William Coverdale (architect)

William Coverdale (c. 1801 – 28 September 1865) was an English-born builder and architect in Canada West.[1]

William Coverdale
Bornc. 1801
England
Died28 September 1865
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
Known forRenowned architect in Upper Canada

Personal life edit

The son of Christopher Coverdale, the family is thought to have arrived in Lower Canada around 1810 before coming to Kingston, Upper Canada around 1833.[2] Coverdale married Catherine Delmage and had five children. Unlike his many Anglican contemporaries, Coverdale was a practicing member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.[3]

Career edit

Coverdale worked as master builder on the construction of Kingston Penitentiary from 1836–1840, and was involved in the later additions of the dining hall, perimeter walls, and towers in the mid-1840s.[4] When Kingston city architect George Browne was discharged on 20 May 1855, Coverdale was hired to replace him.

He oversaw the construction of Kingston City Hall from 1844 and prepared plans for the rebuilding of the rear wing after it burned down in 1865; the rebuilding was completed by his son William Miles Coverdale.[1]

In 1859, Coverdale was hired as architect for the Government of Canada's Criminal Lunatic Asylum.[3]

He designed plans for several large residences and a number of churches in Kingston, many of which are still in use today.

Death edit

Coverdale died in Kingston in 1865 at the age of 64, with his most reputable building, Rockwood Asylum, only partially complete.[1]

Designated Heritage Buildings edit

Building Address Built
Kingston Penitentiary 560 King St W 1836
St. Helen's Complex: St. Helen's[5] 440 King St W 1838
Roselawn National Historic Site of Canada[6] 421 Union St W 1841
St. George's Anglican Cathedral (addition)[7] 270 King St E 1843
Willow Cottage[8] 189 King St W 1843
St. James Anglican Church[2] 10 Union St 1845
St. Paul's Anglican Church[9] 137 Queen St 1847
Prince George Hotel (addition)[10][4][11] 200 Ontario St 1848
St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church[12][13] 41 Church St 1849
William and Mary Beamish House[14] 2263 Princess St 1850
Anglican Diocesan Centre in Kingston[15] 90 Johnson St 1851
Sydenham Street United Church[16] 82 Sydenham St 1852
Maxwell Strange Cottage[17] 107 Logan St 1855
Portsmouth Community Correctional Centre[18] 508 Portsmouth Ave 1855
Anchor Insurance Building[10] 327 King St E 1857
Rockwood Asylum[19] 752 King St W 1859
Portsmouth Town Hall[20] 623 King St W 1865

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Angus, Margaret S (1976). "Coverdale, William". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. ^ a b "Biography – COVERDALE, WILLIAM – Volume IX (1861-1870) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  3. ^ a b "The Kingston Daily News 28 Sep 1865, page 3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  4. ^ a b "Coverdale, William | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada". dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  5. ^ "St. Helen's Complex: St. Helen's". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  6. ^ "Roselawn National Historic Site of Canada". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  7. ^ J. McKendry, The Architects of St. George's Cathedral, Kingston in Queen's Quarterly [Kingston], xcv, Autumn 1988, 703, 707, illus.
  8. ^ "Report to Heritage Kingston: Report Number HK-20-011" (PDF). City of Kingston. February 19, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "History & Lower Burial Ground". St. Paul's Anglican Church Kingston. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  10. ^ a b "Market Square Heritage Conservation District Plan 2013". City of Kingston. June 5, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Prince George Hotel". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  12. ^ "History – St John's Anglican Church, Kingston". Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  13. ^ "St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  14. ^ "Report to Heritage Kingston: Report Number HK-22-002". The City of Kingston. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "Anglican Diocesan Centre". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  16. ^ James, William Closson (2011-09-20). God's Plenty: Religious Diversity in Kingston. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-7735-3889-4. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
  17. ^ "Report to Heritage Kingston: Report Number HK-21-021". The City of Kingston. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "Portsmouth Community Correctional Centre". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  19. ^ "Rockwood Asylum". Museum of Healthcare Kingston.
  20. ^ "Portsmouth Town Hall | STONES". Retrieved 2023-03-12.

External links edit