Notice of Intention to Designate 314 Wilson Street East, Ancaster (Tisdale House)

The City of Hamilton intends to designate 314 Wilson Street East, Ancaster (Tisdale House) under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, as being a property of cultural heritage value.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value

The subject property is located in the community of Ancaster, within the City of Hamilton. The property is bounded by Wilson Street East to the west, Church Street to the north, the former Ancaster Town Hall to the south, and residential properties to the east. The property contains the Tisdale House, the Hammill House (which is currently protected under the Ontario Heritage Act), a modern gazebo, and flagstone paths

The Tisdale House retains historical, architectural, and contextual value. The property is historically significant in that it expresses themes of early settlement and commercial activity in the community of Ancaster. The house was constructed by Samuel Tisdale, a local merchant who along with Samuel Andruss ran a mercantile business in the area beginning in 1816. In its current location adjacent to the Hammill House and the former Ancaster Town Hall, the building supports the property’s associations with the early settlement era in Ancaster.

The Tisdale House is also significant for its architectural value. The one-and-a-half storey Georgian residence retains a side-gabled roof, a symmetrical façade, original multi-pane sash windows, original doors, and some original flooring. The most prominent feature of the structure is its original, ornate entry, which consists of a wood lintel and sidelights surrounding the original door. The Georgian style in Ontario is associated with United Empire Loyalists who reproduced simpler variations of the popular British style. This connection to the Empire was understood as an expression of fidelity in the years after the American Revolution. The structure has undergone substantial restoration activities within the last twenty years, at which time detailed conservation of the original architectural features was completed. The Tisdale House represents the oldest known dwelling of its type in the City of Hamilton where few of the remaining Georgian residences are smaller than two storeys, indicating the Tisdale House is part of an underrepresented type within the City.

The Tisdale House retains contextual value as part of its current location along Wilson Street. The Tisdale House was originally located at 413 Wilson Street East and was moved to 314 Wilson Street East in 2000. Its current location adjacent to the Hammill House and the former Ancaster Town Hall comprise an evolved landscape that evokes Ancaster’s early development and provides a civic space to engage with and learn about the history of the community. Situated between the adjacent buildings, the Tisdale House contributes to a greater understanding of the civic and commercial life of nineteenth-century Ancaster.

Heritage Attributes

The heritage attributes of the Tisdale House include:

• One-and-a-half storey Georgian structure
• Fenestration with sash windows
• Original doors
• Original entry, including lintel and sidelights
• Clapboard siding
• One-and-a-half storey scale
• Although not its original location, the current location adjacent to the Hammill House and the former Ancaster Town Hall

The Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest, Description of Heritage Attributes and supporting Cultural Heritage Assessment (PDF, 6 MB) may also be viewed in person during regular business hours at:

Office of the City Clerk
71 Main Street West,
1st Floor, Hamilton, Ontario

Written Notice of Objection

Any person may, within 30 days after the date of the publication of the Notice, serve written notice of their objections to the proposed designation, together with a statement for the objection and relevant facts.

Dated at Hamilton, this 13th day of October, 2017.

R. Caterini
City Clerk
Hamilton, Ontario

Contact:
Jeremy Parsons
Cultural Heritage Planner
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 1214
Email: [email protected]