Canada Day at Reveley Lodge, 2017

As you read this article you may be wondering why Reveley Lodge in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England, organized a Canada Day Garden Party and an exhibition about one of Toronto’s esteemed families so far removed from the place where they made their mark.

The last owner of Reveley Lodge was Albert Ranney Chewett (1877-1965) who was born in Toronto and remained a Canadian citizen all his life. But more importantly he was the great grandson of William Chewett (1753-1849), surveyor, office holder, and commander of the 3rd York Militia in the War of 1812. His Orderly Book was recently donated to Fort York by a descendant (see Fife and Drum December 2011). In 2003 the estate and Reveley Lodge was bequeathed to the Bushey Museum on the death of Albert’s wife, Eila Chewett. A charitable trust was established to preserve the estate, including the artistic and cultural heritage of the Chewetts. The trustees thought it would be a good opportunity in this 150th anniversary year of Canadian Confederation to honour Albert’s ancestors so asked Katharine Whitaker, trustee and historian, to organize a small exhibition entitled “Canadian Pioneers, William Chewett and Son” which opened to the public on July 2nd.

Much is known and documented at Reveley Lodge about Albert Ranney Chewett’s activities and artistic life but very little is known to the Bushey community about his Canadian ancestors. It seemed a fitting tribute in this anniversary year to highlight the role of William Chewett in the early days of Upper Canada and how he, his son James Grant Chewett (1793-1862), surveyor, architect, financier, and veteran of the Battle of York, and later his grandson William Cameron Chewett (1828-1897), publisher and businessman, became notable members of the Toronto community throughout the 1800s.

There were a number of highlights. Firstly, pride of place went to a miniature oil painting (portrait) of William Chewett which had only been found at the beginning of May in a cabinet at Reveley. A number of his journals and account books, his 1829 commission as acting surveyor general, patents (deeds of land), and artefacts were on display.

At the exhibition’s private view on the evening of the July 1st, the chairman of the trust, Granville Taylor, greeted many members of the local community and Reveley volunteers on a very warm summer’s evening. On July 4th when Katharine Whitaker gave a talk on the Chewetts the trustees were delighted to welcome Humphrey Gilbert, great, great grandson of William Chewett.

The Canada Day Garden Party was an outstanding success due to many individuals and groups who participated. Reveley Lodge was decorated with 100 knitted Canadian-themed little jumpers made by the Bushey Knitting Group, whilst other volunteers had prepared Canadian-themed bunting. The weather was perfect, warm and sunny, for more than 800 visitors, including a number of Canadians, who enjoyed a host of activities: live music all afternoon, traditional East Coast fiddlers, the Bushey All Stars Jazz Band, craft stalls, demonstrations by a local blacksmith, and a display of paintings by a Bushey artist of Canadian scenes painted during a recent visit to Canada. Children were entertained by a bouncy castle, a treasure hunt in the garden, and on the main lawn, our recently acquired tipi which became a children’s craft area.

Although our exhibition is closed at Reveley, Bushey Museum will host it in November till the end of the year. If you are visiting London then, do come to Bushey Museum and pop in to Reveley Lodge. All are welcome.

Katharine Whitaker is a trustee of and volunteer at the Reveley Lodge Museum in Bushey, Herts., in the UK. She curated its exhibits marking Canada Day, 2017.