Description of Historic Place

William Fraser House is one of four two-and-a-half storey townhouses. It is located on Bishop Street in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bishop Street is named for the succession of prominent Anglican bishops, starting with Charles Inglis in 1787, who lived on the street. William Fraser House is the western end unit closest to Barrington Street and faces the south side elevation of Government House, between Barrington and Hollis Streets. The heritage designation applies to the building and the surrounding land it occupies.

Heritage Value

William Fraser House is valued for its combination of Late Victorian Plain and Halifax House architectural styles, its location within a row of four townhouses, and for its association with its original occupant.

William Fraser House was built between 1862 and 1864 as one of a row of four townhouses, known as Fraser Terrace, named for an original owner and occupant. This unit, on the far western end of the building, was named for William Fraser who was a noted furniture and piano maker and was the original owner of the property, builder and long time resident.

Architecturally, William Fraser House is valued for its combination of Late Victorian Plain style, characterized by its relatively unadorned façade and bay window (generally Late Victorian Plain homes were built for the working class and therefore simple when compared to the commonly known Victorian style with excessive decorative elements) and the local Halifax House type that is a local style characterized by the presence of five sided Scottish dormers, gable roof with a flat peak, and an asymmetrical front entrances, all of which are present. The architectural style gives the four unit townhouse, of which Fraser House is a part, a degree of graciousness that compliments Government House across the street. The house and the other three townhouse have changed very little since their construction

Source: HRM Heritage Property File: 5182 - 5184 Bishop Street, William Fraser House, found at HRM Planning and Development Services, Heritage Property Program, 6960 Mumford Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of William Fraser House include:

- medium pitched truncated gable roof;
- placement within the row;
- wide two storey bay window and five sided Scottish dormer of similar proportion;
- side hall plan entrance with front steps and simple pediment;
- wood shingle cladding and simple wood board trim;
- below grade unit with window and stairway and side hall plan entrance.