London Armouries edit
| London Armouries | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | 325 Dundas St |
| Town or city | London, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Completed | 1905 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | David Ewart |
| Main contractor | Sullivan and Langdon |
History edit
The city of London, Ontario played a significant military role in the early years of Canada, with an Imperial garrison being stationed there after the rebellion of 1837-38. [1] The London Armouries is an easily recognizable symbol of this military history that remains in the city to this day. After British forces withdrew a majority of their troops from Canada and the previous garrison building in London burnt down during a fire, plans to construct a new armoury in the city eventually began. [2] Construction was completed in 1905 with a total construction cost of about $135,000 (approximately equivalent to $4,012,905 in 2021). [3] In the past, the Armoury was home to the 1st Hussars and the 7th fusiliers (now 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment).[4] The armoury was eventually closed in 1978 and likely heading for demolition after being unoccupied for years. [5] That is until a hotelier named Donald Wharton decided instead to transform the armoury into a hotel by renovating the interior and constructing a tower within the centre of the original armoury.[6] This served to maintain the historical exterior of the building, while allowing for the creation of a luxurious four-star hotel within the armouries footprint. Construction of the hotel was complete in 1986 and was known as the Wharton. [7] The hotel then underwent a name change and became the Sheraton Armouries. The name changed once more and today the hotel is called the Delta London Armouries. [8]
References edit
- ^ "London Armouries: Historic Sites Walking Guide". London Public Library. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "London Armouries: Historic Sites Walking Guide". London Public Library. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "London Armouries: Historic Sites Walking Guide". London Public Library. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Forsyth, Bruce. "Canadian Military History". MilitaryBruce.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Forsyth, Bruce. "Canadian Military History". MilitaryBruce.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "London's Historic Landmark – The Delta London Armouries Hotel Is A Unique Destination For Travellers". Look Local Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "London's Historic Landmark – The Delta London Armouries Hotel Is A Unique Destination For Travellers". Look Local Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "London's Historic Landmark – The Delta London Armouries Hotel Is A Unique Destination For Travellers". Look Local Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2021.