Intention to Designate 380-386 Wilson Street East, Ancaster (Former Ancaster Hotel and Coach House)

Description of Property

The 0.089 hectare property municipally addressed as 380-386 Wilson Street East is comprised of two connected rectangular stone structures, one two-and-a-half-storeys tall (at the corner of Wilson and Academy), the other (southwest of the first) one-and-a-half-storeys tall, connected at the rear by a single-storey addition. These structures were built circa 1832 and substantially rebuilt circa 1878 after a fire. The property is located on the southeast corner of Wilson Street East, at the intersection of Academy Street, in Ancaster Village in the community of Ancaster in the City of Hamilton.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The early-nineteenth century structures located at 380-386 Wilson Street East are a connected pair of stone buildings constructed circa 1832. The property is a representative example of a vernacular commercial building with later additions influenced by the Gothic Revival style of architecture. The property shows a high degree of craftsmanship present in the millwork decorations and the skill evident in the integration between the original structure and the 1878 additions.

The property has direct association with the theme of the early development of Ancaster Village. As a long-serving Hotel for the village of Ancaster, the property at 380-386 Wilson Street East continues to be a focal point for community life, being not just a place of travelers to stay, but a meeting place for Ancasterians.

Contextually, the property is important in defining the character of the surrounding village, being a prominent pair of stone structures at a crossroads which marks the village centre. It is visually, historically and functionally linked to its surroundings, being located along the historic Wilson Street transportation corridor. The property’s prominent corner location in the core of the village and importance to nineteenth-century Ancaster make it a local landmark.

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key attributes that embody the design/physical value of the property as being representative of the vernacular style of early-nineteenth century commercial stone architecture, reflecting influences by the Gothic Revival style of architecture, demonstrating a high level of craftsmanship, and its association with the theme of Ancaster as a developing village, include:

• The front (west), side (north and south) and rear (east) elevation and roofline of  the two-and-a-half-storey stone building (The Hotel), including its:

  • Front gable roof with buff brick chimney, Gothic Revival serpentine bargeboards with foil arches, foil piercings, routed borders and pendant in  gable eaves;

  • Round-headed two-over-two hung wood window below the front gable with stone arch and keystone;

    • Coursed ashlar stone in the front (west) elevation;

    • Rubble stone walls on the side (north and south) and rear (east) elevations;

    • Dressed stone quoins;

    • Visible seam in stonework between 1832 and 1878 portions on the side (north) elevation;

    • Dressed stone lug sills and lintels over the doors and windows;

    • Transoms over ground and second-storey doors in the front (west) and  rear (east) elevations; and,

    • Remnant historic millwork brackets and wooded pilasters in the two-storey  front porch.

• The front (west) and side (south and north) elevations and roofline of the one-and-a-half-storey stone building (the Coach House) including its:
  • Front gable roof with a pair of louvered cupolas on top;
  • Gothic Revival serpentine bargeboards with foil arches, foil and circular piercings, and pendant in front gable;
  • Remaining coursed ashlar stone in the front (west) elevation;
  • Rubble stone walls on the side (north and south) elevations; and,
  • Dressed stone quoins.

The key attributes that embody the contextual value of the property as a defining feature of the historical character of Wilson Street East and as a local landmark in Ancaster Village include its:

• Location at the corner of Wilson Street East and Academy Street, with a minimal setback from the public right-of-way.