|
The Briars evolved over 150 years from a working farm
to one of Ontario's prominent resorts. The original
land grant was made to British Navy Captain William
Bourchier (bow-cher), who built a Regency manor house
overlooking Lake Simcoe in 1840. Bourchier named his
home "The Briars" after the residence of friends in
St. Helena.
While visiting the area in the late 1870s, Dr. Frank
Sibbald fell in love with The Briars, and purchased
the property from Bourchier's widow-and the property
has been in the Sibbald family ever since. Frank Sibbald
was responsible for creating many unique features that
guests would identify as Briars "trademarks". These
include a peacock house (the only such structure in
Ontario), a barn to house Championship shorthorns (now
the Red Barn Theatre), the cedar hedges that give Hedge
Road its name and a picturesque avenue of huge spruce
and pines that leads to the dining room.
 |
1888 - Residence and outbuildings at The
Briars.
The Property of Dr. F. C. Sibbald, Sutton
West, Ontario. |
The Briars quickly became a regional focal point for
agriculture and hospitality. A golf course was opened
in 1924 in an effort to provide recreation for the area's
increasing population of cottagers, and during World
War II, The Briars Inn & Country Club was born. During
the 1970s, fulfilling a dream shared with his father,
John Sibbald and his wife Barbara renovated the Manor
House as a new centre for the resort, complete with
guest rooms, games room and dining rooms. An outdoor
swimming pool and several meeting rooms rounded out
this first round of renovations. To meet growing demand,
a wing with indoor swimming, fitness facilities and
a congenial pub was added, larger meeting and conference
spaces were created, and the resort began year-round
operation. The Briars continues to keep pace with Ontario's
growing tourism sector. In 2000, the opening of the
Briars Spa met with enthusiasm by guests and day visitors.
This state-of-the-art facility offers a broad menu of
services in six tranquil treatment rooms.
Although the property has changed over a century and
a half, the genuine hospitality and beautiful natural
surroundings of the Briars remain just as authentic
as ever. John & Barbara Sibbald continue to own and
operate The Briars with the help of their younger sons,
Hugh and Andrew, and their wives, Sheila & Janet. Their
oldest son, Peter, is a photojournalist; you can see
some of his work on this web site. The next generation
is preparing their skills to serve you, experiencing
and learning the warmth of hospitality that will keep
The Briars traditions alive for future generations.
If you love history, every Saturday morning and often
mid-week, guided history and nature walks take place
on the Briars estate.
For a longer, PDF format version of The Briars' history,
click
here.
|
