Glenclare Farmhouse - Intention to Designate as Property of Cultural Heritage

Thursday, March 10, 2022

On December 7, 2021, Oakville Town Council resolved to give Notice of Intention to Designate the following property under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18, as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest:

Glenclare Farmhouse

4243 Sixth Line, Oakville, Ontario

Part of Lot 15, Concession 2 Trafalgar North of Dundas Street, being Part 4 on Plan 20R-22101; Oakville

The Glenclare Farmhouse at 4243 Sixth Line is located on the east side of Sixth Line, north of Burnhamthorpe Road, south of Highway 407 in the Town of Oakville. The Farmhouse is a two-storey structure with stone foundation, red brick cladding, hipped roof with asphalt shingles, and contains a single-storey frame tail section with stone foundation at the rear. The Farmhouse was constructed in 1898, according to the date stone set into the front façade.

The legal description for land registration purposes for the Glenclare Farmhouse cultural heritage resource is Part 4 on Plan 20R-22101.

The house demonstrates design/physical value as a representative example of a Queen Anne Revival Dwelling. The subdued Queen Anne style is reflected in the two-storey, irregular plan of the building with hipped roof, bay window projection on the south elevation, decorative terra-cotta brick inset on the south elevation, and rectangular window openings with rusticated stone sills and lintels. A two-storey bay projection on the south elevation, inset wooden porch with decorative wooden trim is located on the south elevation, between the main brick house and frame tail. Historically, the house had additional Queen Anne decorative elements, including a full-width wooden porch with elaborate spindle work and paired brackets at the eaves of the second storey.

The house demonstrates historical value due to its associations with the Biggar Family. The Biggar family was an early settler family in Trafalgar Township, purchasing the property in 1854 and became a prominent farming family on the subject property. One member of the family, Michael Biggar, served as Deputy Reeve of Halton County in 1890-91. Descendants of the Biggar family, Albert and Harriet, constructed the existing dwelling in 1898 and named the farm “Glenclare Farm”. Members of the Biggar family owned Glenclare Farmhouse and farmed the Glenclare Farm until 1985.

Key attributes of the Farmhouse that exemplify its value as a representative example of a Queen Anne Revival dwelling include:

Further information respecting this proposed designation is available from the Town of Oakville. Any inquiries may be directed to David Addington, Heritage Planner at 905-845-6601, ext. 2919 (TTY 905-338-4200), or by email at david.addington@oakville.ca.

The last date to file a notice of objection is April 11, 2022.