Above: Grenville House, 7 Queen Street South, Thorold. (Photo courtesy Thorold LACAC / historicplaces.ca)

The story of the Grenville family shows just how historically significant this home at 7 Queen St. South really is.

The Grenvilles were involved both politically and economically through their entrepreneurship in Thorold. The house itself was originally built in 1856 for Thomas Spinks, a native of Ireland.

The first Grenvilles to settle in Thorold were Daniel Sorby Grenville (from England), who was born in 1788, and his wife Anne Maria Bouman (from New Jersey, whose family were United Empire Loyalists). Anne Maria's father served with Butler's Rangers,, which was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War. Daniel was a gunner during the War of 1812. Daniel and Anne Maria assisted settlers in 1812 during the American invasion.