302 Royal Ave | 604.527.4640
Located in the heart of the Royal City, Irving House is one of the oldest community heritage sites in BC. Step back to 1800s as you enter the colonial home of Captain William Irving, King of the Fraser River. With 14 furnished rooms to enjoy, Irving House is a must-see for everyone interested in New Westminster’s past and anyone interested in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, heritage architecture or colonial BC.
Earlier this year the house’s entrance and upper hall were restored to the late Victorian Period, revealing papers not seen since the mid-20th century. In 2009, while working with conservator Simone Vogel-Horridge, museum staff found original ca.1897-1903 papers in the entrance and upper hallway of the house — a 3-piece set consisting of a wallpaper, 18” frieze, and a ceiling paper. Last year, these stunning papers were meticulously redrawn and colour-matched by Stuart Stark, Heritage Consultant and wallpaper designer, to the original palette used in the house. They were then printed in England and shipped to New Westminster for installation. The hallway cornice work and entrance ceiling medallion were also painted to match the original colour scheme as a complement to the papers.
Let our costumed guides step you back in time and tell you more about Irving House’s fascinating history and the multi-year project to stabilize and restore Irving House to its original appearance at the turn of the 20th century.