A few minutes drive from Fool’s Paradise (see last post) is another Scarborough gem, an old estate, spanning as far as the R.C. Harris Water Plant in its heyday, known as “Chateau des Quatre Vents” in French, or “Castle of Four Winds”.

From a biblical context, the “four winds” come from four corners of the Earth, North, East, South and West.

The East Wind is the wind of judgement, represented by force of nature in the Bible. Sitting on the edge of The Bluffs, the house enjoys panoramic views of Lake Ontario with its powerful waves smashing against the cliffs of Scarborough Bluffs.

The South Wind is the wind of welcoming. The house is set back from the busy street. The winding tree lined driveway to the house curves around the cliff. At the end, a lookout facing Lake Ontario greets its visitors.

The North Wind symbolizes power and majesty. This Queen Anne style mansion was designed by architect E. J. Lennox, the same architect behind Toronto grandest buildings such as Casa Loma and old Toronto City Hall. An elaborate gabled balcony with dragon décor and turrets were added in 1910.

The last of the four winds is West Wind, the wind of “Deliverance”. When William Murray bought the land from Sir Henry Pellatt (owner of Casa Loma), just like Fool’s Paradise, Murray wanted to build a summer getaway away from the business of Old Toronto.

The setting of the land is so dramatic, perhaps for a moment, the winds provide a temporary sweet escape from reality to a chateau in South of France.

Just like Carla Bruni’s song…
J’préfère de temps de temps
Je préfère le goût du vent
Rough translation to English, “From time to time, I prefer the taste of wind.”

3025 Queen Street East, Scarborough