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Government House
Heritage Masonry Restoration | Victoria BC
History
The Government House in Victoria, BC was originally known as Cary Castle and was built in 1859. Roughly six years later it switched ownership and became the residence of the Governor of Vancouver Island. In 1871 it officially became known as the Government House and the residence of the Lieutenant Governor. During 1899 the building burnt down and the famous architects Francis Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure were tasked with designing and building a new residence on the site.
The Government House then reopened in 1903. It stood for nearly 54 years before it burnt down a second time apart from the port cochère. The house was then reconstructed a third time in 1957 and reopened in 1959.
Aspects of the Government House are now undergoing restorations such as the steam cleaning of the Porte Cochère and repointing of the surrounding stone walls by Lennox Masonry.
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Porte Cochere Restoration
Lennox Masonry was tasked with steam cleaning the Porte Cochere (front entryway) in an effort to remove lichen, moss, grime, and algae that had built up on the stonework over the decades. This process entailed carefully and methodically cleaning every square inch at low pressure and high heat so as not to damage the stone or the mortar.
We were also responsible for steam cleaning the Rose Garden and Herb Garden pathways in order to ensure safe passage for visitors and groundskeepers.
