A Bit of England Far From England
This 24 by 5 m mural portrays the beautiful Tudor Revival style homes of Humber Valley Village and The Kingsway, set in park-like surroundings and inhabited by people with strong family values.
In the early 1900s, Robert Home Smith (1877-1935), financier and real estate developer, began the transformation of the 1200 ha of land he has acquired along the Humber River into high-end subdivisions. The Old Mill Inn and the stone arch bridge nearby sprang from Home Smith's designs. His motto "A BIT OF ENGLAND FAR FROM ENGLAND" symbolized his objective of creating Toronto suburbs of serenity through English Tudor Revival architecture.
The Old Mill Inn (1914) and the valley in which it sits, have long been a part of the Canadian story. During the First World War, the original wooden bridge was washed out in a storm. In 1916, during the lean war years, a beautiful new stone arch bridge was quickly constructed to replace it, thanks to Home Smith's efforts. Today, this area located to the east of the mural along the Humber River continues to be a very desirable destination for leisure and recreation.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Toronto Plaques. Full page here.