Inn which was then sold in 2009 to the former owners. The name Tattingstone was chosen in reference to a small village in England, where an ancestor from Harwood’s family tree had resided in the late fifteenth century. Erika Banting purchasing the property was a journey that started some twenty years ago
while her and her husband were visiting friends and family in Nova Scotia. The couple were driving from one sister-in-law’s home in Yarmouth to another’s in Musquodoboit. During their travels they stumbled upon the university and tourist town of Wolfville. Erika recalled saying to her husband, “This place is absolutely beau- tiful I could live here.” Little did she know that
TATTINGSTONE INN
WHERE DETAILS MATTER
by Ryan Myson
E rika Banting began her love for the Annapo- lis Valley during a visit to the region with her husband over twenty years ago and was so struck by its authentic beauty and vibrant energy of the area that she eventually moved to Nova Scotia and acquired the elegant Tattingstone Inn in the university town of Wolfville. During our conver- sation with Erika, we discussed her journey back to Nova Scotia as an innkeeper and her desire to create a unique experience for their guests at the
We thought it would be best to tell a little about the history of the Tattingstone Inn. The Itali- anate-style home nestled in the middle of the town of Wolfville was originally known as Thompson House and was built in 1874 as a farmhouse. It was home to an early Mayor of Wolfville, George Thompson, who served as Mayor from 1897-1902. However, this registered historic landmark prop- erty’s most noted occupant was Leslie R. Fairn, an outstanding Canadian architect who designed many public buildings in Nova Scotia and lived in the house for over 35 years. During his time in Wolfville, Fairn supervised the construction of Acadia’s University Hall, as well as many other build- ings in the community such as McConnell Dining Hall, and Eastern Kings Memorial Hospital. He kept his office and workshop in the Carriage House and raised his family in the Main House. In 1987 the property was purchased by a known Halifax restaurateur, Betsy Harwood. Harwood spent a little over a year renovating the property, converting the home into an elegant ten-room
twenty years later that same sister-in-law would plant the seed that would see the couple make their way back to the small town in the Annapo- lis Valley and purchase the Tattingstone Inn, one of the amazing properties in the area, nestled in the middle of town right in the heart of the wine country. Wolfville and the Annapolis Valley has always been a tourist destination due to its views of Cape Blomidon, the Bay of Fundy and Gaspereau Valley, as well as being home to many
local wineries, cideries, breweries, pubs, cafes and shops.
“This place is absolutely beau- tiful I could live here.”
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
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