Albert Seaman's Paintings, Drawings and Essays

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House at Churchville

Illustration from the book "Heritage Brampton - 1978"

Pen and ink drawing on illustration board.  Original image size 10¾ (27.3 cm)" by 13½" (34.3 cm).

This old house sits atop an escarpment, from where the road in front of it dips down into the village of Churchville.  In pioneer times, when marketing was essentially a hand-to-mouth family affair, this was the dining room for an inn on the opposite side of the road.  The inn part of the complex has long since disappeared.  An old barn, which once stood behind the house, was used to stable the travellers' horses while their owners rested and dined.  The barn was later destroyed by fire. 

When this drawing was made in 1978, the house was not in very good condition.  Parts of hinges were all that remained of green window shutters that originally helped to keep the worst of the elements at bay.  The upper half had been closed off for the winter to reduce heating costs, and the occupants were using the brick extension at the rear as their main accommodation.  That extension, although very old, was not part of the original structure.  

The fate of the property was in jeopardy toward the end of the twentieth century, and it changed hands a few times before enjoying substantial renovation.  

Picture status - Artist's collection.