August 19, 2023
Nobleton was founded in 1812 and existed as a crossroads community for several decades before expanding with a series of side streets. Taverns and hotels were built as well as a couple of general stores and a post office. Joseph Nobel was a tavern owner and it is his name that was given to the community. The former blacksmith shop from Nobleton has been moved to Black Creek Pioneer Village. The image below is taken from the 1877 County Atlas and shows the modest size of the community at that time. The green arrow points to the location of the Hambly House.
At the north west corner of the intersection of modern King Road And Highway 27 stands the Hambly House. A log cabin had stood on this corner until it was destroyed by a fire. William Hambly had come from the United States as a United Empire Loyalist. His son, Charles operated one of the two general stores in Nobleton and was also the Post Master. Starting in 1851 the mail used to come to Nobleton three times a week via the Gore and Vaughan Plank Road. Hambly had two sons, Elwood and George who both worked in their fathers store. When Charles replaced the log cabin in 1885 he did it in the grand style of the Victorian architecture of the era.
Bargeboards, or gingerbread, adorn the various gables found around the house and the red brick is accented with buff coloured ones through most of the home. Yellow brick forms the quoins found on the corners and also double banding along the second floor which is adorned with a series of the letter “X”.
The house features a three story tower with a mansard roof, typical of the Italianate style of construction. The tower has iron cresting and a weather vane on top.
The south elevation and the north both feature two story bay windows which are adorned with segmental arches above and rectangles below. Pointed wooden finials rise from the tips of the gables.
The west elevation of the house does not have complete banding on the one section. There is a chimney on the back which was a later addition and is made of a darker colour of bricks.
The Hambly House is currently empty and the adjacent property is under a development proposal. While the house is protected under the heritage registry number of 82-144 it is planned to be turned into office space as part of the proposal. As usual, it remains to be seen what the final outcome of the Hambly House will be.
Related stories: Gore And Vaughan Plank Road
Google Maps link: Hambly House
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Absolutely GORGEOUS House. Whenever I drive in that area, I always admire it and have stopped to take several photos over the years.
Beautiful. Grew up just down the street a bit, on Royal Avenue. This house must absolutely be protected. It’s an icon of the town of Nobleton and developers had best be aware of its importance and standing as they build and incorporate it. Do it with care.
I grew up in Maple and in 1986 we moved to Kleinburg. I drove by this location every day for years. This was a beautiful home and could be again. It is nice now but nothing like it was. The gardens were maintained, the yard was a picture postcard, litterally. This home needs a large family, businesses are just too hard on buildings built for single family use. Always loved this place…