Horspool Residence
321 Gorge Road, Saanich, British Columbia, V9A, Canada
Formally Recognized:
1997/11/03
Other Name(s)
n/a
Links and documents
n/a
Construction Date(s)
1933/01/01
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2004/11/01
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Horspool Residence is a hipped-roof brick and wood house, with surrounding gardens, located on the north shore of the Gorge Waterway in Saanich.
Heritage Value
The Horspool Residence is a significant reminder of the mid twentieth-century era when the Gorge Waterway was lined with finely crafted homes such as this one. It is a fine example of Craftsman-influenced residential architecture, which was a popular residential style in Victoria. The surrounding gardens and waterfront location are key contextual elements, which contribute to the unique heritage character of this house.
The Horspool Residence is valued as one of the few brick-clad residential heritage buildings in Saanich. Uncommon in its materials, the masonry veneer afforded the house a sense of permanence and prominence on the waterway. It was built in 1933 by bricklayer and contractor, Caleb Henry Horspool, for his mother, Matilda; she and her unmarried son lived here for many years together.
This house is also valued as a tangible link to the growth and context of the Tillicum neighbourhood. Tillicum is bounded by the salt water of Portage Inlet and the Gorge Waterway to the west and south. It was an agricultural area during colonial times, but with its proximity to downtown Victoria, became one of the earliest residential areas in Saanich. The Gorge was a summertime recreational destination from the 1890s to the 1930s. A single-family housing boom prior to World War One was enabled by the extension of Victoria's water services to the area.
Source: Heritage Planning Files, District of Saanich
Character-Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the Horspool Residence include its:
- location on the Gorge Waterway
- form, scale and massing
- surrounding gardens, and built features thereof
- Craftsman-influenced design elements, such as the brick cladding and shingled roof, double-hung wooden sash multi-paned windows, and stucco and half-timbered gables
Recognition
Jurisdiction
British Columbia
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (BC)
Recognition Statute
Local Government Act, s.954
Recognition Type
Community Heritage Register
Recognition Date
1997/11/03
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
Caleb Henry Horspool
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Heritage Planning Files, District of Saanich
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
DcRu-787
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a