Media

Craigdarroch Pronunciation - Craig Derek

Craigdarroch is a Gaelic word, which means "Rocky Oak Place" and describes the grounds of the original 28-acre estate.

Craigdarroch Castle was built in 37 months from 1887 to 1890

Craigdarroch Castle has approximately 26,000 square feet of floor space, including balconies and basement

At the time of construction the Castle had electricity, running water (there were four bathrooms in the Castle) and telephone (all from the City of Victoria, not generated just for this home). It also had central heat (hot water radiators) and a burglar alarm.

After Joan Dunsmuir's death in 1908 the estate was auctioned off and the castle became a prize in a land sale lottery. Solomon Cameron was the winner but in 1918 the Bank of Montreal foreclosed on him. They proceeded to lease the Castle out as an institutional building.

It was used for the following purposes:

• 1919 - 1921: Craigdarroch Military Hospital. Used for Veterans returning from WWI


• 1921 - 1946: Victoria College. No students lived here, this was simply the campus. In 1927 the Castle was sold by the Bank of Montreal to the Victoria School Board for $35,000.


• 1946 - 1967: Greater Victoria School Board. This was their head office.


• 1968 - 1979: Victoria Conservatory of Music. Classes held throughout the building. During these years, the Society began to do some restoration to the home and tours by donation.


• 1979 - Present: Owned and operated by the Society as an Historic House Museum. In 1959 the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society was formed by James. K. Nesbitt. The society was dedicated to preserve and restore the Castle. The Society purchased the Castle from the City of Victoria in 1994 for one dollar on the condition that Craigdarroch be operated as a museum. Restoration and operation of the Castle is funded solely by visitor admissions, this is the only 100% self-sufficient museum in Canada. Our visitors are therefore essential to the conservation of this magnificent home.

Thrilling Theatre at Craigdarroch Castle
Posted By: Mary Ellen Green 10/19/2011 12:00 AM

Giggling Iguana Productions is taking over Craigdarroch Castle this Halloween with its production of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, directed by Ian Case, running until Oct. 31. more.....
By: Erin McCracken Published: July 31, 2011 10:00 AM

Strolling minstrels, jugglers, the lilting strains of live music, ladies and gentlemen partaking of cake and sipping tea ~ the decadence of the Victorian era will soon come alive on the newly refurbished south lawn of Craigdarroch Castle. read more.....

Read some reviews for past performances at Craigdarroch

Groovy Ghoulies
Posted By: John Threlfall Monday Magazine 10/20/2010
The Cursed Cabaret of Kelowna Day Taylor is one malevolent musical After getting all Shavian in Rockland's great outdoors this summer, Giggling Iguana is back in the vaunted halls of Craigdarroch Castle for their 11th season of trying to scare the bejesus out of us. read more.....

Cabaret queen inspires Giggling Iguana crew
VicNews.com Published: October 06, 2010 11:00
Craigdarroch Castle provides backdrop for upcoming play Nancy doesn't have everyday problems. First, she has a horrible secret and second, she appears to hold the key to releasing the trapped spirit of a legendary speakeasy hostess.read more.....

Giggling Iguana goes Wilde
by Amanda Farrell-Low
There's something delicious about watching Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, a play lambasting the hypocrisy of Victorian-era society, with Craigdarroch Castle looming in the background. read more.....

The Importance of Being Ernest
July 8, 2010 - Arts
by Amanda Richardson - Staff Writer
Despite Victoria's first heat wave of the summer, the show must go on. The Importance of Being Earnest, hosted on the lawns of Craigdarroch Castle, is proving to be a cool way to beat the heat. The outdoor stage, with the castle in the background, is a perfect setting for Oscar Wilde's 1895 play that, for most scenes, is set on the lawns of a country estate. read more...


The Importance of Being Ernest
by Monica Pendergast
Oscar Wilde's ever-popular comedy of manners seems a good fit...what was it like seeing this play on the grounds of the castle? read more...

Download your Introduction to Craigdarroch Castle here >

Download a copy of the Craigdarroch Castle House Map >

We've also added a new audio tour that is accessed through your cell phone or one of our mp3 players. You can listen to that audio tour here or download it now >

School Program Christmas Tours >
Christmas at The Castle >