Guild Inn Estate/Guild Park & Gardens – Once a Home, Hotel & Artist Colony

By
Denise Marie
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1921 - Today's Guild Inn Estate was originally the home of the Bickford family
1921 – Today’s Guild Inn Estate was originally the home of the Bickford family (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0111073F)

The beautiful Guild Inn Estate and Guild Park & Gardens are located at ‪201 Guildwood Parkway‬ in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Ranelagh Park

Before the site became a stunning gallery of some of Toronto’s saved architectural fragments, the original two-storey residence built in 1914 was home to the Bickford family. Then known as Ranelagh Park, the estate stretched to the Scarborough Bluffs. In 1921, the family sold the property to the China Mission Seminary. Then from 1923 to 1932, an American businessman owned the property.

2020 - From the Banker's Bond Building once at 60 King St W
2020 – From the Banker’s Bond Building once at 60 King St W

The Many Uses of the Guild Property

In 1932, Rosa and Spencer Clark purchased the property and formed “The Guild of All Arts.” It was their dream to make the estate into a co-operative for artists/craftsmen. Their vision was fulfilled. Visitors flocked to the country inn to be amongst the working artisans.

During WWII, the Guild Inn closed and was used for radio telegraphy training and as a hospital for war veterans. The Guild of All Arts re-opened in 1947, but the inn was mainly for guests as they could no longer fund the artists.

Rosa & Spencer Clark’s Vision

2020 - Entrance from the Imperial Bank of Canada once at 802 Yonge St
2020 – Entrance from the Imperial Bank of Canada once at 802 Yonge St

In the 1960s, Toronto was going through a building boom, and several heritage buildings were being demolished for a more modern downtown. Spencer got involved with preserving some of the City’s architectural history and began saving fragments of buildings, including those from the Temple Building, the Bank of Toronto, and many more. Those fragments were installed at the estate. By the 1970s, the Clarks were ageing, and in 1978, they convinced City Council to take over the property.

Guild Inn Estate/Guild Park & Gardens Today

Various groups managed the Guild Inn Estate over the next few decades; however, it fell into disrepair. The City entered into an agreement with Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group and in 2017, the brand-new property and event space re-opened. The Guild Inn Estate hosts weddings, celebrations and more.

Visitors are free to stroll around the Guild Park & Gardens property to admire the historical architectural pieces from Toronto’s past.

Guild Inn Estate/Guild Park & Gardens Photos

1944 - Looking north towards the back of the Guild Inn/Guild of All Arts. Today the property is known as Guild Inn Estate
1944 – Looking north towards the back of the Guild Inn/Guild of All Arts. Today the property is known as Guild Inn Estate (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0108031F)
2020 - Main entrance from the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
2020 – Main entrance from the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
1921 - Today's Guild Inn Estate was originally the home of the Bickford family
1921 – Today’s Guild Inn Estate was originally the home of the Bickford family (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0111073F)
2020 - From the Banker's Bond Building once at 60 King St W
2020 – From the Banker’s Bond Building once at 60 King St W
2020 - The Guild Inn Estate
2020 – The Guild Inn Estate
2020 - Entrance from the Imperial Bank of Canada once at 802 Yonge St
2020 – Entrance from the Imperial Bank of Canada once at 802 Yonge St
2020 - Corinthian columns and capitals from the Bank of Toronto once at King St W and Bay St, southwest corner today form the Greek Theatre at Guild Inn Estate
2020 – Corinthian columns and capitals from the Bank of Toronto once at King St W and Bay St, southwest corner today form the Greek Theatre at Guild Inn Estate
2020 - Centre entrance of the Bank of Toronto once at King & Bay Sts, southwest corner
2020 – Centre entrance of the Bank of Toronto once at King & Bay Sts, southwest corner
2020 - Stone carvings from the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
2020 – Stone carvings from the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
2020 - Ionic columns from the interior of the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
2020 – Ionic columns from the interior of the Bank of Nova Scotia once at 39 King St W
2020 - Fireplace once at 46 Bedford Rd
2020 – Fireplace once at 46 Bedford Rd
2020 - Flywheel, Crank and Drive-Pulley of a Stone Gang-Saw
2020 – Flywheel, Crank and Drive-Pulley of a Stone Gang-Saw
2020 - Gates once at the Gibson House at 3 Dale Ave and Terra-Cotta Stonework from the Produce Exchange Building once at Scott and Colborne Sts
2020 – Gates once at the Gibson House at 3 Dale Ave and Terra-Cotta Stonework from the Produce Exchange Building once at Scott and Colborne Sts
2020 - Entrance of The Granite Club once at 63 St Clair Ave W
2020 – Entrance of The Granite Club once at 63 St Clair Ave W
2020 - Osterhout Log Cabin built in 1795 and once located in Scarborough
2020 – Osterhout Log Cabin built in 1795 and once located in Scarborough
2020 - From the Temple Building once at Bay & Richmond Sts, northwest corner
2020 – From the Temple Building once at Bay & Richmond Sts, northwest corner
2020 - A pillar from The Registry of Deeds and Land Titles Building once located on Albert St, just west of new Toronto City Hall
2020 – A pillar from The Registry of Deeds and Land Titles Building once located on Albert St, just west of new Toronto City Hall
2020 - From the Royal Conservatory of Music once at College St & University Ave, southwest corner
2020 – From the Royal Conservatory of Music once at College St & University Ave, southwest corner
2020 - From the Toronto Star Building once at 80 King St W
2020 – From the Toronto Star Building once at 80 King St W
2020 - Bell and belfry from Victoria Park School once at Victoria Park Ave and Hwy 401, northwest corner
2020 – Bell and belfry from Victoria Park School once at Victoria Park Ave and Hwy 401, northwest corner
2020 - The boy's entrance of RH King Collegiate Institute once at St Clair Ave E & Kingston Rd in Scarborough
2020 – The boy’s entrance of RH King Collegiate Institute once at St Clair Ave E & Kingston Rd in Scarborough
2020 - Rosa & Spencer Clark heritage plaque
2020 – Rosa & Spencer Clark heritage plaque
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