Government House (Prince Edward Island)

Government House

Fanningbank
General information
Architectural style Palladian Georgian
Town or city 1 Terry Fox Drive
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Country Canada
Coordinates 46°13′52″N 63°08′10″W / 46.231168°N 63.136148°W / 46.231168; -63.136148
Construction started 1834
Client The King of the United Kingdom
(William IV)
Owner The Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island
(Elizabeth II)
Technical details
Structural system Timber framing
Official name Government House National Historic Site of Canada
Designated 1971-05-27
Reference no. 578
Official name Government House
Type Provincial Designated Heritage Place
Designated 2001-10-26
Reference no. 3243
Official name Government House
Type Heritage Resource (Charlottetown)
Designated 1979-10-26
Reference no. 3375

Government House of Prince Edward Island, often referred to as Fanningbank, is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, as well as that in Charlottetown of the Canadian monarch.[1] It stands in the provincial capital at 1 Terry Fox Drive; while the equivalent building in many countries has a prominent, central place in the capital, the site of Prince Edward Island's Government House is relatively unobtrusive within Charlottetown, giving it more the character of a private home.

History

The Fathers of Confederation gathered on the steps of Government House for the Charlottetown Conference, 1864

Government House was constructed between 1832 and 1834 as a viceregal residence for the lieutenant governor of the then British colony of Prince Edward Island. The land, a parcel of known 100 acres (0.40 km2) known as Fanning Bank or Fanning's Bank, was in 1789 set aside by Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning as Crown land, with the specific stipulation that it be used as the site for the governor's residence. In 1873, approximately 10 acres (40,000 m2) was retained for Government House and its grounds. 40 acres was given to the City of Charlottetown and later became Victoria Park.

Government House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1971.[2]

Use

Government House is where members of the Canadian Royal Family and visiting foreign dignitaries are greeted and often stay while in Charlottetown. It is also where numerous royal and viceroyal events take place,[3] such as the bestowing of provincial awards or inductions into the Order of Prince Edward Island,[4] as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the lieutenant governor will drop the writs of election, swear-in new members of the Executive Council, and hold audience with her premier.

The property is owned by the Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island and is open to the public for certain periods during the summer.

Architecture and interiors

The wood frame building's architectural design is Georgian with echoes of the Palladian tradition. The two axis of the house converge on the main entrance hall, which has doric columns and pilasters and a double switchback stair leading to the second floor. The residence was designed by Yorkshire architect Isaac Smith, who also designed the Island's Colonial Building.

See also

References

  1. ↑ MacLeod, Kevin S. (2008), A Crown of Maples (PDF) (1 ed.), Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, p. XIV, ISBN 978-0-662-46012-1, retrieved 21 June 2009
  2. ↑ Government House. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. "History > Government House". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  4. ↑ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. "Photo Gallery > 2009". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
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