Aberthau House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aberthau House |
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The porte-cochère of Aberthau house.
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| Former names | Rear House |
| Alternative names | West Point Grey Community Centre |
| General information | |
| Type | House / Community Centre |
| Architectural style | Tudorbethan |
| Address | 4397 West 2nd Avenue |
| Town or city | Vancouver |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 49°16′17″N 123°12′18″W / 49.2715°N 123.2051°W |
| Construction started | 1910 |
| Completed | 1913 |
Aberthau House is a large, historic mansion in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was once known as Rear House. This beautiful building is designed in the Tudor Revival style. Today, it serves as a busy community centre for the neighbourhood.
Aberthau House sits high up in the Point Grey area. From here, you can see amazing views of English Bay. You can also see the Gulf of Georgia and the city of Vancouver. It was one of the first big homes built in Point Grey. This area was a separate town until 1929. The house was designed by Samuel Maclure, a famous architect from British Columbia. He was known for his Tudorbethan architecture and American Craftsman styles.
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History of Aberthau House
The house was first owned by James Rear. He was a manager at American Life Insurance. Because of him, the estate was called 'Rear House'. Architect Samuel Maclure started designing the home in 1909. It took four years to build, from 1910 to 1913.
The Rear family had four children. They loved the huge property. It had a garage for cars and a stable for horses. There was also a big, unfinished attic that was fun for kids. A wide verandah wrapped around two sides of the house. It had a stone base and an open top.
New Owners and Changes
In 1918, Colonel Victor Spencer bought the mansion. This was five years after it was finished. The Rear family moved to California. Colonel Spencer was the son of David Spencer. David founded the 'Spencer's' department store chain.
Colonel Spencer had fought in the First World War. He renamed his new home 'Aberthau'. This is a Welsh word meaning "a place filled with light."
The house was changed a lot for the Spencer family. A new main entrance was added on West 2nd Avenue. The old entrance was on Trimble Street. A fireplace in the hall was removed. A second floor was added to the east side. The biggest change was turning a stone verandah into a new family room. This room was called the 'Oak Room'. It was a popular place for parties and family get-togethers. Colonel Spencer also bought more land. He made the gardens bigger and built a tennis court.
Aberthau House During Wartime
In 1938, the government took over the property. The 22-room house became an RCAF Officers' Mess. This was a place for officers to relax. It was for the nearby seaplane base at Jericho Beach. The Spencer family received $94,466 for the house and its 5.85 acres (23,700 m2) of land.
The house was damaged during the war. In 1943, a fire destroyed the roof. The attic was also badly damaged. But firefighters and officers worked together. They stopped more damage from happening. During this time, money was spent to fix the house. The plumbing was updated. The damaged upper floors were repaired. The foundations of the mansion were made stronger.
Becoming a Community Centre
The military left Aberthau House in 1972. The city of Vancouver then took ownership. This happened when Jericho Beach was given to the city.
Aberthau House was given to the Board of Parks and Recreation. They saw its potential as a cultural and recreation centre. More renovations were needed. In October 1973, the City Council set aside $75,000 for this. The Province also gave an extra $25,000. A year later, in September 1974, programs started. The new centre officially opened on November 16. Commissioner May Brown opened it.
Aberthau House Today: West Point Grey Community Centre
Since 1974, Aberthau House has been a community centre. It offers many activities for people of all ages in Vancouver. You can find creative art classes, dance lessons, and language programs. There are also music lessons and much more. The community centre is run by the city's Parks and Recreation Board. It also works with the West Point Grey Community Association.
The large rooms at Aberthau House make it a popular place for events. You can rent the mansion for many different gatherings. These include wedding receptions, parties, and workshops. It's also used for meetings, staff retreats, and piano recitals. The historic site also hosts fun yearly events. These include a haunted house in autumn. In winter, there's 'Breakfast with Santa'. In spring, there's a 'Family Easter' event.
The building next door used to be a coach house and horse stable. Now, it's a pottery studio. It has twelve potter's wheels and many work stations. They offer different workshops and classes there.
There is also a fitness centre and gym on the property. It has many aerobic machines and weights. You can also find accessories like wobble boards and Swiss balls. Drop-in exercise classes are held regularly. They are for children, teens, and adults.
Tudorbethan Architecture Style
Tudorbethan Architecture is also called Tudor Revival or Mock Tudor. It became popular in the early 1900s. Many suburban homes were built in this style. It took ideas from the Picturesque Movement of the late 1700s. It also used designs from Tudor style homes in the English countryside. A famous British architect, Richard Norman Shaw, made it popular. Aberthau House is a great example of this style. This is because it was one of architect Samuel Maclure's specialties.
Exterior Design Features
Samuel Maclure saw the Tudorbethan work of Wilson Eyre. This was during a year of study in Philadelphia. Maclure used Eyre's ideas at Aberthau. He used half-timbering and freely arranged stone. But Maclure also added his own unique touches. He balanced the huge stone base with vertical wood panels. The stone chimneys are typical of Tudor Revival style. They anchor the almost Asian look of the eaves (the edges of the roof).
The colours of the house also follow Mock Tudor rules. These colours are white, light green, and dark green. The green shades are used on the trim and borders. They stand out against the white and gray stone.
Other features on the outside show Tudorbethan influences. These include:
- A hipped roof (a roof that slopes on all four sides)
- A massive stone base with a fancy pattern on the lower walls
- Stucco on the upper stories, decorated with fake half-timbering
- Gables (pointed sections of wall) and dormers (windows sticking out of the roof)
- An elaborate stone chimney
- Casement windows (windows that open vertically) framed in wood. They are grouped in rows of two or more.
- Stained glass windows that decorate the entrance doorway
Interior Design Features
The inside of Aberthau House is different from typical Tudor designs. It shows Maclure's own special style. A highlight is the grand, central living hall. It has hardwood panels and a fireplace. There's also a winding staircase. A two-story gallery is also part of the hall.
The house has many fancy decorations. There are Gargoyles guarding the library chimney. The staircase has mother-of-pearl decorations on its newel posts (the main posts at the end of a staircase). There are hardwood floors and stained glass.
The design lets you see the surrounding views from many windows. This encourages you to move towards the outside. But the beautiful central hall also draws you to the hearth (fireplace). This "inward-outward" pull was inspired by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Colonel Spencer's changes added the elegant Oak Room. It has oak paneling and a ribbed plaster ceiling. The new entrance on West 2nd Avenue also made it easier to move around inside.
Images for kids
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The porte-cochère of Aberthau house.
