H.T. Ceperley Estate 'Fairacres' Mansion
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- 'Fairacres' is a large, two-and-one-half storey estate house in the British Arts and Crafts style, located in Deer Lake Park, with four associated original outbuildings.
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Henry Tracy & Grace Ceperley Estate
- Burnaby Art Gallery
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Henry Tracy & Grace Ceperley Estate
- Burnaby Art Gallery
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 9807
- Enactment Date
- 23/11/1992
- Description
- 'Fairacres' is a large, two-and-one-half storey estate house in the British Arts and Crafts style, located in Deer Lake Park, with four associated original outbuildings.
- Heritage Value
- 'Fairacres' is important as a record of the early years of Burnaby, specifically the Deer Lake area, as a place of tranquility and beautiful scenery in which the wealthy and successful in the burgeoning cities of New Westminster and Vancouver chose to retire or to make their family homes. The main house, which anchors in style and setting the outbuildings on the estate, demonstrates the social, cultural, and aesthetic values of local wealthy businessmen and women of the early twentieth century - values such as appreciation of architectural elegance and grand interior spaces, leisure and recreation, formal landscaped gardens and scenic views.
Also important is the association with the English-born and trained architect Robert Mackay Fripp (1858-1917), as this was one of his grandest residential commissions. Steeped in the current architectural trends in Great Britain, Fripp designed this sprawling mansion in the Arts and Crafts style, reflected in the architectural detailing and proportions. The style was common at the time and was often used for estate mansions as a symbol of affluence and good, modern taste as well as an affinity for all things British. Quality is displayed inside and out in the finishes and materials, orchestrated by prominent local contractor, James Charles Allen, including imported English materials of specific value such as imported Medmenham tiles in the fireplace surrounds, one of the earliest documented use of these tiles outside the United Kingdom. Detailed features of the interior woodwork were carved by Scottish-born master wood carver George Selkirk Gibson (1867-1942), who was best known for his many commissions for prominent British Columbia architect Samuel Maclure.
The outbuildings at 'Fairacres' are an important record of the functioning of a large estate of the time. The Garage and Stables and the Chauffeur’s Cottage accommodated the use of automobiles, horses and carriages, and in concert with the estate's location near the new British Columbia Electric Railway 'Burnaby Lake' interurban line, illustrate the evolving nature of regional transportation and the growing bedroom communities and estates made possible by increasing options for transportation. Other outbuildings accommodated the agricultural activities that helped support the Ceperley estate.
The estate was conceived and funded by American-born Grace E. Dixon Ceperley (1863-1917), who had achieved significant wealth through a bequest from her brother-in-law, Vancouver pioneer Arthur Ferguson. Her husband, Henry Tracy Ceperley (1850-1929), also American-born, was a successful and well-respected businessman who made a significant contribution to the development of the City of Vancouver. The construction of 'Fairacres' spawned the transformation of the Deer Lake area from a farming community into a preferred location for elite suburban homes.
'Fairacres' is significant to the City of Burnaby as its first civic heritage conservation project. Acquired in 1966 for conversion to Burnaby’s first art gallery, it was dedicated in 1967 to mark Canada’s Centennial of Confederation.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the ‘Fairacres’ mansion include its:
- setting in relation to the gardens, its former market garden, and the vistas to Deer Lake and other grand homes in the area
- side gable roof with prominent dormers and cedar shingle cladding
- verandah across the eastern (garden) facade, with its view over the landscaped gardens and the distant mountains
- porte cochere with its side steps for those arriving by automobile, and central raised step for those alighting from horse-drawn carriages
- rich variety of exterior elements that demonstrate the typical Arts and Crafts use of local materials such as cobble stone chimneys and foundations, wide wooden siding and half-timbering
- mixture of double-hung and casement wooden-sash windows, many with multi-paned sash
- lavish interior spaces, designed for entertaining on a grand scale, including a billiard room with a beamed ceiling and an inglenook fireplace, and generous living and dining rooms arranged off a central hall
- quality of the interior materials such as imported Medmenham tiles in fireplace surrounds, window hardware by Hope and Sons, and leaded stained glass
- interior wood work including the staircase, and carvings by George Selkirk Gibson
- remaining formal Edwardian garden landscape elements, including the cross-axial plan that reflects the relationship of the mansion to its 'outdoor rooms'
- Locality
- Deer Lake Park
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Architect
- Robert Mackay Fripp
- Builder
- James Charles Allen
- George Selkirk Gibson
- Function
- Primary Current--Museum
- Primary Historic--Estate
- Community
- Burnaby
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D. No. 004-493-311
Legal Description: Block 3 Except: Part subdivided by Plan 26865, District Lot 79, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan 536
- Boundaries
- ‘Fairacres’ is comprised of a single municipally-owned property located at 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 17,065.00
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Landscape Feature
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Other Collection
- City of Burnaby, Visual Art Collection: Original rendering by R.P.S. Twizell
Burnaby Historical Society, Community Archives: Ceperley Photograph Album
Burnaby Village Museum, Collection: Carved dining room panels by G.S. Gibson and other hardware items
- Documentation
- Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2
- Names
- Ceperley, Grace
- Ceperley, H.T.
- Fripp, Robert Mackay
- Allen, James Charles
- Gibson, George Selkirk
- Subjects
- Buildings - Heritage
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Buildings - Residential
- Street Address
- 6344 Deer Lake Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
H.T. Ceperley Estate 'Fairacres' Chauffeur's Cottage
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the Chauffeur's Cottage is situated across from the main entrance to the Ceperley Mansion, and adjacent to the Garage and Stables. A long, narrow single-storey building, it was constructed by joining together two modest estate cottages.
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 9807
- Enactment Date
- 23/11/1992
- Description
- Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the Chauffeur's Cottage is situated across from the main entrance to the Ceperley Mansion, and adjacent to the Garage and Stables. A long, narrow single-storey building, it was constructed by joining together two modest estate cottages.
- Heritage Value
- The outbuildings at 'Fairacres' are a rare surviving architecturally designed ensemble of agricultural structures that exist in complementary harmony with the main estate house. Architect Robert Mackay Fripp (1858-1917) was retained by the Ceperleys to design several original outbuildings on their estate at the same time as the main house was constructed.
The Chauffeur's Cottage illustrates the increasing importance of the automobile in the lives of the wealthy of the early twentieth century. It also demonstrates Grace and Henry Tracy Ceperley's social aspirations and grand-country-estate pretension in having a chauffeur. The cottage's location - close to the garage and convenient, but not adjacent, to the main house - enhances the grand country house landscape design and contributes to the overall composition of the estate's plan.
The Arts and Crafts styled Chauffeur's Cottage is important as an indicator of the aesthetic and social sensibilities of the Ceperley family in retaining an architect to design a modest building for staff accommodation.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the 'Fairacres' Chauffeur's Cottage include its:
- location, in relation to the main house and in close proximity to the Garage and Stables buildings
- side gable roof with cedar shingle cladding
- Arts and Crafts architectural features such as the jerkin-headed door hood, a reference to the thatched-roofed cottages of southern England; eight-paned wooden-sash casement windows; and cedar-shingled exterior
- two internal brick chimneys
- modest, functional interior, with simple trim and lack of pretension
- Locality
- Deer Lake Park
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Architect
- Robert Mackay Fripp
- Function
- Primary Historic--Outbuilding
- Community
- Burnaby
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D. No. 004-493-311
Legal Description: Block 3 Except: Part subdivided by Plan 26865, District Lot 79, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan 536
- Boundaries
- ‘Fairacres’ is comprised of a single municipally-owned property located at 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 17,065.00
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Landscape Feature
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Other Collection
- Burnaby Historical Society, Community Archives: Ceperley Photograph Album
Burnaby Village Museum, Collection: Chinese ‘Tiger Whiskey’ and opium bottles found during restoration
- Documentation
- Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2
- Names
- Ceperley, H.T.
- Ceperley, Grace
- Fripp, Robert Mackay
- Subjects
- Buildings - Heritage
- Buildings - Residential - Cottages
- Street Address
- 6344 Deer Lake Avenue
Less detail
H.T. Ceperley Estate 'Fairacres' Garage & Stables
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables is a two-storey wood frame building located on the 'Fairacres' estate, situated to the north of the Chauffeur's Cottage; at the south end of the structure is a single vehicle garage and to the north are several stable…
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1911
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 9807
- Enactment Date
- 23/11/1992
- Description
- Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables is a two-storey wood frame building located on the 'Fairacres' estate, situated to the north of the Chauffeur's Cottage; at the south end of the structure is a single vehicle garage and to the north are several stables for carriage, riding, and draught horses, a coach house, and tack room; the upper floor was originally a hay loft.
- Heritage Value
- The outbuildings at 'Fairacres' are a rare surviving architecturally designed ensemble of agricultural structures that exist in complementary harmony with the main estate house. Architect Robert Mackay Fripp (1858-1917) was retained by the Ceperleys to design several original outbuildings on their estate at the same time as the main house was constructed.
The Garage and Stables building is important as a record of its era when transportation modes were in transition and the horse-drawn carriage, while still in use, was giving way to the automobile. The relative spatial arrangements within the building are a valuable indication of the economy of space associated with the automobile, as compared to the horse. The extent of the stabling arrangements signifies not only the use of carriage horses but also the continued reliance on draught horses in farming activities in this era. As well, it is an indication of the fashionable nature of equestrianism for wealthy families during this time.
The building is important as a demonstration of the aesthetics of the Ceperley family in having an architect-designed outbuilding and obtaining craftsmanship and materials of the highest quality for each structure on their estate.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the 'Fairacres' Garage and Stables include its:
- location within easy reach of the main house and in close proximity to the Chauffeur's Cottage
- floor plan with the garage at one end, close to the Chauffeur's Cottage, and stables and equine facilities at the other
- variety and complexity of the roofline, including gable wall dormers, gable-on-hip roof ends, and half-hip extensions
- Arts and Crafts architectural features of the exterior such as the shingle wall cladding articulated with a chevron-patterned course of shingles at the first floor level; casement windows; and deep eaves with additional purlins to support the overhang
- original stable doors with hand-made forged-iron door hardware
- multi-paned wooden-sash windows, some retaining original wire glass
- Locality
- Deer Lake Park
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Architect
- Robert Mackay Fripp
- Function
- Primary Historic--Outbuilding
- Community
- Burnaby
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D. No. 004-493-311
Legal Description: Block 3 Except: Part subdivided by Plan 26865, District Lot 79, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan 536
- Boundaries
- ‘Fairacres’ is comprised of a single municipally-owned property located at 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 17,065.00
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Landscape Feature
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Other Collection
- Burnaby Historical Society, Community Archives: Ceperley Photograph Album
- Documentation
- Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2
- Names
- Ceperley, H.T.
- Ceperley, Grace
- Fripp, Robert Mackay
- Subjects
- Buildings - Agricultural - Stables
- Buildings - Heritage
- Street Address
- 6344 Deer Lake Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
Woman standing on tree stump
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [191-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Esther Love Stanley fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a woman holding an axe and standing on a tree stump next to a large felled tree. The ground and branches of trees are covered with a blanket of snow.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Esther Love Stanley fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a woman holding an axe and standing on a tree stump next to a large felled tree. The ground and branches of trees are covered with a blanket of snow.
- Subjects
- Natural Phenomena - Snow
- Plants - Trees
- Geographic Features - Forests
- Accession Code
- BV022.32.63
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [191-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-04-04
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph is part of Esther Love Stanley photograph album 1 (BV022.32.1)
Less detail
Rowe Ranch
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5 x 14 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Rowe Ranch, on Burnaby Lake, at the foot of Burris Street. The lake is covered in snow and ice.
Kingsway at Salisbury
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a touring car driving along Kingsway at Salisbury, in the area known as Middlegate.
Nelson Avenue
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.7 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Nelson Avenue looking north. A person is standing beside a fence in the snow.
Nelson Avenue
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.4 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Nelson Avenue looking north. A person is standing beside a fence in the snow.
3900 Block Union Street
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1912 and 1915] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.4 x 3.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Spraggon family home and another house on the 3900 block of Union Street (formerly named Barnard Street). There is a child at play in the snow in the foreground.
Bill Grant
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1916] (date of original), copied 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 12.7 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of William "Bill" Grant at 8 years old standing at attention in his Cadet uniform. He is in front of the family home at 2540 Marlborough Avenue (old street numbering).
Boys playing in the snow
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [191-?] (date of original), copied 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 12.6 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of three boys in the snow in front of a house. One of the boys is being pulled on a sled. These may be three of the Grant family children. Alice and George A. Grant had four sons: William (Bill), George, Heriot (Harry), and Alastair.
Gough family home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.4 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the house of the Gough family, Nelson Avenue after a snowfall.
House at Buena Vista, Burnaby
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1912 and 1925]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 11.4 x 7.0 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a house with a large porch area. The house looks like it was renovated with a window put in on the second floor, The stairs, patio and the lawn in front are covered in snow. According to the accession register, the location of the house is at Buena Vista, Burnaby, between 1912 and 192…
Le Grove family home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph Le Grove family home at 3250 Neville Street (later renumbered 5422 Neville Street), Alta Vista. Frederick Le Grove and his friend, Ernie Carpenter, built the home prior to 1913.
Playing in the snow
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of three children throwing snowballs and playing in the snow outside the D.C. Patterson house in the Edmonds district. The house was originally located at 7260 Edmonds Street (near Kingsway). It was relocated in 1955 to 7106 18th Avenue and is a city heritage site.
Shack in the woods
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1910 and 1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 15.5 x 11 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a shack in the woods under a heavy blanket of snow. This shack was most likely located in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1910 and 1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 15.5 x 11 cm
- Material Details
- Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 487-034
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2008-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a shack in the woods under a heavy blanket of snow. This shack was most likely located in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Residential
- Plants - Trees
- Natural Phenomena - Snow
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Phillips, James William "Jim"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail