Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)
Sunnyside
City of Guelph, Ontario
Also known as 16 Arthur Street North
Featured is the three-bay front with the stone portico.
Photo: Lindsay Benjamin, 2007
- Built
- 1854
- Recognized
- 1980
- By
- Local government
The register’s text, word for word
Description
Sunnyside, located at 16 Arthur Street, is situated on the northwest side of Arthur Street, north of the intersection of Arthur and Rose Streets in the City of Guelph. This property consists of a two-storey limestone building that was constructed in 1854.
The property was designated by the City of Guelph in 1980 for its historic and architectural value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law (1980)-10466).
Heritage value
Sunnyside is associated with the Kennedy and Davidson families of Guelph. William Kennedy, a Scottish stone carver and mason, designed and built the house in 1854 as a wedding gift for his daughter, Mrs. Charles Davidson. The house remained in the Davidson family for 123 years.
Sunnyside is one of Guelph's architectural treasures and was built with a commanding view of the Speed river and features a carved stone sun-dial in the garden. This large two-storey limestone building features a stone portico overlooking the Speed River. It is an unusual example of Ontario stone sculpture and has been featured in a number of books about Ontario Architecture. Characteristic of Scottish Georgian architecture Sunnyside also features a three-bay front along the river, with a window flanking each side of the central doorway. This building is generally box-like with asymmetrical additions to the rear. Sunnyside also features a low-pitched, side-gabled roof.
SourceCity of Guelph By-law (1980)-10466.
Character‑defining elements
Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of Sunnyside includes the:
- three-bay Speed River façade including stone portico
- entrance steps and curling stone pillars
- low-pitched, side-gable roof
- carved stone sun-dial pedestal in the garden.
- its siting with a commanding view of the Speed River.
End of the register’s text
Location
16, Arthur Street North, City of Guelph, Ontario, N1E, Canada
43.54823° N, 80.24310° 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.
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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.