Guiding Principles at Stone Manor Studios

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 saw the Manor House 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. 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 community art classes in the renovated stone carriage house, along with various art workshops. 

According to 'The Heritage Information File' from the Township of Rideau Lakes, the two-story John Draffin Manor exemplifies Italianate architecture, popular in Ontario between 1860 and 1890. Its design features include brackets under wide overhanging eaves, quoins, a symmetrical façade, simple square hipped-roof, elegant proportions, and narrow segmentally arched windows. The main entrance, sheltered by an open porch, serves as a second-floor balcony, highlighted by large light transoms and sidelights. The property boasts a 1 1/2 story extension made of random stone with a door and dormer facing south. An additional stone-clad structure features large rounded windows and matches the main house. The most recent addition is a detached two-story, two-car garage, which also resembles the main structure and includes a guest house with a balcony on the second floor. John Draffin, born in 1818, immigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1860 and became a successful local merchant. It is believed he and Margaret initially built a modest 1 1/2 story structure on his New Street property before constructing the existing two-story stone structure. In 1895, the house was entrusted to the Diocese of Ontario for use in conjunction with St. Mary's Anglican Church, hosting community events like St. Mary's Jubilee Social on June 27, 1900.

At Stone Manor Studios, we envision a world where art is a fundamental part of everyday life. Through our art workshops and community art classes, we believe that everyone has the capacity for creativity. Our goal is to empower individuals to express themselves through the arts, especially during our Newboro Manor retreats.