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Carl and Racine Erland | all galleries >> Monthly Challenge: Multiple Galleries >> Architecture - July 2009 > Boy's Dormitory - Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School - 1935
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13-JUL-2009 Racine Erland

Boy's Dormitory - Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School - 1935

Cowichan Station, BC

The Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School was established in 1935 and the site consisted of several dormitories, dinning hall, staff homes, a chapel, schoolhouse, office building, barns and farm outbuildings. On May 27, 1981, the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School Chapel was designated as an historic building. Today, many of the original buildings have been renovated as private homes. The homes and grounds are operated as a strata complex, where volunteers maintain the grounds and remaining heritage buildings.

"Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School was part of a philanthropic scheme aimed at strengthening the British Empire and improving the condition of underprivileged British children, an idea conceived by Kingsley Fairbridge. The plan was to resettle selected British children in overseas dominions. The Prince of Wales school opened in 1935 near Duncan, B.C. Over 300 children passed through Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm school in its first ten years of operation. The estate was eventually sold in the early 1950s." - History Fairbridge Farm School. For more history on the Fairbridge Farm School click Here

To see more images of this months Architecture Challenge click here: Architecture - July 2009


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Roddy Mackay 08-Oct-2010 21:47
These buildings were actually called cottages (2 cottages to each building) and I can assure you they never looked that grand when we lived in them. I was one of 329 children who lived in those cottages.The interior of the cottages were kept clean and spotless.We were kept busy; under the strict orders of our cottage mothers,we scrubbed and polished floors, stairs, windows, whatever needed cleaning or polishing.One particular cottage mother I recall would have made an excellent army Sgt Major. Roddy Mackay Fairbridge Boy 1941 to 1951
Rodd 08-Oct-2010 21:40
The building was actually called cottages (2 to each building) and I can assure you they never looked that grand when we lived in them. I was one of 329 children who lived there,the interior of the cottages were kept clean and spotless.I like most of my other schoolmates were kept busy; under the strict orders of our cottage mothers,we scrubbed and polished floors, stairs, windows, whatever needed cleaning or polishing. Roddy Mackay Fairbridge Boy 1941 to 1951
me 17-Mar-2010 22:32
Beautiful, but don't let the surroundings fool you. my Parents were in Fairbridge and it was not a happy place for the children
Cindi Smith19-Jul-2009 06:13
I love those shingles on this beautiful dormatory. Love all the history behind it as well. Wonderful setting for this place!
Jola Dziubinska18-Jul-2009 21:28
Simply beautiful and well preserved.
Mairéad18-Jul-2009 20:46
What a beautiful building, at home in its natural setting
Guest 18-Jul-2009 18:32
Cedar, once was used everywhere, now almost extinct, beautifull.
Doug Cruden18-Jul-2009 08:53
Interesting design, and thanks for the history!
Barbara Heide18-Jul-2009 07:42
now this is a beautiful appealing building! looks to have a nice garden too...
Maaike Huizer18-Jul-2009 07:02
Interesting.
And what a beautiful school building.
Yvonne18-Jul-2009 05:40
Very interesting history - lovely sunny capture - I would love to wander through the garden!
Russ Rose18-Jul-2009 01:46
Nice building. interesting history. enjoyed reading the history of the school.
Walter Otto Koenig17-Jul-2009 23:23
Very nice image of this beautiful buliding. its architecture is unusual for a dormitory.