Municipal Heritage Preservation Act

Lawrence Lambert Residence

Saint John, New Brunswick

Also known as William McShane Residence, Résidence William McShane, William Burgess Residence

This photograph shows the contextual view of the building on Sydney Street, 2005

This photograph shows the contextual view of the building on Sydney Street, 2005

Photo: City of Saint John

Recognized
1982
By
Local government

The register’s text, word for word

Description

The Lawrence Lambert Residence is a three-storey wooden vernacular residence in the Italianate style, with a wide cornice and an off-centre entrance. It is located on Sydney Street within the Trinity Royal Preservation Area of the City of Saint John.

Heritage value

The Lawrence Lambert Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its association with the rebuilding period in city after the Great Saint John Fire of 1877.

Built circa 1878, the Lawrence Lambert Residence is one of a collection of residential Italianate buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the city was destroyed by the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. This residence is one of three wooden structures in unbroken succession along the block that were built immediately after the fire. Although is has such Italianate details as a wide overhanging cornice and pedimented entablatures with brackets, the lack of significant ornamentation is a vernacular influence. This residence served as a double home for numerous tradesmen.

SourcePlanning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character‑defining elements

The character-defining elements that describe the vernacular Italianate architecture of the Lawrence Lambert Residence include:

  • tall, rectangular three-storey massing with an elevated basement that follows the incline of Sydney Street;
  • wide overhanging cornice;
  • entablatures with brackets over the windows and doors;
  • transom window over the off-centre entrance;
  • regular fenestration of rectangular windows;
  • sharing similar set-back with neighbouring buildings.

End of the register’s text

Location

170 Sydney Street , Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L, Canada

45.26897° N, 66.05540° W

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Nearby

All 385 places in Saint John

Similar places

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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.