View of St. Oswald's Trees, 2004
Photo: City of Surrey, 2004
- Built
- 1885
- Recognized
- 1993
- By
- Local government
The register’s text, word for word
Description
St. Oswald's Trees consists of a row of four old growth Douglas Fir trees and one Western Red Cedar tree, located in a predominantly industrial area of Port Kells. Highly visible, the trees are situated along 190 Street, which defines the western boundary of the St. Oswald's Church grounds.
Heritage value
The heritage value of St. Oswald's Trees lies in their association with the formation of Port Kells and the community's later growth and development. In 1885, two men, who shared the name of Henry Kells, planned the town site of Port Kells. Anticipating development due to the Canadian National Railway (CNR) terminals at Port Mann, Walter James Walker, a real estate developer and former Surrey Reeve, donated money for the construction of three Anglican churches in North Surrey in 1910, one of which is St. Oswald's. The Kells family donated eight of the original town lots for the church. The anticipated development of Port Kells failed to occur and the town lots reverted to agricultural use, followed by industrial development of the area upon the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway in the 1960s.
These native heritage trees remained on the site cleared for St. Oswald’s Church and have been evaluated as exceptional in size, age and species and are living examples of Surrey's natural heritage. The trees line the street west of the church, defining the church property as a special enclave within what has become an industrial context.
The trees are also valued as landmarks, visible from the surrounding area and marking a transition space between a public transportation corridor and the church property. Creating an important and symbolic break between the churchyard and the busy road, the trees demonstrate the commitment of the City of Surrey to recognizing and preserving its natural heritage.
SourceHeritage Planning Files, City of Surrey
Character‑defining elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the St. Oswald's Trees include their:
- prominence and visibility along the east side of 190 Street;
- location on the boundary of the church property and its accompanying green space, in contrast with the surrounding industrial area; and
- height (approximately 41 to 45 metres) and full canopy of the native old growth trees.
End of the register’s text
Location
190th Street, Surrey, British Columbia, V4N, Canada
49.17654° N, 122.69587° W
Get directions (opens in a new tab)Being on the register doesn’t make a place open to visitors. Many are private homes or businesses; please view them from the street.
Loading map…
Nearby
All 82 places in Surrey
Similar places
Places whose register descriptions are closest to this one.
From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.