Under the patriarchal leadership of Rev. Mark Burnham, the Burnham family became the largest landowner in 19th century Otonabee Township and Ashburnham village (now part of the city of Peterborough). In 1635 the family came to North America and settled in New England and following the American Revolution, four Loyalist Burnham brothers immigrated to the Port Hope/Cobourg area.

One of the brothers, Zaccheus Burnham Sr. was an influential member of the Family Compact and gave his only son, Mark Burnham, a classical education at Oxford University in England. After returning to Canada, he was ordained in 1829 and served as deacon in the parish of St. Thomas, Ontario, until he became the fifth rector of Peterborough's St. John Evangelist Anglican Church in 1852.

Inspired by the architecture he saw during his time abroad, in 1853 Rev. Burnham built Engleburn, an imposing classical, revival style home along the banks of the Otonabee River. As a testament to Engleburn's magnificence, the house was chosen as a suitable place for the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to stay. However, Rev. Burnham was not interested in vacating his home for the royal visit, therefore, the Prince stayed in Port Hope instead.

Rev. Burnham built houses for his children, the most imposing was Engleburn Farm, now known as Burnham Mansion. The Burnham Mansion was built for Zaccheus Burnham Jr., the most adventurous of Rev. Burnham's children. In 1860, Zaccheus Jr. and his wife set out to California in search of gold but returned penniless 10 years later.

In an attempt to settle his son as a gentleman farmer, Rev. Burnham built Engleburn Farm in 1873. Zaccheus Jr. and his wife, Martha, raised their five children in the large Italianate home; however, he tired of farming by 1884 and sold off all his livestock, except for his prize cattle he kept for exhibitions.

After Zaccheus Jr. was killed by one of his prize Jersey Bulls in 1913, his eldest son, Mark inherited the property and returned it to a working farm. A large portion of the woodlot to the east of the house is now known as the Mark S. Burnham Park and the home has gone through several incarnations, from residence to restaurant.