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Turner House

3110 Weald Road, Oak Bay, British Columbia, V8R, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2005/03/29

Exterior view of the Turner House, 2005; Corporation of the District of Oak Bay, 2005
Front facade, north elevation
Exterior view of the Turner House, 2005; Corporation of the District of Oak Bay, 2005
South elevation
No Image

Other Name(s)

Turner House
John A. Turner House

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1926/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2007/02/19

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Turner House is a two-storey Georgian style home situated on a north-west corner lot in the Uplands neighbourhood. The house is set sideways on the lot with a very private entrance off the driveway. The construction is unusual, using terra-cotta block surfaced with a distinctive artificial stone cladding. It has a hip roof, two brick chimneys, two one storey bay windows and an early addition of a two storey sun room and sleeping porch on the Weald Road side.

Heritage Value

The Turner House is important as an example of a post- World War I architect-designed home in the exclusive 1912 Uplands subdivision planned by the Olmsted Brothers, foremost North American landscape architects.

Designed by architect Charles Hay, of Calgary and California, this was Hay's second commission for the Turner family, having designed Balgreggan at 3000 Rutland Road in 1914.

The size of this house reflects a downsizing which took place, made necessary by the post-war economy. Turner's business was J.A. Turner and Co. Real Estate, which appears to have failed by 1915. Even so, the Georgian style of architecture provided an elegant residence for a businessman's family in the 1920s.

Source: Corporation of the District of Oak Bay

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the character of the Turner House:
- symmetrical facades to north and south
- classically styled entrance porch with columns
- hipped roof with two chimneys
- scroll-cut rafters in the soffits
- unusual terra-cotta block construction with masonary string courses and artificial stone cladding
- two matching square-bay windows on south facade
- large, double hung windows throughout
- original interior room layout (except kitchen)
- three fireplaces - study, dining room and living room; and unusual original electric fireplace in master bedroom
- stained glass window on stair landing
- plaster cornices in the main floor rooms
- original light fixtures throughout the house
- mature grounds with Copper Beech tree

Recognition

Jurisdiction

British Columbia

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (BC)

Recognition Statute

Local Government Act, s.954

Recognition Type

Community Heritage Register

Recognition Date

2005/03/29

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
Architecture and Design

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Residence
Single Dwelling

Architect / Designer

Charles Hay

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Corporation of the District of Oak Bay

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

DcRt-188

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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