Presents
14 Kennas Hill - For Sale
Retreat Cottage
14 Kennas Hill
Retreat Cottage is situated on a height above Quidi Vidi Lake in the east end of St. John’s. To the Southwest one can see the towers of the Basilica and the gables of The Rooms. To the South is the Colonial Building and, beside it, Government House. To the Southeast is Signal Hill and below it the lake, beyond which is the sea. This house has a remarkable open and unimpeded view plane over the old city.
Long recognized for the quality of its restoration in a range of publications, both books and magazines, Retreat Cottage was given the Southcott Award by the Newfoundland Historic Trust in 1988. When first built, in 1834, it was a typical salt box and likely intended as a country house constructed by Alexander Norris for lawyer Edward Mortimer Archibald. It is probable that an open porch (of which the trellis on the west side still remains) was part of the original house. This was modified when Hon. William Thomas, merchant and MHA, acquired the property in 1847 and extended the dining room and principal sitting room into the east and west porches making two gracious front rooms.
In 1868, John Hayward, MHA for Harbour Grace, purchased Retreat Cottage. He effected some major renovations, among them the mansard addition to the back of the house and began work on the garden. This garden was pursued on a professional basis when Robert Stein and his wife Annabel (Morrison) took it over in 1895 and created a market garden. The current garden is set in a .814 acre plot sheltered by old Beeches and Elms and the occasional Maple. Beneath these larger trees are a variety of flowering shrubs and fruit trees among which are Crabs, Cherries, Japanese Dogwood, Japanese Maple, Magnolia and Rhododendron. An extensive stone-walled sitting area has been constructed on the site of the Victorian greenhouse at the back of the east lawn. There is an extensive in-ground watering system for the lawns. Hedges of Pin Cherry and Yew screen the garden in various places creating a secluded and private retreat from the rush of the town.
In 1918 the great musical impresario, Charles Hutton purchased the house and, in 1943, the house passed to his son, Hubert. The current owners, Maire and Shane O’Dea purchased Retreat Cottage from the Huttons in 1970 and began a fifty-year process of documenting and preserving the house.
Retreat Cottage has grown out of its original form as a country cottage. In its 4200 square feet it has five bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one half-bathroom. It is noted not just for its exterior but also for the interest of several of its interior features. First among these would be the cast-iron range set into the kitchen chimney. In the dining and sitting rooms there are French doors that open onto the front porch and into the garden. Those French doors were once secured by wooden shutters which were sealed up in the late 19th century only to be rediscovered and restored in the 1990s. Along the full length of the house front is a glazed porch which provides a warm space on a sunny winter’s day. There are eight working fireplaces in the principal first and second-floor rooms including two Rumford fire grates. An original slate mantle can be seen in one of the bedrooms. A number of doors are fitted with handsome brass locks. There are hardwood floors throughout the house and, in some of these, the original broad-board pine floors have been refinished and inlaid with dark walnut.
There is a large modern kitchen with granite counters and an eating area in the bay window (a replica of that in the dining room) which overlooks the garden. Two pantries off the kitchen (one with a Victorian pump) and one off the sitting room provide more than ample storage for groceries, glass, china and kitchen utensils. The main bathroom has pine cabinets made of paneling rescued from an 1847 house as well as a fine six-foot cast-iron bath. The main bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with its own fireplace. At the end of the back porch is a spacious laundry room with additional storage. Room for garden tools, for lawnmowers, snowblowers and tractors can be found in the former garage.
After over 50 years of stewardship, the current owners have decided that it is now time to move on and pass the key to a new buyer who would like to own one of the most interesting heritage homes in the City located on a spectacular parcel of land boasting the best of landscape appointments. The vendors are prepared to consider an extended closing date.
For a private viewing of Retreat Cottage, please call or text Chris O’Dea at 709-685-6559
In the meantime, you may enjoy seeing the virtual tour of this best of vernacular heritage homes by clicking here:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=MXtFERx6YkP
Enjoy the many photos below including the illustration from the 1880’s on Regatta Day which is the last of the sequence.
Asking price $799,000
Click thumbnail below to enlarge image:
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