William Coverdale (architect)
# William Coverdale (architect)

William Coverdale (c. 1801 – 28 September 1865) was an English-born builder and architect in Canada West.

## Personal life

The son of Christopher Coverdale, the family is thought to have arrived in Lower Canada around 1810 before coming to Kingston, Upper Canada around 1833. Coverdale married Catherine Delmage and had five children. Unlike his many Anglican contemporaries, Coverdale was a practicing member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

## Career

Coverdale worked as master builder on the construction of Kingston Penitentiary from 1836–1840, and was involved in the later additions of the dining hall, perimeter walls, and towers in the mid-1840s. When Kingston city architect George Browne was discharged on 20 May 1855, Coverdale was hired to replace him.

He oversaw the construction of Kingston City Hall from 1844 and prepared plans for the rebuilding of the rear wing after it burned down in 1865; the rebuilding was completed by his son William Miles Coverdale.

In 1859, Coverdale was hired as architect for the Government of Canada's Criminal Lunatic Asylum.

He designed plans for several large residences and a number of churches in Kingston, many of which are still in use today.

## Death

Coverdale died in Kingston in 1865 at the age of 64, with his most reputable building, Rockwood Asylum, only partially complete.

## Designated Heritage Buildings

| Building | Address | Built |
| - | - | - |
| Kingston Penitentiary | 560 King St W | 1836 |
| St. Helen's Complex: St. Helen's | 440 King St W | 1838 |
| Roselawn National Historic Site of Canada | 421 Union St W | 1841 |
| St. George's Anglican Cathedral (addition) | 270 King St E | 1843 |
| Willow Cottage | 189 King St W | 1843 |
| St. James Anglican Church | 10 Union St | 1845 |
| St. Paul's Anglican Church | 137 Queen St | 1847 |
| Prince George Hotel (addition) | 200 Ontario St | 1848 |
| St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church | 41 Church St | 1849 |
| William and Mary Beamish House | 2263 Princess St | 1850 |
| Anglican Diocesan Centre in Kingston | 90 Johnson St | 1851 |
| Sydenham Street United Church | 82 Sydenham St | 1852 |
| Maxwell Strange Cottage | 107 Logan St | 1855 |
| Portsmouth Community Correctional Centre | 508 Portsmouth Ave | 1855 |
| Anchor Insurance Building | 327 King St E | 1857 |
| Rockwood Asylum | 752 King St W | 1859 |
| Portsmouth Town Hall | 623 King St W | 1865 |
