National Historic Site of Canada

Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada

Also known as Stratford City Hall, Hôtel de ville de Stratford

General view of Stratford City Hall, showing its siting on an irregular, triangular-shaped site, and its central location, 2011.
Photo: Stratford City Hall, Perry Quan, 2011.

Built: 1898–1899
Recognized: 1976
By: Government of Canada

The register’s text, word for word

Description

Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada is prominently located on a triangular-shaped civic ‘square’ that forms the centre of the business district in Stratford, Ontario. Built at the end of the 19th century, it is a monumental town hall constructed of red brick with a prominent clock tower. Its Picturesque design incorporates an eclectic blend of late-Victorian features. The formal recognition consists of the building on its legal property.

Heritage value

Stratford City Hall was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1976 because:

it is significant as a late 19th-century Picturesque civic building.

Stratford City Hall reflects the development of town halls during the late-19th century, as the administrative functions of municipal government increased and cities sought to express their civic pride and ambition in impressive, large-scale buildings. Its Picturesque design, incorporating details from a variety of styles, reflects the architectural eclecticism of the late 1890s. Designed by Toronto architect George W. King, with the assistance of local architect J.W. Siddall, the building was intended to exploit its irregular site, presenting interesting façades from all angles. Its monumental scale, prominent tower and use of red brick distinguish it as a civic building.

SourceHistoric Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, November 1976, July 1998.

Register entry

No. 12644

Recognition: National Historic Site of Canada
Recognized by: Government of Canada
Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act
Date recognized: November 6, 1976
Built: 1898–1899
Architect or designer: George W. King
Historic function: Town or City Hall
Themes: Architecture and Design, Government and Institutions
Address: 1 Market Square, Stratford, Ontario, Canada

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Cite this entry

Reference

“Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada.” Heritage Guide, Canadian Register of Historic Places entry 12644. https://heritageguide.ca/stratford-city-hall-national-historic-site-of-canada-stratford-ontario.

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://heritageguide.ca/stratford-city-hall-national-historic-site-of-canada-stratford-ontario |title=Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada |website=Heritage Guide |id=Canadian Register of Historic Places entry 12644}}

In Heritage Guide collections

Addition

Grouped by Heritage Guide from this place’s register description. Not part of the official record.

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Character‑defining elements

Key elements which relate to the heritage value of Stratford City Hall include:

its siting on an irregular, triangular-shaped site, and its central location;
its monumental scale;
its plan, intended to exploit its irregular, triangular-shaped site;
features typical of late 19th-century town halls, including the prominent clock tower;
its late-Victorian eclecticism, evident in the use of features derived from a variety of different styles, including Classical Revival features such as the columns and moulded cornice at the main entrance, Richardsonian Romanesque features including the rounded arch of the main entrance, conical roof structures, and the smaller gables, Dutch Baroque features, including the gable over the main entrance, and Palladian features such as the window on the rear façade;
the concentration of exterior detailing at the entrance, the roof and the tower;
the gables along the eave line;
the use of a variety of materials, colours, shapes and textures, in keeping with the stylistic eclecticism, including red brick walls, rough-dressed limestone foundation, courses of brown sandstone, oak doors, polished marble columns, moulded stone cornices, terra cotta caps and curved decoration, a slate roof and a range of painted wood features;
the decorative treatment of all elevations of the building;
its use of red-brick, connecting it visually with the nearby Worth Block, and distinguishing it from commercial structures which use the ‘white’ brick common in the region;
viewscapes of the building, including its clock tower.

End of the register’s text