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
Anderson family
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.2 x 3.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Anderson family in front of the Anderson family home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). Left to right: Mrs. Anderson (grandmother), Madelaine Anderson (mother), Janet Anderson (daughter), and Cliff Anderson (son).
Anderson family
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1959 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.9 x 4.3 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Anderson family in front of their home at 3908 Norland Avenue (originally numbered 4437 Norland Avenue) after a snowfall. Left to right: Cliff Anderson (son), Janet Anderson (daughter), and Robert "Bob" Anderson (father). To the side is a 1959 Galaxie car.
Anderson family
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1961 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.1 x 3.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Anderson family at the back of their home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). Left to right: Cliff Anderson (son), Janet Anderson (daughter), and Robert "Bob" Anderson (father). The background includes the area of the Trans Canada Highway before it w…
Bob and Janet Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.3 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of father and daughter Bob and Janet Anderson standing in the living room of 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue).
Douglas Road school celebration
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.1 x 3.3 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of children from Douglas Road School in costume for a centennial or 50th anniversary celebration. Janet Anderson is standing behind the girl in the long black skirt.
Janet and Cliff Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.1 x 3.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of siblings Janet and Cliff Anderson at the back of their home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue), facing east.
Janet and Cliff Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.1 x 3.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of siblings Janet and Cliff Anderson standing beside a small pond behind their home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). The photograph was taken facing northwest. The Sprott overpass over the Trans Canada Highway can be seen under construction in the backgr…
Janet and Cliff Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1965 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.1 x 3.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of siblings Janet at Cliff Anderson at the back of their family home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). The photograph was taken facing sourtheast, where the family's pool used to be.
Janet and Cliff Anderson on Christmas morning
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- December 25, 1955 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of siblings Janet and Cliff Anderson on Christmas morning in the living room of their family home at 4437 Norland Avenue (later renumbered 3908 Norland Avenue). A Christmas tree and television are in the room, and Cliff is holding a baseball mitt.
Janet Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.2 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Janet Anderson on the back porch of the family home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). This photograph was taken facing west, with Burnaby visible in the background.
Janet Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1965 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Janet Anderson standing behind her family home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue). The photograph was taken facing northwest. The completed Sprott overpass over the Trans Canada Highway can be seen in the background.
Madelaine and Janet Anderson in their pool
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1961 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of mother and daughter Madelaine and Janet Anderson in the swimming pool behind their home at 3908 Norland Avenue (previously numbered 4437 Norland Avenue).
Madelaine, Janet and Cliff Anderson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1955 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of mother and children, Madelaine, Janet and Cliff Anderson in front of the family car at the back of their home at 4437 Norland Avenue (later renumbered 3908 Norland Avenue).