85 Princess Street
Located on the north side of Princess St, between King St E and Wellington St, the property contains an early, well-crafted example of a brick residential building converted for multiple uses. The property is associated with the halting of a devastating fire in 1847 and is a landmark along Princess St. Heritage attributes include the 3-storey brick building with unusual 24-pane Gothic arched windows.
The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method and because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit. A good example of an early-19th century brick building built for residential purposes then converted for multiple uses. Character defining elements that reflect this value include its scale and massing. The first storey of the building consists of a central recessed entranceway of double doors and transom, and flanking show windows framed in square wooden columns with brackets at their capitals, supporting the cornice over the first storey, all of which reflects the historic commercial use on this floor. A high degree of craftsmanship and artistic merit are evident by the building’s double hung sash windows made up of twenty-four panes. The top sash of every window has twelve lights and muntins in the pattern of a Gothic arch. There are also small pediment lintels over each window. Other aspects that demonstrate attention to detail and artistic merit include the cornice made of corbelled brick with brackets and a small blind arcade beneath. Three courses of corbelled brick form a central cornice detail above the third floor.
The property has historical/associative value as it played a key role in arresting a substantial and devastating fire that destroyed the buildings to the west (89-95 Princess) in 1847. It is thought that due to its brick construction, the building slowed the progress of fire that raged to the west long enough to be quelled. This event and the building’s role is particularly significant as the fire was moving east towards 77 Princess Street, which was then a fully occupied hospital. The property’s design and brick construction have contextual value as it supports and maintains the historic and eclectic commercial character of downtown Kingston. Its distinctive brick architectural detailing, together with its unusual windows, makes it a landmark along Princess Street.
Heritage Attributes Key exterior elements that contribute to the property’s cultural heritage value include its: Three storey brick building, with symmetrical fenestration pattern; Sash windows made up of twenty-four panes in the pattern of a Gothic arch; Architectural detailing, including small pediment lintels over each window, the cornice, with corbelled bricks, and brackets, and the small blind arcade; and Central recessed entranceway of double doors and transom, with flanking display windows framed by square wooden columns with brackets at their capitals, supporting the cornice over the first storey.
