Description of Historic Place

The Wells Residence is a one-and-one-half storey Edwardian-era Bungalow located in one of the city's oldest residential neighbourhoods, adjacent to the downtown core.

Heritage Value

Built in 1911, the Wells Residence is a good example of an Edwardian-era, Craftsman style Bungalow. The solid and substantial appearance, front verandah, oversize triangular eave brackets, and scroll-cut verge boards are typical features of this style. The glassed-in porch on the building's east side, with its row of large-mullioned windows, takes full advantage of the view toward Nanaimo's downtown core and harbour.

Located within a grouping of superior historic buildings, the Wells Residence speaks to the development of this area, after the turn of the 20th century, as a middle- to upper-income residential neighbourhood, a comfortable distance away from the busy commercial core and adjacent mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Source: City of Nanaimo Planning Department

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of the Wells Residence include:

- all of the elements of a Craftsman-style Bungalow, as expressed in the simple massing, front verandah, oversize triangular eave brackets, scroll-cut verge boards, mixture of windows, and mullioned window wall on the east porch
- the building's location on a corner lot, adjacent to a public park and within a grouping of superior heritage buildings