, the property changed hands among various private owners. Notably, Paul and Margaret Bedore, who once owned the Manor House, enriched the grounds by planting thousands of daffodil bulbs that continue to bloom each year. In the early 2000's, the house was lovingly saved and restored by Terry and Bea Heaslip. Their extensive renovations, updates, and additions, including a conservatory and carriage house, enhanced the charm and functionality of this stunning architectural home. The Heaslips sold the Manor in 2015, and from 2016 to 2021, the Manor House was maintained by Isabelle Goulet, who opened it to the public as a beautiful Bed & Breakfast named Daffodil Acres. In 2021, Kim Lulashnyk and Stuart Ash acquired the Manor House, rebranding it as 'Newboro Manor.' This stunning location now offers exclusive art retreats and workshops in the renovated carriage house on the estate.

Architectural Significance

According to the Township of Rideau Lakes Heritage Information File, the two-storey John Draffin Manor is an elegant example of Italianate architecture, a style popular in Ontario between 1860 and 1890. Distinctive features include wide overhanging eaves supported by decorative brackets, corner quoins, a symmetrical façade, and refined segmentally arched windows. The open front porch, crowned by a second-floor balcony with transoms and sidelights, reflects the graceful proportions typical of the period.

The property also includes a one-and-a-half-storey random-stone extension, additional stone-clad structures with rounded windows that echo the main house, and a later detached two-storey garage with guest accommodations designed in harmony with the historic architecture. Together, these elements create a cohesive nineteenth-century stone estate that contributes meaningfully to the cultural landscape of historic Newboro.

Today, the Manor House and Stone Manor Studios continue this long tradition of community, creativity, and place, offering visitors an opportunity to experience heritage living, artistic inspiration, and the quiet beauty of the Rideau Lakes in one extraordinary historic setting.