15. The Bay 'n Gables

I thought that this was a rare Toronto style until I checked my ‘unknown’ files and found that it is quite common in South Western Ontario. It may appear as a single dwelling, a double, or as part of row housing.

The façade is composed of 3 sections. The central section has the entryway(s) and a verandah or porch, above which are windows or a balcony. A small gable appears at the roof line or as part of a dormer above.

The two matching sides of the façade project and have a single or two-story bay which is
topped by another gable at the roofline or on the roof.








What to look for (clues)

• The 2 sides of the façade project forward while the central area recedes.
• The entrance(s) to the building is at the center.
• Either fancy gingerbread or dormers create 3 gables.
• The ornamentation is usually ‘borrowed’ from existing styles with the emphasis on Gothic Revival and Italian.
• The houses are moderately large and solid.
  

Where to find it

It is a style found in older sections of our cities and far more abundant than I had believed. (This is proving to be a fairly common occurrence as I attempt to identify houses.) It may also appear in rural settings.
Based on what I have seen, the Bay ‘n Gable homes tend to be conservative in colour.
This top example is in Cambridge (Galt). The next is in Guelph and the last two in Elmira.

NOTE: I believe that this style is also the 'H' shape of the Gothic Revival!