8. The Regency

The term Regency comes from the Prince Regent of England. This gentleman did considerable travel in the tropics and attempted to bring back to Britain some of the architectural styles that he had seen.
Many of Canada’s earliest settlers had been British soldiers who had served in hot climates. They wanted known architecture that allowed the wind to blow through and cool the house in the summer. They opted for the Regency.
The style was also used by manufacturing companies who wanted small urban homes for some of their workers.

What to look for (clues)

1. A very balanced (symmetrical), small, urban house.


2. Normally a single story building or cottage.


3. A shallow hipped roof (slanted 4 directions with a small flat area on top).


4. Very large windows or French doors with matching sets at the back of the house.


5. Usually there are attractive shutters that enhance the windows.


6. Some later versions added a small peak in the roof above the front door, which made the building appear more like a Loyalist Cottage.
   

Where to find it

The main and wooden Regencies are in Guelph. The other house is in Cambridge (Preston). Stratford and Brantford also contain many Regencies.

A number of the early Regencies were, over time, expanded and grew into an entirely different style. There are also homes called Regency Villas but I have yet to find one.

(A tiny number of Canada’s earliest homes, unrelated to the ones described here, were also dubbed Regencies. We’ll discuss these unique, larger homes under the topic ‘Picturesque’.)