A retreat for
all seasons
Bed & breakfast in Cornwall, Ontario
Rooms & Rates
Enjoy our 4 luxurious bedrooms with ensuite baths.
Covid Procedures
Travel safely
in the time of Covid 19
Events & Garden
The perfect venue for garden parties,
small weddings & receptions.

We are proud to share that we were awarded as the “BEST BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS 2020” winner by Ontario by Bike.
Read more here.
Travel in the Time of the Covid 19 Plague
1. For the safety of our other guests and staff, Auberge Chesley’s Inn is a proof-of-vaccination accommodation. Please be sure to bring your documentation with you. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate you without it.
2. Unless you’re traveling with another couple in your bubble, each couple will be served breakfast separately at an agreed time.
3. Housekeeping/staff will not be entering the rooms during your stay. Please let us know should you need additional towels or linens. We will deliver them to your room.
4. Each room will be closed for 24 hours after a guest leaves for a thorough cleaning.
5. All your linens, including pillow and mattress covers, cotton blankets etc. are laundered between each guest.
6. All surfaces, door knobs etc. have been cleaned and wiped down with disinfectant.
7. If you are more comfortable wearing a mask, please do.
8. We are asking that each guest please maintain social distancing of 6 feet at all times.
9. Each room has a bottle of sanitizer. There is also sanitizer available in the lobby for guests to use when they arrive.
10. Coffee or tea is always made fresh at Auberge Chesley’s Inn. If you would like some after your journey, please ask and it will be prepared for you.
11. If you’re not feeling well please cancel your plans and stay home. There will be no penalties for last minute cancellations due to illness.
12. Fortunately our local restaurants are open for patio dining. In instances of inclement weather we can arrange for delivery and you can consume your dinner here at the Inn.
13. If you want totally contactless accommodations, The Innkeeper’s Quarters is a self-contained two-bedroom apartment with its own entrance, kitchen, etc.
14. The fact that we only have three guest rooms and the apartment means that we can be far more thorough in working to keep you safe than larger commercial establishments.
I look forward to welcoming you to Auberge Chesley’s Inn. Enjoy your travels and stay healthy.
Meet Hamish
Hamish is the Inn’s resident Scottish Terrier. He’s very friendly and loves people. However if you are not comfortable with dogs I would suggest that you look elsewhere.

- Estd 1814
History of the Inn
Auberge Chesley’s Inn is located on the traditional lands of the Akwasasne Community. The Inn was built in 1814 by Alsaints Chesley. Alsaints was one of three brothers from New York State who all fought on the Revolutionary side during the American War of Independence. He brought his family to Cornwall in 1800 where he seems to have had a change of heart as he and his sons fought on the Canadian side during the War of 1812 – while his brothers were both in American regiments. According to a family historian in the U.S. it caused a family rift which lasted some years!
The first record left by a visitor to the Inn is contained in a memoir written by Charles Fothergill. An émigré from England, Fothergill traveled by sleigh from Montreal to Kingston in the winter of 1817. He quotes the Innkeeper, John Chesley as telling him that the difference between Canadians and Americans is that ”The Canadians are richer than they seem – but the Yankees seem richer than they are – making a great display of small means…”
Another prominent early visitor who recorded her impressions was Catherine Parr Traill. Traill and her sister Susanna Moodie both achieved literary fame writing about life in the backwoods of Upper Canada. Traill was a bit of a snob and disliked Americans. In her record of her visit to Chesley’s Inn she sniffs that “Mrs. Chesley showed her into a room that had no bed curtains and an excuse for a washstand. When she asked Mrs. Chesley whether or not their was something larger, she was told there was another room with four beds – three of which were occupied by men – and asked if she would prefer that.” Mrs. Traill was not amused.
Popular local legend also has it that Charles Dickens spent a night when he passed through Cornwall during his 1840’s tour of the Americas.
The coming of the railway moved traffic away from the St. Lawrence River and the Inn was eventually turned into a private residence. Many people in Cornwall still refer to it as Dr. Taylor’s house. During the Taylor’s long occupancy the house was a popular hangout for theatrical groups and the site of lively social affairs. In those days before cheap travel to southern beaches, Mrs. Taylor once confronted the winter blues by having a pile of sand dumped in one of the drawing rooms and held a February beach party in which guests had to arrive in bathing suits!
In recent years the house had fallen on hard times and was in a derelict state when purchased by the current owner and lovingly restored to highlight both its features as a one-time Inn and as a gracious family home. Once again it is welcoming guests.


Rooms & Rates
* Breakfast included. *Check in: 3PM *Check out: 11AM
*Cancellation policy: Full refund with one week notice, otherwise charges will apply. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. *Cornwall has added a MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) of 4%
French Room
The French Room is our smallest room but contains two full-size twin beds. It’s perfect for friends, siblings traveling together – or married couples where one partner has a tendency to kick and squirm! Equipped with pillow top mattresses and luxury Aul Lit duvets, this room features French ormolu furnishings, Persian carpets and has an ensuite bath with a rain forest shower. It is also equipped with an iPod dockable stereo/radio, hair dryer and toiletries. There is also hi-speed wi-fi.
$160.00 plus HST and MAT
Governor's Suite
The Governor’s Suite is named for the fact that the Upper Canadian colonial elite gathered at Chesley’s Inn in 1834 to launch work on the Cornwall Canal – one of the first attempts to create a St. Lawrence Seaway. It is said that copious amounts of libations were consumed. It is the largest suite at Chesley’s Inn.
The bedroom features a mahogany four-poster queen-size bed, a fine Sheraton dresser and magnificent carvings from Bali, as well as other works of art. The spa-like bathroom has a large rain forest shower and features one of the original 1814 fireplaces.
There is an adjoining private sitting room/office making this the perfect space both for those who desire more privacy and for business travelers who need a place to work. The suite also has an iPod dockable stereo/radio.
There is also high-speed wi-fi.
$195.00 plus HST and MAT
* Breakfast included. *Check in: 3PM *Check out: 11AM
*Cancellation policy: Full refund with one week notice, otherwise charges will apply. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. *Cornwall has added a MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) of 4%
* Breakfast included. *Check in: 3PM *Check out: 11AM
*Cancellation policy: Full refund with one week notice, otherwise charges will apply. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. *Cornwall has added a MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) of 4%
Tudor Room
This room is popular with everyone from newlyweds to those who just want room to spread out. It features a king-size Henry VIIIth-style bed with a wooden canopy and a lovely cushion top mattress. The room has a desk and an iPod dockable radio/stereo.
The walls are decorated with original art, an antique kilim carpet from Persia and a silk wall hangings from Lao. The full ensuite bath features a rain forest shower. There is also high-speed wi-fi.
$185.00 plus HST and MAT
Innkeeper’s Quarters
Located in the rear wing of the Inn, “The Innkeeper’s Quarters” is a completely self-contained two-bedroom apartment. It has a fully equipped kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, dishes and pots and pans. The sitting room comes with a DVD and a VHS player plus an assortment of classic movies.
The larger bedroom has a full queen-size bed and the smaller a double antique Jenny Lind spool bed. The light-filled new bathroom comes with a rain forest shower.
The Innkeeper’s Quarters welcomes travellers with children and pets and offers an extra degree of privacy for guests visiting Chesley’s Inn.
Note: The Innkeeper’s Quarter’s is a housekeeping unit with a fully equipped kitchen and does not include breakfast.
$190.00 plus HST and MAT
* Breakfast included. *Check in: 3PM *Check out: 11AM
*Cancellation policy: Full refund with one week notice, otherwise charges will apply. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. *Cornwall has added a MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) of 4%
Amenities
Auberge Chesley’s Inn is located in the heart of old Cornwall. Restaurants and cafes ranging from Caribbean and pizza to fine dining are a block away. You can enjoy the gardens at the Inn or take one of the complimentary bicycles provided by the Inn and explore some of the 40K of paved off-road cycle trails along the St. Lawrence River. The Inn also offers free EV charging on-site.
Menu & Food
Our breakfasts highlight local organic ingredients
Breakfasts at Chesley’s inn are served at flexible times convenient for guests. Coffee is ground fresh every morning,
The menu highlights in-season local foods and changes from day to day, depending one what is fresh and available. The cheese trays offer an assortment of Ontario, Quebec and European artisanal cheeses. The trays also include creton, the traditional French-Canadian breakfast spread. Fresh fruit trays include both exotic and local offerings. Yogurt and cereals are also available.
Whether you are enjoying a frittata, an omelet or simply over-easy, the eggs come from free-range locally raised chickens.
The menu is fixed ahead of time so I ask that quests lat me know of any dietary or religious restrictions ahead of time to help planning. Depending on what’s available there may be waffles, fresh hot scones, French toast with local maple syrup, or frittatas and omelet. Jams and jellies come from local markets or are made here at the inn.
Events & Garden
Chesley’s Inn has more than a quarter of an acre of gardens. They are set behind six foot fences and offer both privacy and the perfect location for garden parties, small weddings and receptions. The gardens can also be coupled with the great rooms inside.
The music room/library has a grand piano and games table and the Grand Salon can be opened up to accommodate larger groups. Whether it’s an anniversary, reunion, wedding shower or wedding we can accommodate your needs and provide a truly unique setting for your next event. Chesley’s can also connect you with fine caterers to make your event extra special.
No chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are used on the grounds of Chesley’s Inn creating a safe environment for children, pets or just those who like to walk in the grass in their bare feet.
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Contact & location
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Address
40 First Street West, Cornwall, Ontario. K6J 1B9. Canada
Contact us
prowse.robert@gmail.com