Samuel Maclure (11 April 1860 – 8 August 1929) was a Canadianarchitect in British Columbia, Canada, from 1890 to 1920. He was born on 11 April 1860 in Sapperton, New Westminster, British Columbia, to John and Martha Maclure.[1] He studied painting at the Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia from 1884 to 1885, and he was a self-taught architect. He married Margaret Catherine (Daisy) Simpson, an accomplished pianist and portrait painter, on 10 August 1889.
Career
In 1889, he formed an architectural partnership in New Westminster in association with Charles H. Clow, and then with Richard P. Sharp. In 1892, Maclure moved to Victoria, British Columbia. From 1897 to 1899, he formed an architectural partnership with John Edmeston Parr in Vancouver. From 1905 to 1916, he formed an architectural partnership in Vancouver with Cecil Croker Fox.
Maclure and his wife Daisy were founding members of the Vancouver Island Arts and Crafts Society in 1909. In 1920, the Vancouver office reopened under Maclure's former apprentice, Ross A. Lort, who continued the practice after Maclure's death on 8 August 1929 in Victoria, following a prostate operation.[2]
Notable commissions
Maclure was responsible for over 450 commissions in British Columbia. His first commission, the Temple building for merchant Robert Ward, reflects the Chicago School style.
According to Maclure biographer Janet Bingham, the architect is also known to have created houses in the United States, but only one is extant - Ramsay House in Ellensburg, WA - an Arts & Crafts style bungalow with Tudor finishes that has changed hands only three times since construction finished in 1905.
This Tudor Revival house was originally a private residence and at one time a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment. This is now a seniors activity centre, Brock House Society and a restaurant open to the public. Brock House Restaurant stages over 200 weddings per year. For more information see the Society's 2012 publication THORLEY PARK TO BROCK HOUSE: From Family Home to Heritage Landmark, 1912 - 2012 Jo Pleshakov, Editor
Gabriola, was built for B.T. Rogers, founder of B.C. Sugar Refining Co. This Queen Anne grand mansion, is located in the Vancouver West End. The building became the Angus Apartments in 1925. It became a restaurant, but it is currently vacant.
This Tudor Revival manor was originally built for Yorkshire-born realtor and developer Thomas Harry Slater, who brought over artisans from England and Scotland to work on the project.
In the early 1950s the Rosemeade was converted to the Olde English Inn. Faithful replicas of an Elizabethan street, the home of Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage were built on the five acre property.
The Rosemeade Manor is now a boutique hotel and wedding venue called The English Inn.
This Tudor Revival manor was built for whiskey baron & lawyer, Edward Tulk, who name the house after his daughter, Rosemary. It was also home to the Lieutenant Governor of B.C., John William Fordham Johnson. From 1947, the house was owned by the Order of the convent of Our Lady of the Cenacle until 1996, where it was used as a retreat.
W. Biggerstaff Wilson commissioned Maclure to design this Elizabethan Revival manor house. Wilson was a son of William Wilson, one of the founders of W. and J. Wilson Clothiers. He reputedly received a large inheritance from a family friend because he was named after him. In 1901, he founded an ice and cold storage business. Dominated by its large hipped roof, this home is considered to be Maclure's most successful Tudor Revival design.
1905
Samuel Maclure, architect
Legacy
His paintings are found in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and in the Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery, University of Victoria. His architectural plans and drawings are held in the University of Victoria Architecture and Special Coll., SC075 (Samuel Maclure fonds).
