ARCHITECTURE:
This British Arts & Crafts-style two-storey, hip-roofed house has a full-height, hip-roofed extension on the left front. The second floor of the extension is supported on brackets on either side of a narrower, rectangular bay below. To the right is an inset corner porch; the solid brick balustrades support two and three square posts and one pilaster. The front facing concrete steps have sloping concrete balustrades on granite bases, with wrought iron railings to meet present-day code. On the left side of the house is another full-height bracketed square bay above an angled bay. There is a rectangular, shed-roofed extension on the rear. The wide belt course has a central row of dentils. The upper floor is clad in a warm grey, pebble dash, bottle dash and broken shell stucco between long, tightlyplaced half-timbering, the main floor is in variegated and diapered brickwork. The soft reddish tones of the brick are echoed in the tall, corbelled chimneys; the colour of the roofing shingles was chosen to match the brick. Most windows are multi-paned-over-one double-hung sashes with horns on the upper sash (a late appearance for horns) and are set in pairs or triplets. The late Edwardian landscaping and wrought iron fence are integral to the heritage character of the house.This house is a fine example of the influence of British Arts & Crafts architecture. The sophisticated use of materials for their textures and colours displays the influence of British precedents, most notably the Tudor vernacular tradition of the Arts & Crafts movement. The front and side bays echo those on the neighbouring Victorian Queen Anne house at 3010 Quadra St
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1919-34: Local contractor / CE Robert Chapman Dinsdale (b. Yorks, ENG 1853-1934) built this house as his family residence. He lived in the USA some time before moving here in 1885 and marrying Annie Belle Greene (b. Cape Breton, NS 1866-1922) in 1886. His contracting firm, Dinsdale & Malcolm, was responsible for the construction of several key buildings in Victoria, most notably the 1911-14 Victoria High School (1260 Grant St). [They also built and owned Field Apts, 723 Field St]. In 1902, he built 3020 Quadra St, and the family lived there until 1919. He was active in local politics, on the School Board and a Victoria City alderman for several years.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1921-39: Daughter Alexandra “Mae” Dinsdale (b. Victoria 1902-1939) married Dr. James Allan Fraser (b. Revelstoke, BC 1897-1935) in 1921. After attending Victoria High School, Mae took business training, and was a clerk at BC Parliament Buildings. Dr. Fraser studied dentistry in Portland, OR, USA before moving here in 1911, and served overseas with the Red Cross during WWI. He established a dental practice with Dr. Arthur Webster in 1926, and formed his own practice in 1930. His life was cut short when he drowned while fishing in Patricia Bay, VI. Mae remained in the house until her death.
1940-41: Another daughter Eleanore Isabel Dinsdale (b. Victoria 1907-1995) married Richard Hugh Spilsbury (b. N Van, BC 1907-1999) in 1936. Richard wrote a book of reminiscences, including tales of life with the BC Forest Service.
1942-46: Arthur Stokes (b. Bilston, ENG 1887-1977) and Gertrude (née Hull, b. Wolverhampton, ENG 1893-1991). Arthur came here c.1907 and married Gertrude in Vancouver in 1912. He was a long-time employee of Swift’s Canadian Meat.
1947-55: Retirees Brig-Gen Henry Thoresby Hughes, CMG, DSO, RCE and Mrs. Sarah Hughes moved to this house just two weeks before he died. Sarah lived here until her death (855 Pemberton Rd).