01-3. Projecting Georgians

                 1-2a. Shaver Homestead, Garner Road, Ancaster,  (1856)

The vast number of Georgians that I have seen (and there are many) have a flat facade and I was always puzzled by a couple of pictures in John Blumenson's book "Ontario Architecture: A Guide to Styles and Building Terms 1784 to the Present" that showed ancient Georgians where the center-front portion protruded. The other day, while driving around Ancaster, Ontario, I came across several of them*.

1-2b. Rousseau House (restaurant), Wilson Street, Ancaster. (1865)

                                               1-2c. 245 Garner Road, Ancaster  (1888)

What to look for (clues)

• • Rectangular in shape with the wide side facing the road.Great appearance of solidity. Some of the shorter buildings almost appear to squat.

  • Very symmetrical.

  • Rather plain with the exception of; a Palladian window above the entryway, lintel and sills (stone or brick) around door and windows and tall, rather narrow windows (with or without shutters). Wall corners may have decorative quoins of a different colour.

  • The entryway is classical Georgian with the transom (over the door) and matching side windows of glass squares. This was needed to provide light in the pre-electric days! 

• The central section of the facade protrudes outward

• A small, triangular gable roof covers the protruding area.

  •  Both gable (on the sides) and hip roofs can be found.

  • Large chimneys normally stick up from the left and right extremes of the roof. They may appear at the crest or on the back portion.

• • .                                                                                                                 

    •          1-2d. Modern Georgian, Guelph, Ontario

  • Where to find it

Look for the 'Protruding Georgians in the elite areas of older Ontario towns and cities. Ancaster, where I found most of my examples, had a population of 1600 souls in 1823. Nearby Toronto, the 2nd largest center, had 1300!!

Confusing 'twin'

A style that is surprisingly similar is 'The Italianate - #2'. The shape and size are approximately the same but the Italianate has far more decorative features (of an Italian nature). The projecting area(s) may be central or both sides of the facade, something I haven't seen on the Georgian. Curved or arched windows appear strongly in the Italianate.

See Also:

1.  Georgian (Original Version), 1-1. Historical Georgians, 25. The Late Georgian, and

39. Small Georgians.

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