Notice of Intent to Designate Residential Dwelling at 323 King Street West

Cobourg, ON (July 23, 2025) – The Town of Cobourg would like to advise residents of a Notice of Intent to Designate property of architectural and historical value or interest, pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter 0.18, Part IV.  

323 King Street West, Cobourg, also known as “The Field House” is a detached, 1 ½-storey brick structure constructed in the Ontario Regency Cottage style and was completed circa 1847.  

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest 
The Field House at 323 King Street West, built circa 1847, has design and physical value because it is a representative example of an early Victorian era dwelling in the Ontario Regency Cottage style, and because it is a good remaining example of mid-19^th century residential development along King Street West in Cobourg. The Field House consists of a 1 ½-storey brick structure in a rectangular plan. Architectural features that contribute to the mid-19^th century Ontario Regency Cottage style are the solid masonry construction, symmetrical, three-bay composition of the north (principal) façade, the gabled roof with centered, low-pitched cross gables on the north (principal) and south elevations, and the flat-headed French doors on the north and south elevations. Architectural features that contribute to the representation of mid-19^th century residential development along King Street West to the west of Ontario Street include its orientation to and setback from King Street. 

The Field House has historical and associative value for its direct associations with the Field family. The Field family was remarkably involved in Cobourg and many of its members made contributions to the early economic and social life of the Town. John Field started a dry goods business (Field & Bros.) shortly after his arrival in Cobourg, which operated from 1832 to the late 1920s under the management of successive generations of Field sons. John Field was also a long-time member of the Congregational Church, a member of Town council in 1860, a Chairman of the Finance Committee, and while never acting in that capacity, was a Justice of the Peace. Many of John’s children had large families who went on to become lawyers, doctors, judges, politicians, merchants, teachers, making significant contributions to the Cobourg community. The Field House continues to be inhabited by direct descendants of the original owner.  

The Field House has contextual value because its scale, form, and architectural style are important in defining and maintaining the predominantly 19^th and early 20^th century residential character along King Street West to the west of Ontario Street. The structure is visually linked to its surroundings because it has similar scale, massing, material, and character to other mid-19^th century residential structures still standing on King Street West. As one of the structures built in this area during the mid-19^th century, it is historically linked to the wave of development that arose because of the purchase, subdivision, sale, and development of land, initiated by the Burnet siblings during this period. 

Description of Heritage Attributes 

Design and Physical Value 

The heritage attributes that contribute to the value of the property as a representative example of an early 19^th century dwelling in the Ontario Regency Cottage style in Cobourg are: 

• • The scale, form, and massing of the 1 ½-storey building with a rectangular plan; 

• • The medium-pitched side gable roof with low-pitched cross gables on the north (principal) and south elevations; 

• • The solid masonry construction; 

o   The north (principal) elevation is constructed in the Flemish bond; 

o   The remaining elevations are constructed in the common bond; 

• • The symmetrical, three-bay composition of the north (principal) elevation; 

• • The window and door openings, including: 

o   The flat-headed French doors in a two-bay composition on the north (principal) elevation; 

o   The main doorway, featuring sidelights and a transom, with the sidelights stretching up to the top of the door and transom; 

o   The two flat-headed second-storey casement windows on each east and west elevation, symmetrically arranged in the gable ends; 

o   The two flat-headed casement windows in the cross-gable ends on the north (principal) and south elevations. 

• • The glazing patterns found in the doors and windows, including: 

o   The diamond pattern in the sidelights and transom surrounding the main doorway on the north (principal) elevation; 

o   The configuration of the half-pane-full-pane glazing pattern in the French doors and second-storey casement windows. 

• • The two symmetrically-placed, inset, brick chimneys centered on the east and west elevations. 

• • The high fieldstone foundation, which accommodates a period-typical walk-out basement and cellar kitchen on the rear (south) elevation; 

• • The single 12-over-12 hung basement window on the rear (south) elevation. 

The heritage attributes that contribute to the value of the property as an early example of King Street West development are: 

• • The building’s scale, siting, and orientation on the south side of King Street West. 

Historical and Associative Value 
The heritage attributes that contribute to the value of the property for its connection to the significant Field family are: 

• • The building’s scale, siting, and orientation on the south side of King Street West. 

• • The house’s modest 19^th century Ontario Regency Cottage architectural style and material palette. 

Contextual Value
The heritage attributes that contribute to the value of the property for defining and maintaining the fine-grained 19^th and early-20^th century main street character of Yonge Street, and for visual and historical links to its surroundings are: 

• • The building’s scale, siting, and orientation on the south side of King Street West; and 

• • The house’s modest 19^th century Ontario Regency Cottage architectural style and material palette.  

Notice of Objection
Any person who objects to the above noted Council intention to designate shall, within 30 days after the publication of this notice, serve on the Clerk of the Town of Cobourg, a Notice of Objection setting out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts. The last day to submit the Notice of Objection is 21 August 2025. 

Service may be made digitally by email to clerk@cobourg.ca or blarmer@cobourg.ca; or by delivery personally to the Town Clerk or by Regular Mail at the following address: 

Brent Larmer, Clerk 
Corporation of the Town of Cobourg 
55 King Street 
Cobourg ON  K9A 2M2 

Obtaining Additional Information:
More information about Heritage Planning in the Town of Cobourg may be obtained by contacting Heritage Planning Town staff by e-mail at planninginfo@cobourg.ca.   

Take note that a Notice of Objection may only be served to the Clerk of the Town of Cobourg as stated above. 

Dated this 23^rd day of July, 2025. 

Brent Larmer, Clerk 
The Corporation of the Town of Cobourg 
55 King Street 
Cobourg, Ontario K9A 2M2 

E-mail: clerk@cobourg.ca 
               blarmer@cobourg.ca