Historic First Shaughnessy Tudor Mansion On Sale

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An historic First Shaughnessy Tudor mansion with a storied past dating back to c.1912 is currently on the market in Vancouver, BC for $18,88 million CAD. It was built in 1912 by acclaimed Canadian architects Samuel Maclure and Cecil Fox for Walter Nichol, one of the original owners of the Province newspaper and a former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, on a substantial lot along First Shaughnessy’s coveted The Crescent. In 1924 Nichol sold the estate to William R. Wilson, who made his fortune in mining, and following his death the property was sold once more in 1939 to the Bentley family, who retained it until 2005 when it was sold for $7million CAD to developer Arthur Bell. To this day, the property change several owners, so throughout the years many of the once regal and ornate interior details have been stripped and altered, and it’s unknown when or who made these poor decisions. The home’s formal library had two windows removed, extensive glass cabinetry taken out, beamed ceilings brought down, and a beautifully unique fireplace altered, while the dining room saw a similar fate, also losing its beamed ceilings, and ornate fireplace surround. In more recent years the historic manor has remained empty and unused, like many of Vancouver’s heritage homes. The substandard listing photos show off gorgeous herringbone hardwood flooring in need of refinishing, carpets in need of replacing, and ceilings with damage. If any house in Vancouver deserves to be restored and given its soul back, it is this one, but at $18,800,000 CAD it’s unlikely. Nobody knows what the future holds for the historic Nichol House, we can only hope somebody with the funds and architectural interest will purchase and restore it to its formal glory.