Ravenscrag, Montreal

Ravenscrag (also known as Hugh Allan House and Hugh Montagu Allan House) is a historic mansion located in the Golden Square Mile in Montreal (Quebec), Canada.

Built mainly between 1861 and 1863, this house was the residence of Sir Hugh Allan from 1863 to 1882 and to his son Sir Hugh Montagu Allan from 1882 to 1940. In 1940, the Allan family donated the house to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Since 1943, the building has housed the Allan Memorial Institute, which houses the hospital's psychiatry department, and since 1997, the psychiatry department of McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Following the move of the Royal Victoria Hospital in 2015, the future of Ravenscrag is uncertain. In 2023, the MUHC transferred the property to the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) in order to realize McGill University's new pavillion project called "Royal Victoria". The MUHC remains tenant until 2028.

This residence was designed by architect Victor Roy of the firm William Spier & Son in the Italianate style, following the trends of Victorian architecture. Around 1865, architect John William Hopkins of the firm Hopkins & Wily superintended the construction of the reception rooms annexed to the house and of the greenhouse, following the plans of architect Victor Roy. After the construction of the reception rooms around 1865, the house had 34 rooms, excluding the servants' quarters and outbuildings. Often qualified as the most sumptuous Montreal residence of the 19th century, the interior was decorated by the Italian painter Giuseppe Guidicini, the team of the Canadian painter John McArthur, the team of the carpenter and joiner George Roberts and the interior decoration company J. & W. Hilton of Montreal.

Hugh Allan baptized his residence "Ravenscrag" following its construction in the 1860s. This residence is part of the former Hugh Allan estate which also includes stables, a Gate house and a park. This estate was recognized by the City of Montreal in 1987 and by the Government of Quebec in 2005 as an integral part of the "''Site patrimonial du Mont-Royal''" (Mount Royal Heritage Site). It was also declared to be integrated into the "''Secteur de valeur patrimoniale exceptionnelle Hôpital Royal Victoria''" (Royal Victoria Hospital Historic District) by the City in 2004.

Site

Ravenscrag is located at 835-1025 Pine Avenue West in the Golden Square Mile district of the Ville-Marie borough in the city of Montreal. It is located approximately 3.5 km from Old Montreal. More precisely, the house is located on the southeast slope of Mount Royal and is located at the top of McTavish Street. It can be accessed from the main gate on Pine Avenue West or from the entrance near Peel Street further west.

History

Before 1861 : land purchase and conception

The land on which Ravenscrag is built was previously part of the estate of Simon McTavish, a wealthy fur trader, which once stretched from the top of the mountain in the north to Saint Catherine Street in the south, and from the property of James McGill in the east to beyond Drummond Street in the west. In 1803, Simon McTavish decided to build a "chateau" on his estate, intentded to honour his wife, Marie-Marguerite Chaboillez. However, in 1804, he died during construction and construction stopped. The half-completed house was then left abandoned until its demolition in 1860. In the meantime, the McTavish estate underwent several subdivisions by land investors such as John Torrance, Hugh Taylor and John Hutchison. Some of these lots were sold on November 23, 1853 at an auction organised by auctioneer John Leeming. On this occasion, Hugh Allan purchased from David Torrance for the sum of a lot of land located on the south-east slope of Mount Royal, above McTavish house and bordering the McTavish burial site to the east. However, there is no information to determine Hugh Allan's intention regarding the use he intended for this lot of land when he purchased it. He was himself a land investor: during his life, he purchased several lots of land in the St. Antoine ward in Montreal on which he had houses or apartment buildings built for rental. However, the construction of buildings intended for rental (row houses or apartment buildings) was at this time rather rare in the northeast of Sherbrooke Street, between McGill University and Guy Street. Due to their privileged location on the mountain, these lands tended to be used as estates on which residences were built in the style of an English country house, following the British trend in architecture for wealthy families. For example, were built in that area during the 1860s the houses of John Redpath, named "Terrace Bank" (1861), Orrin S. Wood, known as "Braehead" (1861), Andrew Allan, known as "Iononteh" (1865), and David Lewis (1868).

Image:John Redpath's house, Terrace Bank, Sherbrooke Street, Montreal.jpg, ''Terrace Bank'' (1861), John Redpath residence
Image:Duggan House.jpg, ''Braehead'' (1861), Orrin Squire Wood's residence
Image:1890, Andrew Allan House, Ionoteh.jpg, ''Iononteh'' (1865), Andrew Allan's residence
Image:James Linton s house Sherbrooke Street Montreal about 1885.jpg, David Lewis House (1868)

On , Hugh Allan and his wife, Matilda Caroline Smith, had their fourth child and third son, Hugh Montagu Allan. It was at this time that Hugh Allan decided to build a new residence that reflected his wealth and power. He decided to build a new home on his land located on the southeast slope of Mount Royal, away from the noise, bustle and prying eyes of the city, thus benefiting from more space, comfort and privacy. The chosen location of the estate also had the advantage of being neither too close to the city nor too far away, allowing him to access it quickly.

Around 1860, he hired the architectural firm William Spier & Son to design and build his future mansion. Victor Roy, an architect from that firm, was responsible for drawing up the plans. He designed the house as a villa or as an English country house in the Italianate style. He followed the architectural trend of the time, which was inspired by the British royal summer residence of Osborne House, built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight. Several houses in England, in the British colonies and in North America, built up until the 1870s, were modeled upon this royal residence. Even in Montreal, several mansions were built in the Italianate style during the 1850s and 1860s, including the Harrison Stephens house (1857), the Joseph Mackay house (1858) and th
David R. Wood house
(1859). However, there is no information indicating why this style was chosen for Ravenscrag, or whether it was a preference of the architect or the client. On the other hand, the construction of Henry Lyman's residence on McTavish Street in 1859 according to the plans of the architect Richard C. Windeyer may have played a determining role in the choice of the architectural style of Ravenscrag. Indeed, this "villa" has the same architectural style as Ravenscrag. However, this house was demolished in 1941 to make way for a 24-unit appartement building.

Image:1862 Highfield (Gloucester) John Giles, Architect.jpg, Hillfield House (1862), designed by architect John Giles
Image:1864 R. P. Dodge House (Georgetown, DC).jpg, R. P. Dodge Residence (1864) designed by architectural firm Downing & Vaux from New York
Image:1868 W. S. B. Hubbell House.jpg, Hubbell House (1868) designed by architectural firm Kuler & Hubbell (Toledo, Ohio)
Image:1869 Design Italian Villa, by L. B. Young.jpg, House design (1869) for an Italianate villa by architect L. B. Young (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Image:1850-60 Logan House, Rockfield (LAC-PA-050934).jpg, Logan House, called "Rockfield" (1850s), Montreal, Quebec
Image:The Lyman house, "Thornhill".jpg, Henry Lyman's residence, called "Thornhill" (1859), Montreal, Quebec
Image:Victoria Mansion, Portland, Maine USA.jpg, Victoria Mansion (1860), Portland, Maine
Image:Maison Butters - août 2019.jpg, Isaac Butters House (1866), Stanstead, Quebec

1861 to 1863 : construction

On May 27, 1861, work officially began. David Wilson and John MacFarlane of ''Wilson & Co.'' were responsible for the masonry, while Wand & Jackson was responsible for the bricklaying. John MacFarlane also installed the hot water heating system and the gas lighting system. George Roberts' company carried out all the carpentry, joinery, cabinetmaking, varnishing, painting, gilding and glazing. The bricklaying work continued until November 1861, while the masonry work extended until June 1862. Finally, the work carried out by George Roberts' company extended until October 1862. This work was then supervised by the architectural firm of William Spier & Son. However, during 1862, the architectural firm of Fowler & Roy, where the architect Victor Roy was now working, took over the contract for superintendence of the work site from the firm of William Spier & Son, dissolved towards the end of 1861.

In an article published on February 24, 1862 in the ''Montreal Herald and Daily Commercial Gazette'', the author reported on the progress of the work. He mentioned in particular that the tower was still under construction and that "a conservatory is to be erected at the south-west end of the building." In addition, a water tank was built above the residence, in the mountain, at a sufficient height to supply the building with water up to the third floor.

Towards the end of 1862, Hugh Allan hired the Italian painter Giuseppe Guidicini to decorate his new residence. For a month or two, between October 1862 and April 1863, the artist painted the decorations, particularly for the living room and the billiard room (converted into a library around 1865). During this same period, the firm of ''J. & W. Hilton'' furnished the library, and most likely the other reception rooms in the house. Hugh Allan also commissioned “a work” in marble around September 1862 from the Montreal sculptors Jules Souquère and Gervais Buffle (''Souquère, Buffle & Co.''), probably the Carrara marble fireplace mantel in the living room.

After 1862, changes were made to the architectural plans of the residence. Hugh Allan commissioned the architectural firm of Fowler & Roy, successors to William Spier & Son, to add reception rooms to the main building. Victor Roy then designed a ballroom and two antechambers, all located between the main building and the greenhouse. The greenhouse, which had already been planned in the original plans, was then moved or offset further south of the main building. Although these new rooms were designed by the architectural firm of Fowler & Roy, construction of these rooms would instead be under superintendence of the architectural firm of Hopkins & Wily around 1865.

Since the original architectural plans, elevations and drawings for the construction of Ravenscrag are missing, little information exists on the construction of the boundary wall and some of the outbuildings (gate house and stables). The known building contracts, written in 1861, give no details on the construction of these buildings. These contracts only mention the construction of a "mansion" on Hugh Allan's land, and the specifications in the appendix only add details, among other things, on the "wing" dedicated to the servants or the greenhouse (conservatory). However, by 1863, the construction of the outbuildings (gate house and stables) was completed and the estate was entirely enclosed by a boundary wall. Indeed, a photograph taken by William Notman in 1863 already bears witness to the existence of the gate house and the surrounding wall. In addition, a work published by the Canada Railway Advertising Company in 1864 specifies that it was the Montreal Foundry and City Works that made the wrought iron grilles for the gates of the estate, confirming that the construction of the surrounding wall predates 1864. As for the stable, Hugh Montagu Allan had the year of initial construction of the building engraved directly above the main door during the modifications carried out in 1898. The construction of the surrounding wall, the gate house and the stable was therefore completely completed when the Allan family moved to Ravenscrag.

In April 1863, Hugh Allan and his family moved into their new residence. Hugh Allan, however, kept his previous residence located at 411 Saint Catherine Street (between City Councillors and St. Alexander Streets) until his death for rental purposes. In fact, in May 1863, he rented it to his brother, Andrew Allan, for a period of three years. This house would later be purchased by Methodists who would build the St. James Church there, nicknamed the “Cathedral of Methodism,” which would become the St. James United Church in the 1920s. As for the servants, the City of Montreal’s property assessment roll report mentions that Hugh Allan had been collecting rent from his servants who lived on the Ravenscrag estate since 1863. The servants therefore moved in at the same time as the Allan family. The Lovell Directory even specifies in 1865 that the gardener and caretaker of Ravenscrag, Joseph Gordon, resides at the address preceding the address of Hugh Allan on McTavish Street, confirming that he lives in the gate house.

1863 to 1882 : Hugh Allan

In April 1863, when Hugh Allan and his family moved into Ravenscrag, the ballroom, its antechambers and the conservatory had still not been built. There is no precise information on when work began on these rooms. However, an order placed by Hugh Allan around 1863 to the company J. & W. Hilton to furnish the library suggests that construction of the new reception rooms was already underway or about to begin. Firstly, this order confirms the intention to change the purpose of the billiard room, which had just been completed, to a library. Indeed, the custom-made bookcases installed on either side of the fireplace were not originally intended for the room. In the known construction contracts from 1861, there is no mention of a library. However, there is mention of the creation of a billiard room located to the north of the living room. Moreover, when Giuseppe Guidicini painted this room, he did not foresee the future addition of bookcases that would hide almost an entire wall. In this regard, in 1993, when the sculpted bookcases were being dismantled in order to present them at a museum exhibition, the workers rediscovered the artist's painted panels at the back. Furthermore, this change of purpose so soon after the construction of the residence shows that there were already plans to move the billiard room to one of the future antechambers to the ballroom. Moreover, an article published on December 7, 1872 in the ''Canadian Illustrated News'' confirms this move. This new billiard room is directly accessible "by a door located on the west side f the living room. Finally, note that the inventory of Hugh Allan's estate carried out on January 10, 1883 confirms the existence of a billiard room between the ballroom and the living room.

In 1865, construction of the reception rooms attached to the main building appears to be underway. In fact, the City of Montreal's property assessment roll report doubled the value of the Ravenscrag estate in 1865 to $200,000 before making a correction and returning it to the initial value of $100,000, suggesting that construction of the reception rooms is underway. It should also be noted that at this time, Hugh Allan's brother, Andrew Allan, was himself having a home built nearby (named "Iononteh"), between McTavish and Peel streets, below Ravenscrag, and that the same architectural firm Hopkins & Wily is superintending both construction sites. In any case, construction of these reception rooms was certainly completed in 1868, as illustrated in an engraving from the period. For these reception rooms, Hugh Allan appears to have used the same contractors employed for the construction of the main building and outbuildings. Indeed, the original building contracts mention the construction of a conservatory which the contractors undertook to build "in accordance with the said general specifications and plans, and to the perfect satisfaction of the said William Spier & Son, and the said Hugh Allan", and on which payment of the contract was dependent. As these reception rooms are situated between the conservatory and the main building, it's therefore highly likely that the same contractors built these rooms, in complete continuity. Furthermore, the similarity in the details of the carved decoration between these adjoining rooms and the main house tends to confirm the use of the same team of sculptors by George Roberts. A notable example is the similarity of the mascarons on the doorways of the ballroom to the mascarons on the pillars of the main staircase, which in both cases stick out their tongues as a teasing gesture or to scare away evil spirits.

Image :George Roberts, First Floor Staircase Newel, c.1862 (732-1262.41) 03.jpg, Detail of a mascaron on the baluster of the first floor of the main staircase (1862)
Image :George Roberts, Overdoor (Dessus-de-porte) (732-0427.4.1-4) MUMAQ 02.jpg, Detail of one of the overdoors of the ballroom (1865)


On 23 May 1867, Hugh Allan's eldest daughter, Matilda Isobel Allan, married Dr Gibbon of the 25th K.O.B. with the Rev. Dr Matthieson presiding at St. Andrew's Church on Beaver Hall. It is reported that "the wedding party was large and brilliant, and the church was filled with spectators from all quarters." The newspaper does not mention, however, whether this was the occasion on which Hugh Allan inaugurated his brand new ballroom.

In November 1869, Hugh Allan organized a party at Ravenscrag in honor of Prince Arthur of the United Kingdom, future Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1874) and Governor General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. More than 300 guests were present and it was noted that "such a display of rich clothes has never been seen in Montreal".

In July 1871, Queen Victoria granted Hugh Allan a Knighthood of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of the Order of St Michael and St George, as Hugh Allan of Ravenscrag. He was presented to Her Majesty by the Earl of Kimberley in 1873. At this time, Hugh Allan commissioned a marble portrait bust from the company of the marble mason Robert Forsyth, which has been on display at Ravenscrag since 1873, after a brief exhibition in the window of Dawson's store.

Between September and November 1872, in preparation for the visit to Montreal of the Earl of Dufferin, 3rd Governor General of Canada, Hugh Allan decided to redecorate the apartment intended for distinguished guests and to enrich the decoration and furniture of the reception rooms, particularly the ballroom. The companies that decorated and furnished the ballroom for this occasion are not known. However, it is possible that Hugh Allan hired the same companies or contractors that had built the Merchants' Bank building in 1867, on the corner of Notre-Dame and Place d'Armes, founded by Hugh Allan among others. Indeed, several of the contractors hired for its construction were those who had also worked on Ravenscrag, including the architectural firm Hopkins & Wily, the masonry contractor Daniel Wilson, the bricklaying contractor Alex Wand, and the cabinetmaker company J. & W. Hilton for the furniture.

Following this logic, the painted works in the ballroom are possibly a creation of John McArthur's painting company, known as McArthur & Son. In addition to having created the painted works in the Merchants' Bank building in 1867, John McArthur also created similar works to those in the ballroom in the past. Indeed, in 1860, he created "circular medallions filled with gold" on the wall panels of the Prince's box in the concert hall, reminiscent of the medallions illustrating profile portraits on a gold background on the ballroom ceiling. Again, in 1866, he painted the ceiling of a store, on the corner of Grand St. James Street and Victoria Square, in a "light blue, enhanced with gilding", similar to the decorations painted on the ceiling of the ballroom.

As for the furniture, the company responsible is also unknown. However, it is highly likely that Hugh Allan ordered his furniture from the cabinetmakers J. & W. Hilton of Montreal. In addition to having produced the furniture for the Merchants' Bank building in 1867, Hugh Allan had already placed at least two orders with this company in the past, namely the complete furnishing of the library in 1863, then a complete bedroom set in 1867. Thus, the windows' gilt cornices and its curtains, designed by Robert Williams, would have come from this company, as well as the armchairs, sofas or large mirrors installed in the niches.

On November 21, 1872, three hundred guests attended the ball organized by Hugh Allan in honor of the Earl of Dufferin. The sumptuousness of this event was probably not unrelated to Hugh Allan's interest in the construction of a transcontinental railway line.

Between 1868 and 1872, Hugh Allan had three dormer windows added to the roof of the front facade of the main building to better light the bedrooms on the 3rd floor, intended for his children.

On 9 December 1882, Hugh Allan died suddenly at the age of 72 while on a business trip to Scotland. He was found with his head resting on a hand covering a half-written letter. His body was then repatriated and brought back to Ravenscrag. His coffin was on display in the library.

On December 27, 1882, the funeral began at Ravenscrag and continued at St. Andrew's Church on Beaver Hall. All flags in the city of Montreal were lowered to half-mast and many businesses closed that day to pay their last respects to Hugh Allan. The mayor of Montreal at the time, Jean-Louis Beaudry, and all of his city councillors participated in the funeral march.

1882 to 1940 : Hugh Montagu Allan

On Sir Hugh Allan's death in 1882, his son, Hugh Montagu Allan, became heir to Ravenscrag in accordance with his will which stated: "...and it is my desire that my executors shall convey to my son, Hugh Montagu Allan, the house and ground of Ravenscrag and all the furniture".

As soon as 1885, Montagu continued the family's tradition of hospitality. On January 23, 1885, he gave a ball that the press called "the social event of the season." The 240 guests came from Montreal high society, but also from Quebec city, New York City and Boston.

On April 21, 1887, in preparation for the construction of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montagu was invited by the special committee of the City Council set up for the project to seek his opinion on the construction of a hospital building on the edge of his property. Without formally objecting, he stated that "the idea was not a very nice one to have a hospital next to a private house. ..If a more suitable site could be chosen, I should doubtless prefer it."

In 1889, Montagu commissioned architects Andrew Thomas Taylor and George William Gordon to extend the east wing (servants' quarters). An entire third floor was added to this wing.

In 1898, Montagu asked architects Andrew Thomas Taylor and George William Gordon to enlarge the stable to accommodate Thoroughbred horses. He also asked his architects to make several modifications to the residence. On the one hand, on the outside, the portico was closed and joined to the vestibule, the dining room was enlarged by about 3 metres (about ten feet) and, because of a privileged view of the city and the St. Lawrence River, many balconies and terraces were created on the front façade, notably on the roof of the dining room and the old portico. Finally, the dormers on either side of the tower were lowered to pierce the cornice, as in the William Dow house. On this occasion, the Wighton & Morison Co. is responsible for the masonry. On the other hand, inside, the old school room is joined to the entrance hall and converted into a small living room. Four columns identical to the two pre-existing columns are added to the entrance hall. The walls of the vestibule, the entrance hall and the dining room are covered with tapestries. On this occasion, the company of the decorator Walter P. Scott is responsible for all the painting, gilding, installation of tapestries and cabinetry/carpentry work. Hubertus McGuire, an employee of this company, is particularly responsible for supervising and carrying out the cabinetry/carpentry work. Although these works were planned in 1898, it seems that they were carried out rather in 1899: the architect Andrew T. Taylor, who was responsible for supervising the Ravenscrag site, was also responsible for supervising the construction site of Montrose at Cacouna, the new summer residence of Hugh Montagu Allan, which he visited in August 1899.

During the summer of 1902, Montagu Allan had the conservatory of the residence rebuilt and enlarged by the company Lord & Burnham Co. of Toronto.

In May 1906, the Allan family welcomed Prince Arthur of Connaught to Ravenscrag. A ball was held in his honour on May 8, 1906 at the residence.

In 1907, Sir Hugh Montagu Allan received Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu, brother of the emperor of Japan, at Ravenscrag and was in charge of his entertainment during his visit to Montreal. This visit earned him his investiture in the Order of the Rising Sun.

Over the years, the house no longer met the needs of the old couple and the modern world. In addition, the Second World War was upon Ravenscrag and Hugh Montagu was faced with a potential property tax of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year. He and Lady Allan decided to move to an apartment in the Le Château Apartments building on Sherbrooke Street in 1938. When the war broke out in 1939, the couple immediately offered Ravenscrag to the Canadian government with the intention of serving as a convalescent home for war victims. However, as the government did not know what to do with it, the couple decided in 1940 to offer it to the Royal Victoria Hospital instead.

On November 18 and 19, 1940, Hugh Montague put the residence’s furniture up for auction: the auctioneer, Fraser Bros Ltd, sold, among other things, hunting trophies in the form of antelope heads mounted on wall sconces, candelabra supported by life-size caryatids, long hallway carpets, and elephants carved in ivory and ebony. “The scene took on the appearance of an auction in a blockbuster movie.” Statues, paintings, carpets, and bedding were sold following “lively” bidding wars. Several of the pieces of furniture for sale were of surprising sizes: “ ��wardrobes larger than any standard room in a private city home, a kitchen table longer than any table you might find in a restaurant, more than five bathtubs that could have held several people at once �� refrigeration equipment more spacious than the average one found in any store, ��” Even the residence’s internal telephone system, linking together the butler’s room, stables, cloakroom, bedrooms, sewing room, conservatory, caretaker’s cottage and tennis court, was up for sale. The day of the auction was marked by snow and wet weather, and dead leaves littered the conservatory floor, marking the sad end of the Allan’s glorious home. On 19 November 1940, Hugh Montagu Allan donated Ravenscrag to the Royal Victoria Hospital Their only daughter, Martha Allan, died two years later, on 4 April 1942, leaving the couple without an heir.

1940 to 2021 : Allan Memorial Institute

On November 19, 1940, the Royal Victoria Hospital received Ravenscrag estate as a gift from Hugh Montagu Allan. The hospital even considered destroying the residence to replace it with a new building. It was not until 1943 that the hospital decided to transform it into a department dedicated to psychiatry, the first of its kind in Canada. From then on, major changes were made to the interior of the house in order to better serve the new purpose of the new department. Between 1943 and 1944, the Royal Victoria Hospital commissioned architects Harold Lawson and H. B. Little to almost completely redo the interior of the residence and the stables; only a wall of the old library and the vestibule of the house remained visible and intact. On this occasion, the institute offered to the ''École du meuble de Montréal'' (School of Cabinetmaking of Montreal) most of the easily removable interior decorations (cabinets, shelves, doors, door frames, etc.), "which accepted them eagerly". In 1945, all the balconies and terraces were destroyed and the balcony adjacent to the dining room was closed off by walls. In addition, the greenhouse was removed that same year.

In the 1940s, the former mansion was renamed the Allan Memorial Institute in honor of the Allan family. The institute opened its doors on July 12, 1944. It then had about fifty rooms, four laboratories and offices for administration and staff. The first director of the institute was Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron, until then a professor of psychiatry at McGill University.

Around 1951, the institute was still confined to the old residence and its former stable, which quickly became overcrowded. Several members of the institute had small offices mainly located in the basement of the house, which at that time housed the entire psychology department. Between 1952 and 1953, the institute commissioned architects E. I. Barrot, L. E. Marshall, R. A. Montgomery, and J. C. Merrett to build a T-shaped annex to extend the residence to the rear. The construction of a new wing made of Queenston limestone increased the institute's capacity to 250 beds. This new wing was inaugurated on October 10, 1953.

On November 13, 1963, the new pavilion named "Irving Ludmer" of the Allan Memorial Institute was officially inaugurated by Governor General Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline Archer in the presence of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Rocke Robertson of McGill University.

In 1986, the institute built a new annex "in order to offer a more comprehensive range of psychiatric care" and increased the institute's capacity by twenty beds.

On December 15, 1987, the City of Montreal declared by regulation that the Ravenscrag estate is an integral part of the “''site patrimonial du Mont-Royal''” (Mount Royal heritage site).

In July 1997, the official creation of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) was announced, merging the Montreal Children's Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital (including the Allan Memorial Institute), the Montreal General Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital and the Montreal Chest Institute.

In 1999, McGill University, which was at the time looking for potential spaces to acquire or lease in order to meet the need for space related to the growing number of students in the coming decades, became interested in the properties of the Royal Victoria Hospital, which was scheduled to move in 2003 or 2004. Ravenscrag in particular became a possible location for a new university pavilion. However, the cost of transforming the hospital buildings and the residence hindered the adoption of such a project.

On March 9, 2005, the Quebec government created the "''Site patrimonial du Mont-Royal''" (Mount Royal Heritage Site) by decree. Under this decree, the Ravenscrag Estate is part of this protected area.

On June 6, 2013, McGill University announced its interest in purchasing the buildings and land of the Royal Victoria Hospital, which is scheduled to move to the new MUHC site in 2015. In its plan, it would maintain a mental health focus for the buildings on the Ravenscrag estate (house, stables, and gatehouse).

On April 26, 2015, the Royal Victoria Hospital moved its last patients to the new MUHC site. However, some services from the former Allan Memorial Institute remains on site, including the MUHC's outpatient psychiatric services.

In 2018, the Government of Quebec "commissioned the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) ..to organize the redevelopment of the entire site f the former Royal Victoria Hospital and the Allan Memorial Instituteby means of a Master Development Plan".

On August 29, 2019, the City of Montreal published its official "''énoncé de l'intérêt patrimonial du site de l'institut Allan Memorial (Ancienne villa Ravenscrag)''" (Statement of Heritage Interest of the Allan Memorial Institute Site (Former villa Ravenscrag)). In this statement, the City established the value it places on various elements of the Ravenscrag estate. For example, it attributed architectural and artistic value to the "exceptional quality of the architectural and design of the villa, the stables, the gatehouse and the surrounding wall, their great beauty and their representation of the opulence of the Golden Square Mile". Inside the residence, it attributed artistic value to the "formidable library furniture" as well as to the "decor incorporating gilding and the richly carved rosettes on the original ceilings of the ballroom (concealed above a suspended ceiling). However, this statement does not grant artistic value to the decorative paintings by the artist Giuseppe Guidicini in the living room and the library (hidden behind a layer of paint), nor to the original dining room table, probably from the J. & W. Hilton company, stored in the library, purchased by the Royal Victoria Hospital on November 19, 1940 at auction, nor to the painted portraits on canvas of Lady Marguerite Ethel Allan (painted by the artist Robert Harris) and Sir Hugh Montagu Allan, both located in the entrance hall, and nor even the portrait bust of Sir Hugh Allan sculpted by Robert Forsyth, located in the portico.

On May 26, 2020, the McGill University Health Centre amended the deed of ownership of the Ravenscrag site: the legal entity of the former Royal Victoria Hospital officially transferred the Ravenscrag estate to the MUHC.

2021 to current day : McGill University Pavilion

On May 21, 2021, the SQI submitted its Master Plan for the development of the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital and the Allan Memorial Institute, which includes the proposed Royal Victoria University Pavilion, nicknamed the “New Vic,” of McGill University. However, in order for this plan to be validated by the City of Montreal, two draft regulations must first be adopted, thus requiring a public consultation, the work of which begins in August 2021.

On May 11, 2022, the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCP) tabled its report on the public consultation on the draft regulations aimed at enabling the implementation of the SQI Master Plan for the development of the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital and the Allan Memorial Institute. In this report, the OCP recommends in particular that "the City ensure that the exterior of the villa Ravenscrag is restored to its original appearance". It even adds that "any future project must include a restoration f the surrounding wall and its gates. However, the Office does not expressly recommend the restoration or restitution of architectural or decorative elements of the interior of the former residence. Overall, the OCP "recommends moving forward with the redevelopment of the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital by McGill University".

Work to repurpose the site will begin in the summer of 2022. Archaeological excavations are also being carried out by Arkéos company at various locations on the former site of the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Allan Memorial Institute.

On November 29, 2022, draft by-laws No. 21-032 and No. 04-047-223 enabling the implementation of the Master Plan for the development of the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital and the Allan Memorial Institute of the SQI were adopted by Montreal City Council.

On April 4, 2023, the McGill University Health Centre transferred the Ravenscrag estate to the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), in accordance with the 2014 recommendation of the "''Groupe d'experts sur l'avenir des bâtiments hospitaliers excédentaires de Montréal''" (Expert Panel on the Future of Surplus Hospital Buildings in Montreal). The MUHC, however, remains a tenant until April 2, 2028.

Architecture

Exterior

The house is built like a villa or as an English country house in the Italianate style, following the principles of Victorian architecture.

The exterior architecture of Ravenscrag meets the requirements of the picturesque image so sought after in the Victorian era by exploiting the asymmetry of the facades and the abundance of details. The choice of the Italianate Neo-Renaissance style is therefore not without reason: the multiple architectural and decorative elements used in the Italian Renaissance, such as the campanile, the bracketed cornice, the cherubs, and the Palladian-style windows, help achieve this highly prized picturesque aspect.

Ravenscrag is built of rough-faced Montreal grey-stone with smooth quoins and window surrounds. It is primarily characterized by its tower or campanile, approximately 23 meters (75 feet) high and covering an area of 1.86 m² (20 square feet), which appears to divide the house in two. All of the tower's original balconies have disappeared, and some of the French windows providing access to them have been partially walled up. An iron flagpole once stood on the tower's roof.

At the base of the tower is the vestibule, which was connected around 1899 to the old portico, creating the illusion that the tower had moved back several meters. This old portico, now sealed against the elements, features four steps on its south facade leading to a double door. This doorway is decorated with coffered rosettes in the center and surrounded by a sculpted string of Egg-and-dart, and leaves at the corners. This sculpted string is then surrounded by a string of leaves and fruits, each with a different decoration of leaves and fruits, cherubs, or lion heads.

The doorway is then extended by a window that takes the form of the arch above. This arch, which features a keystone consisting of a mascaron representing a female figure, is surrounded by a sculpted strip known as a "Bead and reel" and then by a string of Egg-and-dart. On either side of this keystone are the interlaced letters of the first and last names of the former owner, Hugh Montagu Allan, on the right, and his wife, Margerite Ethel Allan, on the left.

On either side of the doorway, a plinth supports a pair of columns. The Roman Doric capitals of the columns are crowned with a square abacus supported by a spine decorated with leaves. Their gorgets are adorned with flowers. These columns support a pediment featuring in its center what appears to be a dog's head, above which is the Allan family motto in Latin, "Spero," meaning "hope." For some, this motto demonstrates the Allan family's concern for human misery and their willingness to improve the living conditions of the poor. For others, this motto signifies more for Hugh Allan the value of "determination".

The south facade of the ballroom still bears Sir Hugh Allan's coat of arms. Furthermore, the ballroom's mansard roof was once covered with a cast iron crest, which was removed in the 1940s. The former access to the greenhouse from the ballroom was also walled up, with the exception of an opening to allow access to the Irving Ludmer Psychiatry Research and Training Pavilion.

The roof, called "gable slope" or "butterfly," is covered with batten-shaped metal sheets.

File :Ravenscrag Estate 09.jpg, Dog's head crowned with the motto "Spero" of the Allan family
File :Hugh Allan House 07.jpg, Intertwined letters "H", "M" and "A" for Hugh Montagu Allan
File :Hugh Allan House 05.jpg, Detail of the columns (2012)
File :Hugh Allan House 14.jpg, Palladian style window (2012)
File :Hugh Allan House 02.jpg, Coat of arms of Sir Hugh Allan (2012)

Interior

The interior of the residence had 34 rooms after 1865, excluding the servants' quarters and outbuildings. The residence and the servants' quarters together had a floor area of approximately 4,968 m² (53,475 sqft) over five floors, including the basement and attic. The reception rooms were built of a size and style compatible for society gatherings and to receive royalty, the first known instance of which occurred in 1869 when the Allans entertained the young Prince Arthur during his year in Montreal with the Rifle Brigade.

The interior of the house was a typically eclectic example of Victorian style. Bright colours were used, such as the green silk-woven lining on the dining room walls. There were also hand-painted frescos and murals illustrated with mythological or quotidian