Sir John and Prince Edward
The origins of Hemlock Ravine Park can be traced back to 1789 when John Wentworth, governor of Nova Scotia, acquired 200 acres of woodland fronting on the Bedford Basin. The country estate that he and his wife built might have been forgotten if Prince Edward, the fourth son of King George III, had not "borrowed" it while resident in Halifax. The Prince enhanced the property by creating a pleasure garden with ornamental temples, pathways, a grotto and a pond.
When Prince Edward and his companion, Julie St. Laurent, left Nova Scotia in 1800 the Wentworths returned to their much improved property. Later the buildings and grounds fell into decay, but the natural beauty and romantic history of the site remained. Prince's Lodge became legendary, attracting thousands who picnicked, admired the views, and strolled through the ruined gardens.
For further information see the interpretative panel at the corner of Kent Avenue and Prince's Walk.
Heart-Shaped Pond
The heart-shaped pond, as originally constructed, was twice its present size and oval-shaped. It was the centre piece of an elaborate pleasure garden built by Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent and later father of Queen Victoria. The Prince and his mistress, Madame de St. Laurent, lived at Prince's Lodge from 1794 to 1800. As Commander in Chief of the military forces, Prince Edward had many duties and responsibilities, but at the Lodge he indulged in his love of architecture and landscape design. In addition to the pond, his pleasure garden included ornamental buildings, a grotto and meandering pathways.
The pond was reshaped into a heart in 1869 when Prince Arthur, the Duke's grandson, visited Halifax. From that time the pond has been a romantic spot, a symbol of the love Prince Edward and Madame de St. Laurent shared for twenty-seven years.
Creation of a Park
By the 1950s all that was left of the once grand estate was a muddy pond at the end of Kent Avenue and the rotunda, the largest of the Prince's garden temples. In 1970, after a lengthy campaign by concerned citizens, the heart-shaped pond and surrounding woodland were acquired by the city. This became the historic element of Hemlock Ravine Park.
In the same year, the discovery of a unique stand of old growth hemlocks in a ravine on the northern edge of Wentworth's original lot was brought to the public's attention. The Nature Conservancy of Canada recommended that the trees be protected and promised financial assistance.
It took more than a decade of studies, land assembly, and financial negotiations before a park plan was completed. All of the groups involved recommended a buffer zone to protect the ravine from heavy use. The solution was to incorporate the woodlands between the ravine and the pond into the park. The recreational trails are within this area.