Irving House facts for kids
The Irving House is a special old building in New Westminster, British Columbia. It's known as the oldest house in the Lower Mainland that is still standing just as it was built. You can find it at the corner of Royal Avenue and Merivale Street. Today, the Irving House is a museum. It helps people learn about the early history of settlers in the Lower Mainland.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Irving House
Building a Home for the Irving Family
Captain William Irving had this house built in 1865. He wanted a home for his family, which included his wife and five children. This was a time when the city of New Westminster was just starting to grow. It was built after a group called the Royal Engineers finished their work in 1863.
From Family Home to Museum
The Irving family lived in the house for three generations, until 1950. After that, the City of New Westminster decided the house was very important. They made it a heritage site and turned it into a museum. The main goal was to teach people about the city's early history.
Restoring a Piece of History
In 2009, museum staff found old papers in the house. These papers were from around 1897 to 1903. They were later reprinted in England and brought back to the house. Since 2011, the house has had many updates. It now has modern fire and electrical systems. The building's structure was also fixed to look like it did originally. For example, the outside of the house was repaired and repainted. In April 2018, the house's original gold wallpapers were also restored. More work is planned to make it look even more like it did in the past.
What Makes Irving House Special?
- It has 14 rooms and is about 4700 square feet.
- The house has a strong brick foundation and is built with wood.
- It is designed in a style called Gothic Revival.
- Inside, you can see metallic gold wallpapers.
