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Gilmore Potato Pit

10631 Dyke Road, Richmond, British Columbia, V7A, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2003/05/26

Exterior view of the Gilmore Potato Pit, 2000
; City of Richmond, 2000
Oblique view
No Image
No Image

Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1930/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2009/03/13

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Gilmore Potato Pit is a rectangular, gabled barn situated with its long side parallel to a narrow roadway. It sits within a context of buildings of similar character, agricultural fields and the distinct Slough District landscape.

Heritage Value

The Gilmore Potato Pit is one of a group of heritage resources that help the South Arm Slough District maintain its distinct historic rural character. Local farmer Leslie Gilmore was a significant figure in the development of farming practice in Richmond. Through Leslie Gilmore, the barn is associated with organizations which represented early movements in the farming industry to improve crops and guarantee a fair price to local growers.

The building is considered to be a very good example of a calf barn structure, consisting of two connected buildings. Originally built as a calf barn, it is now used for potato storage. An award winning dairy farmer, Leslie Gilmore once owned the largest herd of Holsteins in Canada. The cultivation of potatoes was also of particular interest to Mr. Gilmore, and in 1944 he obtained the highest yield in Canada of Netted Gem potatoes.

Its location, both in the South Arm Slough District, and at the edge of and below the grade of the dyke, is also significant, relative to the agricultural history of this area and the importance of dyking and drainage to Richmond's farmers.

Source: City of Richmond Clerk's Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Gilmore Potato Pit include:
- the rectangular construction of the potato pit as two connected buildings, both with a side gable roof, to facilitate its origial use as a calf barn
- the larger potion of the building has three monitor vents and a chimney in the roof
- its location in the South Arm Slough District, which is one of the oldest farming areas in Richmond, and maintains this rural character and connection to farming today
- its proximity to and its lower grade relative to the dyke
- the relationship to the development of modern farming practices in Richmond through the efforts of local farmer Leslie Gilmore

Recognition

Jurisdiction

British Columbia

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (BC)

Recognition Statute

Local Government Act, s.954

Recognition Type

Community Heritage Register

Recognition Date

2003/05/26

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Extraction and Production

Function - Category and Type

Current

Food Supply
Farm or Ranch

Historic

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

City of Richmond Clerk's Department

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

DgRs-75

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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