Erchless House and Garden

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"The property where the Erchless Estate now sits belonged to William Chisholm, the founder of the Town of Oakville. In 1839, he deeded the property to his son, Robert Kerr Chisholm, who was a Customs Officer. R.K. Chisholm built the Customs House in 1857 and the Erchless building in approximately 1858. In 1976, the Erchless Estate was designated. During that year, the Town of Oakville purchased the property for public use.

Today, the Customs House of Erchless Estate houses the Oakville Museums and Archives. The Erchless Residence represents the strong Italianate styling popular during the mid-1850s. These features apply only to Erchless, the residence, and not the Customs House. Its significant features include a low pitched hip roof, a belvedere, wide molded eaves with brackets, and slightly rounded window openings enhanced by stone trim and lintels. The doorway opening is also slightly rounded with a multiple light transom and sidelights."

Oakville Heritage Archives