Woodchester Villa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodchester Villa |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| Location | 15 King St, Bracebridge, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°02′24″N 79°18′18″W / 45.039961°N 79.305045°W |
| Completed | 1882 |
| Client | Henry J. Bird |
| Type | Provincial Heritage Easement Property |
| Designated | 1981-03-16 |
| Reference no. | HPON07-0048 |
Woodchester Villa, also known as The Bird House, is a special historic building. It is located in Bracebridge, Ontario, right by the Muskoka River. This unique house was built in 1882.
It was once the home of Henry J. Bird, who owned a factory that made wool products. The house is unusual because it has eight sides, making it an octagon house. Its walls are very thick, about 16 inches (40 cm) of poured concrete. They are also quite tall, between 4.5 and 5 meters wide.
In 1977, a group called the Bracebridge Rotary Club bought the house. They wanted to save this important building. After fixing it up, they gave it to the Town of Bracebridge in 1980. Later that year, it opened as a local history museum.
Sadly, the museum closed in 2009 after a big winter storm damaged the building. But in 2012, new repairs and upgrades began. By June 2018, Woodchester Villa was ready to open again. Today, it's a place called 'Woodchester, Where Events Take Shape'. People can rent it for meetings, parties, and other special events.
The building is protected by the Ontario Heritage Trust. This means it is a very important historical site. The Town of Bracebridge also has rules to help protect its heritage.
Contents
About Woodchester Villa
What is an Octagon House?
An octagon house is a building with eight sides. This style was popular for a short time in the 1800s. People thought these houses would be brighter and easier to heat. Woodchester Villa is a great example of this unique design.
Who Was Henry J. Bird?
Henry J. Bird was a businessman in the 1800s. He owned a factory that made wool. Wool is a material from sheep that is used to make clothes and blankets. He built Woodchester Villa as his family home.
Saving the Villa
The Bracebridge Rotary Club is a group that helps the community. They saw how special Woodchester Villa was. In 1977, they bought the house to make sure it would be saved. They worked hard to restore it to its original beauty.
Woodchester Today
After being a museum, Woodchester Villa now serves the community in a new way. It is a popular spot for different events. This helps keep the historic building alive and used by people today.
See also
In Spanish: Villa Woodchester para niños
- List of octagon houses
