Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)
The Crystal Cottage
City of Brantford, Ontario
Also known as The Beer Bottle Cottage, 35 Chatham Street
Of note is the symmetrical three-bay facade.
Photo: City of Brantford, 2001.
- Recognized
- 1985
- By
- Local government
The register’s text, word for word
Description
The Crystal Cottage is located at 35 Chatham Street, on the south side, west of Market Street, in the City of Brantford. The one storey, buff brick cottage was constructed in circa 1876.
The property was designated, by the City of Brantford in 1985, for its cultural heritage value, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, By-law 6-85.
Heritage value
The Crystal Cottage at 35 Chatham Street is an exceptional example of a late 19th century Brantford vernacular cottage. Typical of this style is the one storey, rectangular house plan and medium gable roof. The Crystal Cottage has its name inscribed on the front facade and is descriptive of its unique glass bottle architectural detail. The Crystal Cottage incorporates intricate bargeboard beneath the gable and eaves. The cottage features original wood window frames and shutters. Red brick accents the windows and doors. The radiating voussoirs, above the windows and doors, enhances the brick and bottle detail.
SourceCity of Brantford By-law 6-85.
Character‑defining elements
Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of The Crystal Cottage include its:
- one storey, buff brick exterior
- rectangular plan
- medium gable roof
- symmetrical three-bay facade
- inscription, “Crystal Cottage” ornamentally inset in the gable with shells
- single stack chimneys
- wood window frames and louver shutters
- intricate barge board
- segmented heads and radiating voussoirs above the windows and door
- green glass bottle detail
- decorative red brick bands
- double hung sash windows
End of the register’s text
Location
35, Chatham Street, City of Brantford, Ontario, Canada
43.14289° N, 80.26487° 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.