BYLAW - Heritage Designation 53 Wellington St E (Mosley House) - 20230523 - 6513-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6513-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (53 Wellington Street East llThe Mosley House").
Whereas under subsection 29(1 ) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as
amended, the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a property within the
municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on June 28, 2022, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the "Town") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042, to
designate the property municipally known as 53 Wellington Street East, as described on
the attached Schedule "A" (the l'Property") to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property to
be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published in
a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn
the objection;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
1.The Property, as described on the attached Schedule I'A", be and is hereby
designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2.A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on the attached
Schedule IIB".
3.The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this by-law on the owner of the Property and
the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this by-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4.A copy of this by-law shall be registered against the Property in the appropriate
land registry office.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 23rd day of May, 2023.
By-law Number 6513-23 Page 2 of 4
Schedule “A”
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
53 Wellington Street East, and being composed of LT 2 S/S Wellington St PL 68 Aurora
as in AU11351 save and except the lands in Inst. A566A, being all of PIN 03651-0016
(LT), including the primary building thereon.
By-law Number 6513-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
53 Wellington Street East is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest based on its design
and physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.
Design and Physical Value:
The property is a representative example of a Gothic Revival Cottage constructed circa
1885. The dwelling includes features indicative of its period of construction and high
craftmanship and detail, including the buff/yellow brickwork, the shallow pitched side
gabled roof and front elevation gable, the 3-bay façade facing north towards Wellington
Street East, the rounded window/balcony window opening at the second storey with an
arched brick voussoir, and the front portico supported by wood posts. The building is a
rare and well-preserved example of the architectural style with exceptional design detail
and character.
Historical and Associative Value:
The building was constructed circa 1885 and over approximately 130 years ago by John
Mosley. The house was built for John Mosley’s sister-in-law and the property ultimately
remained in the Mosley family until 1953. John Mosley is very significant to the
development of the community, especially through the early growth in the mid 19th
century. John Mosley subdivided lots and created the original “Plan 68” which is known
today as the historic Southeast Old Aurora community area. The subject property has
strong association with the original development of the Town and its evolution in the
post-Confederation period.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the historic character of the Aurora core
and the Wellington Street East public realm. The building and its orientation provide a
significant link to the early growth and development of the area. Wellington Street East
features a high concentration of heritage assets and the uniqueness of the subject
property help tell the story of the growth of this corridor and the early development of
the Town overall.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The following provides a description of heritage attributes for the property which
contribute to the reasons for which the property is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Important to the preservation of the property are the original key attributes of the
building that express its value, which include:
Exterior Elements
• Overall 1.5 storey buff/yellow brick construction with a shallow pitched side
gabled roof and front elevation roof gable
• 3-bay façade facing north towards Wellington Street East
• Rounded window/balcony window opening at the second storey, with arched
brick voussoir
By-law Number 6513-23 Page 4 of 4
• All original window openings visible from the public realm along Wellington
Street, complete with window sills and brick voussoirs
• The front elevation portico supported by word posts