Wychwood Park
Encyclopedia
Wychwood Park is a neighbourhood enclave and former gated community
in Toronto
, Canada
. The small community is located north of Davenport Road and just west of Bathurst Street. It was founded as an artists colony in the late nineteenth century as a private project by painter Marmaduke Matthews and Alexander Jardin. The region was then still a rural region on the edge of the city, and Matthews planned out a bucolic community and named it after Wychwood
in his native Oxfordshire. It is considered part of the overall Wychwood official neighbourhood as designated by the City of Toronto.
The land was divided into irregularly shaped lots, with a central park built around a pond and tennis courts designed by the architect Arthur Edwin Whatmough (born 1884, Toronto) who put careful restrictions upon what could be built in the community. Whatmough designed many of the houses that were built in the Arts and Crafts
style. A few others were also designed by prominent architect Eden Smith
, who lived in the neighbourhood. One of Toronto's ravine
s ran through the heart of the neighbourhood, and this was preserved as parkland. Taddle Creek
ran through the ravine, and it was dammed to create a large pond in the middle of the park. This is now one of the only parts of the city where Taddle Creek is still visible above ground.
While the area was amalgamated into the city of Toronto in 1909, it remains a private community. The streets and amenities are paid for by the local residents, and the community is managed by an executive council. It is one of Toronto's more exclusive neighbourhoods with house prices well over a million dollars. Several prominent figures have lived in the area, including Marshall McLuhan
and Anatol Rapoport
. In 1985 the area became the first residential zone in Ontario to be granted heritage status.
Wychwood Barns
, a former Toronto Transit Commission
streetcar maintenance facility located immediately to the north of Wychwood Park, was recently transformed into a community park, while the original structure remains.
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The small community is located north of Davenport Road and just west of Bathurst Street. It was founded as an artists colony in the late nineteenth century as a private project by painter Marmaduke Matthews and Alexander Jardin. The region was then still a rural region on the edge of the city, and Matthews planned out a bucolic community and named it after Wychwood
Wychwood
The Wychwood, or Wychwood Forest, is an area now covering a small part of rural Oxfordshire. In past centuries the forest covered a much larger area, since cleared in favour of agriculture, villages and towns. However, the forest's area has fluctuated...
in his native Oxfordshire. It is considered part of the overall Wychwood official neighbourhood as designated by the City of Toronto.
The land was divided into irregularly shaped lots, with a central park built around a pond and tennis courts designed by the architect Arthur Edwin Whatmough (born 1884, Toronto) who put careful restrictions upon what could be built in the community. Whatmough designed many of the houses that were built in the Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style. A few others were also designed by prominent architect Eden Smith
Eden Smith
Eden Smith was born in Birmingham, England but achieved fame as a Toronto, Ontario architect belonging to the Arts and Crafts movement...
, who lived in the neighbourhood. One of Toronto's ravine
Toronto ravine system
The Toronto ravine system is one of the most distinctive features of the geography of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a network of deep ravines that form a large urban forest that runs throughout much of the city...
s ran through the heart of the neighbourhood, and this was preserved as parkland. Taddle Creek
Taddle Creek
Taddle Creek is a buried stream in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that flowed a southeasterly course about six kilometres long, from the present site of Wychwood Park through the University of Toronto, into the Toronto Harbour near the Distillery District. During the 19th century, it was buried and...
ran through the ravine, and it was dammed to create a large pond in the middle of the park. This is now one of the only parts of the city where Taddle Creek is still visible above ground.
While the area was amalgamated into the city of Toronto in 1909, it remains a private community. The streets and amenities are paid for by the local residents, and the community is managed by an executive council. It is one of Toronto's more exclusive neighbourhoods with house prices well over a million dollars. Several prominent figures have lived in the area, including Marshall McLuhan
Marshall McLuhan
Herbert Marshall McLuhan, CC was a Canadian educator, philosopher, and scholar—a professor of English literature, a literary critic, a rhetorician, and a communication theorist...
and Anatol Rapoport
Anatol Rapoport
Anatol Rapoport was a Russian-born American Jewish mathematical psychologist. He contributed to general systems theory, mathematical biology and to the mathematical modeling of social interaction and stochastic models of contagion.-Biography:...
. In 1985 the area became the first residential zone in Ontario to be granted heritage status.
Wychwood Barns
Wychwood Barns
Wychwood Barns is a park in midtown Toronto. It contains housing for artists, public green space, a greenhouse, a farmer's market, a beach volleyball court, and office space for many local community groups...
, a former Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
streetcar maintenance facility located immediately to the north of Wychwood Park, was recently transformed into a community park, while the original structure remains.