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Horspool Residence

321 Gorge Road, Saanich, British Columbia, V9A, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1997/11/03

Exterior view of the Horspool Residence.; District of Saanich, 2004.
Oblique view.
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Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

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

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