Restoration of Turner House at Clayburn Park
Several years ago, Turner House was relocated to Clayburn Park where it currently resides and at the time, it was wrapped and protected until a restoration plan could be developed and funded. The City of Abbotsford is looking at a larger plan for Clayburn Park in the coming years where Turner House is expected to play a central role.
The Turner House was built by Royal Engineer George Turner circa 1875. The building is highly representative of a very early farming property and has significant historical value as the only surviving house from the first phase of European settlement on the Matsqui Prairie. The City entered into a lease agreement with Heritage Abbotsford Society in September 2022 for the restoration of the property.
Clayburn Park
Top 10 Finalist for the National Trust's Next Great Save Competition
Heritage Abbotsford Society’s Turner House Restoration Project has been announced as a top 10 finalist for the National Trust’s Next Great Save competition. The National Trust highlights important heritage sites from across Canada and helps to build community awareness and support for saving and renewing historic places.
The Next Great Save competition features 10 heritage restoration projects from across Canada that show the passion of communities to save and renew places that tell their story. Each heritage site’s profile will be published on the National Trust Next Great Save page on January 20, 2023. People across Canada will be able to vote for their favorite heritage site. The heritage site with the most votes will become the Next Great Save and be awarded $50,000 to be used in the restoration. The winning site will be announced on February 23, 2023. More information can be found online at National Trust Canada.
