The Hallmark banner for WCTH featuring the staircase from Mycroft Manor.
Three weeks from today, on 25 April, is the two-hour premiere of the second series of Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart (2014) in the US at 9/8c! (The second series will premiere on Super Channel in Canada in May, possibly around the 3rd-7th.) I am very much looking forward to the return of this series as I have missed gushing over Elizabeth Thatcher and Constable Jack Thornton. I’m hoping for a wedding between the two this time. 😉
Hycroft Manor in October 2014 (photo credit: own photo)
In the meantime, I’d like to introduce my readers to Hycroft Manor in Vancouver, which was featured in the S2 trailer (click here). You can see Elizabeth and Jack riding in a buggy into the manor in the opening scene, as well Elizabeth and her two sisters (I’m assuming the lady on her left is her other sister, who was mentioned but did not appear in S1) walking down the grand staircase in another. Since the last day of my historical fashion show at Hycroft, I had known that WCTH would be filmed inside the elegant heritage building in Shaughnessy. (This is where all the fine mansions in Vancouver are. The Toronto equivalent would be Bridle Path.) Sadly, filming began the day I left Vancouver so I did not get to see Erin Krakow (Elizabeth) or Daniel Lissing (Jack), otherwise I would have been chuffed to bits! Based on what we’ve heard in the trailer, we can assume this is the manor that will be set as Elizabeth’s family’s mansion in Toronto, Ontario.
The ballroom in the basement of the mansion
Hycroft Manor has been the home of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver (UWCV) since 1962. (Memberships, by the way, are open to all women who have earned university degrees from Canada or around the world. Just be willing to part with $400 – or $200 if one is under 30 – a year, partly to support the maintenance of the building.) The Edwardian mansion was constructed between 1909-1911 as the estate of Alexander McRae, a renowned businessman, politician, and Major General in Western Canada. The five-acre estate consisted of the 3-story mansion with 30 rooms, a coach house, mews cottage, stables, and garden. McRae’s home was considered to be the exclusive place to be during the Edwardian era, the Roaring 20’s, and the 30’s. Only the creme de la creme could find themselves on the guest list at social functions. One such popular event was the annual New Year’s Eve masquerade ball. (Having just read this, it now seems only fitting that Ivan Sayers’ had a historical fashion show on masquerade costumes in October 2013!)
The foyer / reception hall
Tragedy befell Hycroft and the McRaes during the Second World War. The children had all grown up and moved away, Mrs Blanche Mcrae passed away in 1942, and Mr Mcrae sold the property to the Government of Canada for $1 as a hospital for war veterans (just like Downton Abbey – only it wasn’t sold, thank goodness!). Four years after the death of his wife, Alexander McRae passed away in Ontario. When the property was divided in the 1960’s (the UWCV own the mansion, coach house, mews cottage, and the surround grounds; the other part is across the road and has new luxurious historic-looking townhouses and also has the original swimming pool), UWCV found the mansion in disrepair. According to the UWCV website, there were even raccoons living in the manor! It took five years to restore the manor. Much of the antique and vintage furniture have been generous donations of members and friends.
L-R: The main door, the coach house, the gardens
Hycroft has also been the venue for weddings, the house of the French Olympic team during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games (I can’t help but smile at this; course they had to choose an elegant venue), and, of course, the set for numerous films. It also houses part of the historical clothing and accessories collection by SMOC (Society for the Museum of Original Costume).
I had the privilege to attend a private tour of the mansion during a Diamond Jubilee Afternoon Tea event in 2012. It felt very much like visiting the ‘Downton Abbey’ of Vancouver, as we explored every room, including some of the servants’ quarters. Do enjoy the photos I’ve taken. 🙂
There are many opportunities to visit the mansion and its grounds:
- SMOC fashion lectures – ballroom only
- annual Christmas craft fair in November – all three storeys, garden open
- various events open to the public for a non-member fee* (*these might be open to women only). See UWCV’s Programmes & Events page for more options.
Related articles
- Vancouver History: Hycroft Manor (Miss604.com)
The Lady and the Rose 
I’ve not seen the series, but everyone looks so beautiful. I must really be missing out.
It’s a very cute series. 🙂 Because it’s Hallmark, just expect to be smiling half or most of the time. You have time to catch up on S1 before the 2-hour premiere on 25 April!
I finished season 1, Lady! I really liked it, even though sometimes it made me wanna facepalm. HAHAHA. Do you know how the series is related to the movie? I tried to do some research on it, but i still don’t understand how it connects to the 2013 movie? is it supposed to follow up and basically now tell the story? Because if i remember reading, there was a constable named Edward in that version with Elizabeth?
Oh yay! I have to say, S2 is nowhere as good as S1. The costume dept went down (short sleeved dresses, prom dresses) and just about all the women wear their hair down. Aside from that, it’s quite different from S1. But you can watch it to see the interiors of Hycroft Manor (many scenes in E1-3). 🙂
I’ve watched the Hallmark movie from 2013. It’s supposed to be a prequel/prologue to the series. Only one actress from the movie is in the series – Abigail. The movie is based on the novels by Janette Oke. In the movie, there are 2 Elizabeth’s – the one from the novels and the niece of the heroine, who is to be our heroine in the movie and the TV series. Both Elizabeth’s are teachers. They come from the upper class in Ontario, Canada and head west to become teachers. They have pretty similar experiences. 😛 The younger Elizabeth in the movie is more uptight whereas the Elizabeth in the TV series (Erin Krakow) is very…romantic? (The movie actress is also younger, whereas the TV series Elizabeth is just slightly older, I think.) In the movie, Edward is a family friend who becomes a constable. In the TV series, Jack is a constable who’s been stationed in Coal Valley to keep an eye on Elizabeth. I like both versions but Elizabeth & Jack are cuter to watch. 😉
Ah, I wish they made up their minds to continue it in a manner where it really connects. I caught up on what has been released of S2, and have to say, you’re right. It’s not as good as S1. I am frustrated with lots of the stuff, and sometimes things suddenly feel so modern? I kinda felt frustrated at Elizabeth for the way she’s treating Jack, and how her family is towards him and that she’s so oblivious towards all of it. UGH. She does seem wishy-washy in her decisions regarding Charles and Jack based on her actions.
I agree – suddenly it’s lost the period drama feel and has become more modern. I also became frustrated with Elizabeth. I didn’t think her childhood friend, Charles, was all that great. I’m so glad she returned to Coal Valley. I just want her to marry Jack!
FORREALS! I feel that they need to wrap the series up soon, because the storyline suddenly feels there’s no bigger arc or story around it?
I think the series will end once all episodes have aired. So I really hope Elizabeth and Jack will get married and they live happily ever after. Nothing worse than axing a series with no happy ending. 😡
I have fallen in love with a pair of art nouveau pitchers in blue and white on the mantle on set at the mansion. Can anyone advise the maker?