Description of Historic Place

William Clarkson House No. 1 is a two-storey wood-frame house, with a hipped roof and front verandah, situated on the east side of Fourth Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood of New Westminster.

Heritage Value

William Clarkson House No. 1 is valued for its age, architecture and cultural history.

Together with its original other half (at 314 Pine Street), this house is the oldest residential building in New Westminster. Built in 1862 in a highly ornate style, the house was described by The British Columbian newspaper in 1864 as being 'one of the handsomest residences yet erected' in New Westminster.

Further historic value lies in its evolution, in 1911, from one grand Victorian house that could accommodate a family and seven lodgers, to two houses that were turned and placed back to back. Both houses were then altered to reflect one of the popular styles of the time, in this case Edwardian. The subdivision likely occurred because of the advent of a right-of-way through the property (now Pine Street) to accommodate the B.C. Electric Railway, thus linking this house with the history of the trams that connected New Westminster with Vancouver to the west and Chilliwack to the east.

Architecturally, this house is significant for its well-maintained Classic Box-style design, in particular its horizontal wood siding, pyramidal hipped roof and large open front porch. Original elements of the living room, dining room and of the interior entry way with its grand staircase have been beautifully maintained.

The original owner, William Clarkson, served as mayor (then called President) of New Westminster from 1871-72.

Another important early owner was John Cunningham Brown (1844-1929), a well-known resident who co-created The British Columbian newspaper, and who was postmaster for twenty years. He was Mayor of New Westminster from 1890-1891 and represented New Westminster following the next general provincial election, serving as Finance Minister from 1900-1902. In 1907, he became Warden of the BC Penitentiary (located in New Westminster) until his retirement. At his death, Brown was noted in the local newspaper as being a true pioneer and one of the City’s longest residing citizens, having lived in the city for sixty-two years.

Source: City of New Westminster Planning Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of William Clarkson House No. 1 include its:

Siting, Context and Landscape
- location on Fourth Street, adjacent to the original estate
- setback from the sidewalk and street, creating a front yard
- side vehicular driveway to carport at the side of the property

Architectural Elements
- square massing and relatively large scale
- pyramidal hipped roof
- large covered porch