Place Description
The Ardgowan National Historic Site is a one and one half storey house located in Charlottetown, the capital of PEI. It is a rare example of the picturesque or cottage ornee style in PEI. The building is surrounded by ornamental trees and well maintained grounds. The registration includes the building and grounds.
Why is this place important?
Ardgowan was built around the year 1850 outside the City of Charlottetown by the Pope family. Today, the City has grown around it and it is merely a five minute drive from the downtown area. Ardgowan is significant as a rare PEI example of the picturesque cottage or cottage ornee style of architecture. This style was usually built just outside cities or towns and emerged from the influence of late 18th Century landscape paintings. It was a departure from the classical motifs and clean lines of the Georgian period. People wanted homes that seemed to blend in with the landscape - so irregular elements, like decorated tall chimney shafts, were appreciated. The style also tried to imitate rural England, creating roof styles that likely would have been thatched if they were in an English setting.
The home is also significant for its association with the Charlottetown Conference of 1864. One of PEI's delegates, William Henry Pope (1825-1879) hosted the delegates at his home (Ardgowan) on September 2, 1864 and treated them to such Island fare as lobster and oysters. Pope had been born in PEI, studied in London, England and returned home in 1847 to practise law. He became very wealthy from real estate and later edited a pro-Confederation newspaper, The Islander. Even though PEI did not join the original four provinces in 1867, Pope continued to agitate that it should. By 1873, PEI did become the seventh province. At the end of his life, Pope was serving as a judge in the Prince County Courthouse.
Ardgowan became a National Historic Site in 1966 and received an official plaque in 1982. It also serves as the headquarters for Parks Canada in PEI.
Source: PEI Heritage Advisory Committee Files
Special Characteristics
The heritage value of Ardgowan is shown in the following Picturesque Cottage or Cottage Ornee elements:
- the three tall decorated chimney shafts
- the hipped gable roof with elongated eaves (which mimics an English thatched roof)
- the configuration of the home with matching structures on either side of the verandah
- the large bay windows on the front elevation
- the front elevation verandah
- the window shutters
- the board and batten style exterior
- the manicured grounds and footpaths
