The History of
             Sir Marmaduke's Estate

Winterholme, the house that Sir Marmaduke Winter built
in 1905-1907, is one of the grandest of the St. John's "grand" houses. Located at
79 Rennies Mill Road facing Bannerman Park and the Lieutenant Governor's grounds, it recalls a bygone age of grandeur and elegance. A huge house, with more than 14,000 square feet and over 60 rooms on its four floors, it was
designed by the architect William F. Butler and constructed
by the Horwood Lumber Company. The contract to build the house was for $68,000, but upon completion, it is reported
to have cost the staggering sum of over $120,000.

With its double bay windows and decorative shingling the
house is of the Queen Anne Revival style of architecture.
Inside there are still eleven working fireplaces and the ornate plaster work and hand carved oak is still in perfect condition.
You enter the house through beautiful leaded glass doors with matching sidelights that lead into a spacious Grand Foyer set
off by oak columns, elaborate paneling and a fireplace. From
the foyer a truly superb oak stair case sweeps grandly up to
the second floor, a striking feature of which, on the
landing, is a huge leaded glass window.

To the left of the front door is a cozy room with a large bay window and fireplace that was Sir Marmaduke's den. A door
used to lead from the den to the conservatory where
Lady Winter kept her house plants. To the right of the front
door the double drawing room is separated by sliding pocket doors. Both rooms have a bay window, a fireplace, an elaborate plaster ceiling and inlay parquet oak flooring. Sir Marmaduke's grandson, Gordon Winter, remembers visiting Winterholme
often as a child. He especially remembers festive occasions like Christmas when the house became a magical place where fires glowed, woodwork gleamed, and the doors in the drawing rooms were opened to reveal both rooms in all their splendor.

Behind the drawing room was the billiard room. After dinner when Lady Winter and the ladies retired to the drawing room,
Sir Marmaduke brought male guests to the billiard room to
have a drink, smoke a cigar and play billiards on the huge table. Raised seats on either side of the room were arranged so
those not playing could easily watch.

Across from the billiard room, double oak doors open into t
he wood paneled dining room. Servants' stairs at the rear of
the house go to the third floor where there were five bedrooms for a live-in staff of three servants, a cook, a seamstress
and a man who looked after the family's two horses.

On the second floor of the house there were bedrooms for
each of Sir Marmaduke's four children as well as a sitting room and bedroom for him and his wife. The ensuite master bedroom, the oval room, is quite lovely with its curved walls, windows
and doors. As the house was initially heated by the fireplaces,
all the bedrooms and main floor rooms had them, and even
today they are all in perfect working condition.

Behind the house there used to be a carriage house where the horses, a Victorian carriage and a sleigh were kept. A small kitchen garden was located here, and on what was once a large lawned area the family gathered to play tennis and croquet.

The Winter family originated in Lamaline, on Newfoundland's southwest coast, where Sir Marmaduke's father was customs officer, at that time he would also be known as a Tide Waiter. The family moved to St. John's in the mid 1800's and Sir Marmaduke and his brother, Thomas, founded the firm of
T & M Winter Ltd., a firm which is still in operation today.
Sir Marmaduke also established Standard Manufacturing Co.

The Winter family was involved in Newfoundland politics as
well as business. Sir Marmaduke served as a member of the cabinet and was a member of the Legislative Council. Another brother, Sir James Winter, served as MHA, speaker of the house, attorney general and premier. Grandson, Gordon Winter, is a former Lieutenant Governor. Sir Marmaduke's first wife
was Alice Lilly who died in the early 1920's. Following her death he married widow, Frederika (Clift) Hayward. Sir Marmaduke died in 1936 and his widow occupied the house until 1939 when
is was leased to the Canadian Army for use as officers' quarters, on condition it be returned in its original condition. After the
war Sir Marmaduke's son, Gordon, used the house as a private residence until 1959 when it was subdivided into apartments
and sold to Earl and Elsie Noble. The Nobles, operators of L.J. Noble and Sons family business in Nippers Harbor, Notre Dame Bay, lived in the house until 1979 when they sold it to
Richard and Ruby Cook. Now a designated National Historic
Site, the property is operated as a bed and breakfast,
known as Winterholme Heritage Inn.