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Edgehill Road & James Gardens 

We have Frederick Thomas James and his wife Margaret Rumney James to thank for Etobicoke’s beautiful James Gardens, which cover 21 acres of hills, valley and forest beside the Humber River, south of Edenbridge Drive.   Frederick was a highly successful Toronto fish merchant who purchased most of this land from his father-in-law, Thomas Rumney, in 1908, adding to it with purchases of adjoining land from Robert Home Smith. He then built a large summer residence called “Red Gables” at the top of the valley.

Mrs. James was given the honour of naming the road to their home, and she selected Edgehill Road after her family’s former home in Liverpool.  Her maiden name “Rumney” had originally been “Romney”, and she was proud of her famous ancestor, English portrait painter George Romney (1734-1802,) noted for his 24 engaging portraits of Lady Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson. Thanks to Mrs. James, Etobicoke’s Romney Road, a block west of Edgehill, was named after this renowned artist. (And yes, US presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his father George Romney are also related to this painter.)

Researched and Written by Denise Harris 
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