The Larkspur Manor Suites at 621 Su'it Street, built in 1912, is a registered building designed by famed architect Samuel Maclure.

ARCHITECTURE:

In designing this house Maclure seems to have attempted to modify his “Maclure Chalet” to suit a smaller lot. An earlier attempt at the same goal c.1900 at 1807 Oak Bay [demolished] was a miniature version of 1598 Rockland Av (Rockland), except narrower and with a steeper roof. This 1½-storey house, like many of Maclure’s chalets, is a cross-axial building, front-gabled with two side wall-dormers. It is similar to 550 Foul Bay Rd (Gonzales), built four years earlier, with similar granite piers on the front corners. However in fitting the basic plan to a constricted lot Maclure narrowed it without changing the slope of the roof, so that the eaves terminate several feet above the junction of the first and second floors, rather than between them as they do in his other chalets. As well, the granite piers are placed beyond the sides of the house, disguising the reduced width. A hipped roof entry porch was put on the right side.

Perhaps reflecting a change in public taste, the details of this house are more Craftsman than the British A&C of his earlier chalets. The half-timbering that filled most or all of the upper-storey gables in Maclure’s early 20th C examples of this genre (e.g., 1598 Rockland Av, 911-13-17 Burdett St (Fairfield) and 550 Foul Bay Rd) is reduced to a token in the gable peaks, and the unadorned extended raftertails in the open eaves and beam-ends in the gables have little of the medieval about them.

The façade is symmetrical, with a broad stringcourse separating the two levels. Three indentations on the lower storey rhythmically separate the two granite columns and two box bays. A small triangle of half-timbering over a stringcourse tops the second storey. Most windows are ribbons of three or four double-sashed units with leaded-glass panes. A small gabled wall-dormer near the back of the right side may be a later addition.

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ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

Horace James Knott, the first owner, was a partner in Knott Bros & Brown, Real Estate & General Finance Agents. Knott was well-known for his interest in the prohibition movement and church. He was president of the YMCA, Superintendent of the Metropolitan Sunday School and teacher of the Excelsior Bible class. Horace married Letitia Andrews in Victoria in 1895, and died in 1932 at the age of 61.

FAIRFIELD:

Fairfield is known for Cook Street Village, a walkable strip featuring laid-back eateries with sidewalk patios and small indie shops. Stalls crammed with local produce and crafts fill the weekly Moss Street Market, held outdoors in summer. Rows of century-old homes lead to the sea, where Clover Point Park has dramatic views of the Olympic Mountains, and Ross Bay Cemetery marks the burial spot of prominent citizens. On many occasions, one can see deer roaming the neighbourhood almost unaware of the humans around.

COOK STREET VILLAGE:

The pedestrian-friendly streets and small-town atmosphere of Cook Street Village make it one of Victoria’s most popular destinations. A great place to relax with friends on a café patio, visit a traditional pub or peruse the boutique family-owned shops. As a resident, Cook Street Village has all of the day-to-day necessities one might require:

• Restaurants - Pizzeria Prima, Thunderbird Korean, Sushi Jiro, Village Taverna
• Butcher shop & Seafood - McLennan's Island Meat & Seafood
• Groceries - Root Cellar
• Pharmacy - Rexall
• Pub - Beagle Pub
• Coffee shops - Moka House, Starbucks, Hot & Cold Cafe
• Pet store - Paws on Cook
• Activities - Cook Street Activity Centre

Amazingly Fast Internet

• Free WiFi
• 1 GB fibre optic

Comfort and security:

• AAA neighbourhood
• Hairdryer
• Queen size beds
• Onsite laundry
• Locked bike storage

Kitchen:

• Fridge
• Multifunctional oven with microwave
• Kettle & coffee maker
• Comprehensive set of cutlery, dishes, glasses
• Fully equipped with pots and pans for your inner chef!