Description of Historic Place

The Fawcett Residence is a two-storey wood-frame, house set within a residential context of similar houses. Distinguished by its steeply sloping site, this modestly detailed Edwardian-era residence features a full-width open verandah with commanding views to the south.

Heritage Value

Built in 1911, the Fawcett Residence is valued as an example of the suburban residential development dating from North Vancouver's development boom in the early twentieth century. After regular ferry service was established in 1903 and the city was incorporated in 1907, North Vancouver experienced a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. This construction boom accelerated until a general financial depression in 1913 halted this ambitious suburban development.

The Fawcett Residence is a good example of typical Edwardian-era architecture from the boom period, which appealed to residents such as Richard Fawcett and his wife, Leonora. Richard Fawcett was a railway conductor for the B.C. Electric Railway, one of Vancouver's primary intercity transportation companies that ran electric tramways throughout the greater Vancouver area from 1897 to 1958 and greatly influenced the expansion of suburban neighbourhoods in North Vancouver.

Source: City of North Vancouver Planning Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Fawcett Residence include its:
- elevated setting on a terraced lot, setback consistent with the rest of the houses on the street, with south-facing views to Burrard Inlet
- residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its two-storey plus raised basement height, rectangular plan, east elevation bay window and front gabled roof
- wood-frame construction with bellcast shingle cladding in the front gable; narrow bevelled siding with cornerboards on the first and second storeys; closed eaves at the side and open eaves in the front gable; and wooden tongue-and-groove soffits
- fenestration, such as cross-leaded wooden sash casement window in the front gable; and double-hung 1-over-1 wooden sash windows with horns in single and double assembly; and entry sidelights
- landscape features including cobblestone retaining wall and steps.