November 14, 2025

Progress and Planning: A Bleak House Update

Phase 1 of the Bleak House capital renewal project is complete! Mostly undertaken during summer 2025, the project involved replacing the roof and eavestroughing, removing the wood siding and sheeting on the two southeast facades, abating the vermiculite insulation, and making any necessary repairs to the framing of the 1874 home at 1637 Main Street. New insulation and sheeting was then installed before the house was sealed up with new siding, milled to match the existing siding as best as possible. Led by the City of Winnipeg’s Municipal Accommodations Division, funding was secured through the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund with supplemental funds from the Municipal Accommodations Division. A final inspection of the work by the City of Winnipeg’s Heritage Planner and Municipal Accommodations team took place during the second week of November 2025, marking the formal conclusion of Phase 1.

The progress of Phase 1 of the Bleak House capital renewal project, seen on March 22nd, 2025; August 24th, 2025; September 10, 2025; September 26th, 2025; October 8th, 2025; and November 20, 2025 (left to right).
Source: Jim Smith (Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, used with permission)

With no more imminent safety issues, the City of Winnipeg is now looking towards Phase 2 of the Bleak House capital renewal project. This project could potentially include addressing foundation issues, replacing windows and siding, asbestos abatement, and repairing any unforeseen structural problems currently hidden under the siding. The cost of Phase 2 is expected to exceed $1.5 million, requiring substantial capital planning and approval from senior management. Once the scope of the work has been refined, funding and approvals can be secured, and a timeline for the project confirmed.

After several years of monitoring and advocating of the conservation of Bleak House with the support of the Seven Oaks Historical Society, Heritage Winnipeg is pleased to see the building’s owners, the City of Winnipeg, repairing the structure so it does not become an unnecessary victim of demolition by neglect. We thank the city’s Municipal Accommodations Department for their ongoing support and along with the Seven Oaks Historical Society, will continue following this capital renewal project until it reaches completion.

Bleak House is a Georgian style, two and a half storey log building with siding veneer constructed by Colin Inkster between 1873 and 1875. Named “Bleak House” after the Charles Dickens novel of the same name, it was erected on the estate of Colin’s father, John Inkster. The Inksters were an influential family in the early years of Winnipeg’s development, with their descendants owning Bleak House until 1973. The building was then conserved and adaptively reused as a recreation centre for seniors. In 1980 Bleak House was added to the City of Winnipeg’s List of Historical Resources, protecting it from demolition or alteration of its character defining elements.

Featured image: Bleak House at 1637 Main Street on August 16, 2024. Source: Jim Smith (Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, used with permission)