Description of Historic Place

Erected in 1871, the Albion Hotel, a three-and-a-half storey red brick structure has become a wing of the Novatel Hotel. The Albion Hotel was originally the site of a hostelry, founded by Allan Cameron, in 1844. One of the oldest surviving hotels in Ottawa, the Albion Hotel's massing and design are typical of hotels of the era.

The Albion Hotel is recognized for its heritage value by the City of Ottawa in By-law 200-84.

Heritage Value

The Albion Hotel, one of the oldest surviving hotels in Ottawa, housed a varied array of events and guests during its long history. The building of a new courthouse, (the Carleton County Courthouse) meant more business for the Albion Hotel which was located across the street. The structure's location made it a favourite meeting place of lawyers and university students. It was linked with numerous famous trials, because juries unable to finish deliberating before midnight were housed there overnight.

The red brick and segmental-arch windows of this three-and-a-half storey structure represent Ottawa's lingering classicism. The gabled roof, white brick trim around the windows, and tall chimneys are typical of the early 1870s. The 1871 Albion Hotel was restored to its original appearance as part of a hotel-office complex in the late 1980s.

Sources: City of Ottawa By-law 200-84; “Ottawa: A Guide to Heritage Structures” (City of Ottawa, 2000).

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that illustrate the Albion Hotel's heritage values include its:
- three-and-a-half storey massing and footprint in the downtown core
- red brick fronting on Daly Avenue
- segmented arch windows
- gable roof
- white brick trim around the windows
- tall chimneys
- location in close proximity and historical relevance to the Carleton County Courthouse (Arts Court)