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Gurden Bill Homestead

27 South Street, Lockeport, Nova Scotia, B0T, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1988/01/25

Rear elevation, Gurden Bill Homestead, Lockeport, 2004.; Heritage Division, NS Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 2004.
Rear elevation
Locke Family Streetscape monument, located near the Gurden Bill Homestead, Lockeport, 2004.; Heritage Division, NS Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 2004.
Locke Family Streetscape monument
Front elevation, Gurden Bill Homestead, Lockeport, 2004.; Heritage Division, NS Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 2004.
Front elevation

Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2007/02/07

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Gurden Bill Homestead is located on the south side of South Street overlooking Lockeport Harbour to the north. The Gurden Bill Homestead was built around 1841 by Gurden Bill after his marriage to Mary Locke, a descendant of Jonathan Locke, one of the original settlers of Lockeport. The building and property are included in the provincial designation.

Heritage Value

The Gurden Bill Homestead is valued because it is one of five houses forming a family related streetscape of carefully preserved buildings in Nova Scotia that include a combination of Greek Revival, Second Empire and in the Gurden Bill Homestead, Colonial Vernacular style.

The Gurden Bill Homestead was built around 1841 by Gurden Bill, a blacksmith from Liverpool, who was married to Mary Locke, daughter of merchant Samuel Locke. It is an exceptionally preserved example of Vernacular architecture. This house was constructed during a time when Lockeport was thriving in the fisheries and West Indies trade and reflects the wealth of that era. The West Indies was a key trading partner for Nova Scotian merchants during the latter part of the nineteenth century.

The Locke Family Streetscape consists of five houses, all built either for or by the descendents of Samuel Locke. Samuel was a descendant of Jonathan Locke, M.D., one of the original settlers of Locke's Island, and he later renamed Lockeport after him. The houses protected in the Locke Family streetscape all face the harbour, and from west to east are: the Locke Homestead, the William Stalker Homestead, the Jacob Locke Homestead, the Gurden Bill Homestead and the John Locke Homestead.

Source: Provincial Heritage Property files, no. 69, Heritage Division, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS.

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of the Gurden Bill Homestead that relate to its Vernacular style include:

- one and a half-storey, wood construction;
- five bay facade with a central doorway;
- three gable dormers;
- steeply pitched gable roof is crowned by a large central chimney;
- an end wall chimney on the west side;
- doorway with segmental transom and five panes;
- an entrance entablature supported by pilasters on either side;
- windows are 6/9 double hung, dormer windows are 6/6 double hung.

Character-defining elements of the Gurden Bill Homestead that relate to its location within the Locke Family Streetscape include:

- location on South Street facing the harbour;
- location in close proximity to the other four homes within the Locke Family Streetscape.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Nova Scotia

Recognition Authority

Province of Nova Scotia

Recognition Statute

Heritage Property Act

Recognition Type

Provincially Registered Property

Recognition Date

1988/01/25

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Trade and Commerce
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
Architecture and Design
Peopling the Land
Settlement

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Residence
Single Dwelling

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

Gurden Bill

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Heritage Property Program files, no. 69, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

00PNS0069

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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