There is a hive of construction activity as you enter Newcastle from the west on Highway 2. There are some 250 or so homes being built by Treasury Hill Homes.
However, the property of interest – Belmont House – is tucked away at the back on the west. It is the home that Samuel Wilmot built in 1816 – a property designated as “heritage” by Clarington.
Now owned by Hannu Nauman and Brian Fenton, the house is being restored by Manor Ville Homes.
Samuel Wilmot was a major in the British army during the War of 1812. He later acquired the land where the stream named after him runs, explained Matthew Jamieson of Manor Ville Homes.
He was an influential personality and was the land surveyor for Upper Canada, responsible for the area between Kingston and Toronto, Jamieson told Durham Post.
Samuel Wilmot built a four-bedroom wooden house, which in 1894, burnt down. The major’s son, Samuel Wilmot Jr., rebuilt it in brick on top of the foundation, keeping the shape of the house as it was. He also built a hatchery along the creek, as well as 16 others across the country.
The house has been lived in almost continuously, except for a few years in between, which explains why its original floor and some other structures are still intact. There has been some vandalism during its vacant stage, but no major damage.
The restoration is being done on the original foundation. There were a a lot of pictures so it is easy to navigate the refurbishment, said Jamieson.
He said when the current owners bought the house, one of the conditions was that it had to be restored. Work started on it about two months ago and all demolition work has been completed. “We are expecting the building permit soon,” said Jamieson.
The house will be ready in a year or so, said Jamieson adding that it will then be put up for sale.
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No Lakeshore East works this week. Trains will run normally: Metrolinx