Alwington House, Kingston

Alwington House was once the crown jewel of Kingston’s most prestigious neighborhood-Alwington, located just west of downtown and bordered by Union Street, Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard, Lake Ontario, and Albert Street. Built in 1832 by Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, Baron de Longueuil, the stately residence became the official Government House during Kingston’s brief time as the capital of Canada from 1841 to 1844.

The house hosted several Governors General, including Charles Poulett Thomson (1st Baron Sydenham), Sir Charles Bagot, and Sir Charles Metcalfe. It played a central role in the political life of early Canada before tragedy struck: Alwington House was severely damaged by fire in 1958 and subsequently demolished in 1959.

The site was later developed into Alwington Place, but remnants of its storied past remain. The limestone retaining wall and fountain from the original estate still stand on the east side of a private home built in 1963 by Arthur Davies, brother of Canadian author Robertson Davies.

Today, the Alwington neighborhood reflects the elegance of its past while embracing contemporary culture. It's home to notable landmarks such as Saint Mary’s of the Lake Hospital (est. 1946), the J.K. Tett Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts-both situated along the Lake Ontario shoreline and backed by Queen’s University and the philanthropic efforts of Alfred and Isabel Bader.

Though the original Alwington House is gone, its legacy remains deeply embedded in Kingston’s architectural and political history.