Ancaster, Ontario is a gorgeous little town. Half pastoral farm community and half suburban bedroom community, it is situated on the western flank of the bustling, half-million-strong city of Hamilton, Ontario, and about an hour south of my own former professional base of operations in Toronto. It’s a historic little burgh, having been founded in 1793. More than that, it’s also my adopted home.
Since I moved from the Greater Toronto Area to Ancaster a few short years ago, it has been my privilege to explore many of the wonderful locales and hidden gems this town has to offer. In this respect, the town punches far above its weight. One of my favorite discoveries has been its incredible collection of historic buildings, which add so much character and charm to the municipal landscape.
Ancaster’s history is reflected in its architecture. Walking through the old town center, it’s hard not to be struck by the sheer beauty of some of these structures. Take, for example, The Old Mill (now officially known as The Ancaster Mill). This iconic building, constructed in 1863, reminds us of Ancaster’s early industrial past. It originally functioned as a working gristmill, serving the town’s residents—who in those days were almost exclusively farmers—by processing the grains they grew in their fields. Today, The Old Mill stands as a symbol of both the town’s origins and its ability to adapt, as it currently hosts contemporary weddings, and special events, as well as any tourists or daytrippers who are curious to see a piece of living history.
Another of Ancaster’s old buildings that tends to draw visitors’ attention is St. John’s Anglican Church, which was completed in 1824. This house of worship’s gothic stone exterior and the surrounding graveyard with a slew of headstones dating from the 19th century give you a sense of just how long this community has been active. To give you a slightly better idea, in those days, Canada was not yet a country of its own, but rather a colony of Great Britain under the reign of King George IV (who sat on the throne a full two monarchs before Queen Victoria). St. John’s was built by Ancaster’s early settlers and remains to this day a beautiful spot for reflection, religious ceremonies, and community gathering—for example, it plays a central role in the town’s annual summer celebration called Heritage Days. But simply standing outside of the church, one’s mind can’t help but marvel at the thought that generations of families in Ancaster have worshiped here for nearly two centuries.
Then there’s The Tisdale House, which dates back to the early 1800s, and is one of the few examples of the Georgian style of architecture left in the area. This building is the oldest building in Ancaster that once functioned as a private residence. In the 1820s, it was occupied by a local charcoal burner named John O’Neil and housed two functional charcoal kilns. Later, the house became an undertaker’s parlour run by Ancasterite George Moore. These days,The Tisdale House has been fully restored, retrofitted, and is now the home of the Ancaster Community Policing Centre and the Hamilton Police Museum. Its endurance through twenty-odd centuries serves as an undeniable testament to the craftsmanship of its time and the importance of preserving such structures. When you look at this house, it’s almost easy to imagine what life might’ve been like in Ancaster two hundred years ago.
Each of these buildings tells a story—not just of brick and stone, but of the people who built them, lived in them, and passed them down through the generations. They serve as touchstones that remind us of Ancaster’s long history and the hard work it took to transform this area from a small mill town into the thriving community it is today.
What’s even more fascinating is how well these historical gems are maintained. In a town that’s growing and modernizing rapidly, these buildings have been carefully preserved, giving Ancaster its unique blend of old and new atmosphere—especially in the area known as the Old Downtown, which happens to be where all three of these buildings are located. But it’s this delicate balance between colonial and industrial history and modern times that makes Ancaster such a special place to live.
While I’ve only scratched the surface here, I encourage anyone who finds themselves in this part of Ontario to take the time to explore this lovely town. Whether you’re a history buff, tracing your family’s geographical lineage, or just a visitor from out of town enjoying a scenic walk, Ancaster’s fascinating old buildings are well worth a look-see.