Britannia in Canada's British Columbia

The owner, Jim Greatbanks, 61, purchased this 53-acre property in the Sunshine Coast area of Canada's British Columbia in 1992, according to a provincial government office. Mr. Greatbanks said he bought the lot, located on the southern coast of the province overlooking the Howe Sound, for C$450,000. Inspired by English manor homes of the 19th century, he completed this more than 22,000-square-foot mansion in 2005 for about C$6.5 million, he said. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

Mr. Greatbanks, an engineer who works in the construction industry designing factories and infrastructure, said he's always been fond of 1800s English manors, because they represented the rise of a nascent middle class. As a nod to the era, he designed the home's interior using marble, rather than granite, because marble was more available at the time, he said. Above, a grand staircase leading up to a crystal chandelier. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

Though he may have taken his time preparing the landscaping and build site, by 2005, he had an added incentive to speed up construction. His current wife, Aman Gill, 45, teased that she wouldn't marry a man over the age of 55. Mr. Greatbanks was just eking by at 54, he joked, but managed to complete the home before his 55th birthday. They married that same year. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

The couple were married in their own private chapel. 'Right from the get-go, I knew [the home] was going to have a church in it,' Mr. Greatbanks said. He notes that many English manors of the period had private chapels, and as a practicing member of the Anglican church, he thought it suited him well. He's also held church services in the home, he said. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

When Mr. Greatbanks holds celebrations at the estate, the indoor pool, pictured above, can be covered and converted into a dance floor. For a recent birthday party, he held a reception for 200 people in the room, he said. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

The home includes four Rumford-style fireplaces, which Mr. Greatbanks said reflect the home's English manor theme. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

The home includes 12 en suite bedrooms, each with their own sitting area and bathroom. The master bedroom, pictured above, includes a lounge area where Mr. Greatbanks likes to share his collection of rare scotch. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

Mr. Greatbanks, a native Englishman, peppered the estate with several nods to his lineage -- like naming each of the home's 12 bedrooms after a county in Northern England. His bedroom was christened with the name of his own county, Cheshire. In a tip of the hat to his father and grandfather, both of whom he said were champion lawn bowlers, he built a lawn bowl field. For the uninitiated, the game is similar to bocce. A pool table is pictured above. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

With three grown children living in different parts of the world, Mr. Greatbanks said he's selling the property because he is not around to enjoy it as often as he'd like. The property is listed for C$10.18 million with Jamie J. MacDougall of Sotheby's International Realty. Furnishings are included in the list price. Photo: Amanda Oster - Living Space Imaging

Source: http://feeds.wsjonline.com/~r/wsj/xml/rss/3_7093/~3/h_LqxpDDpoM/SB10000872396390443855804577603741242164330.html

jason smith jon corzine austin rivers austin rivers sweet home alabama etch a sketch the host