Barclay Heritage Square Photowalk

I took full advantage of the Orange Day initiative today and went on two photowalks in lovely public spaces in New Westminster and downtown Vancouver. This morning there was brunch at the Quay along the Fraser River with my mother and later this afternoon John and I roamed around Barclay Heritage Square in Vancouver’s West End.

Sometimes on lovely spring days such as these, it’s the simplest of activities that can delight, relax, and bring a smile to your face. It definitely helps when the bright sun is blanketing our soggy city to boot.

The Barclay Heritage Square is a public park with small playground, on-leash dogs are welcome on its lawn, and its highly conducive to activities such as playing catch, badminton or Frisbee.

The three heritage houses that border the park on Barclay Street are Barclay Manor, Roedde House, and Weeks House (on the Nicola corner). There are also 6 other heritage houses (private residences) that surround the perimeter, all of which date as far back as the 1890s.

I have yet to have tea at the historic Roedde House but it’s near the top of my must-do list and I have profiled it in one of my Vancouver History pieces:

In 1990 the restored Roedde House Museum opened its doors for community events and tours. Having done many tours of Victoria during our girls weekends, I’ve become pretty familiar with the architects that formed our big coastal cities in BC, however I had no clue that there were murmurs that Francis Mawson Rattenbury built Roedde House. Rattenbury being the designer of the Vancouver Art Gallery (former Court House) and Victoria’s Parliament Buildings and Empress Hotel [VancouverHistory].

I would also love to read “More Than a House” The Story of Roedde House and Barclay Heritage Square by Janet Bingham (whom I met at the CBC Radio event).

Feel free to browse the rest of John’s Flickr set, as well as my own for more photos.