Bawcutt Centre Preserves Canada’s Heritage: A Grand Testament to the Town's History

Over the course of its remarkable 170-year existence atop a prominent hill in Paris, the magnificent Gothic-Revival structure, now known as the Bawcutt Centre, has witnessed the ebb and flow of the town's history, leaving a lasting impression on Canada’s heritage.

Initially referred to as the "old Paris town hall" due to its original purpose, this iconic edifice located at 13 Burwell St. has served as the town's municipal offices, a thriving market, a jail, a theater, a renowned craft manufacturer’s headquarters, a needlework's factory, a private residence, a movie set, and even an auction house Soon, it will embrace a new chapter as the main branch of the County of Brant Public Library, solidifying its significance in the community.

Back in 1854, the Paris council embarked on an ambitious endeavor to construct a building that would showcase the town's emerging industrial economy and propel it into a new era. Approving the commissioning and construction of a structure that was both colossal and awe-inspiring.

According to the Canadian Register for National Historic Sites, the Bawcutt Centre is described as a two-and-a-half storey rectangular building adorned with brick and stone inserts Notable features include a side tower, which originally housed a bell, angled buttresses that once boasted small turrets, and a combination of Gothic-Revival-style pointed windows alongside Tudor-style rectangular windows.

The register lauds the Bawcutt Centre as "a rare example of a civic building in the Gothic-Revival style," attributing its unique charm to the presence of medieval architectural details Surprisingly, during the 19th century when classical designs dominated, the choice of such a style for a building of this nature was considered unconventional.

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