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THE LARKE'S NEST
Architecture
This gallery is dedicated to showcasing the exquisite architectural drawings of my great-grandfather, John Larke. Over the course of his life, Larke embarked on a personal journey of discovery, traveling to sites of cultural and historical significance, where he worked en plein air fully immersed in the landscapes and structures he sought to capture. While his work often focused on places of worship, houses, and farms, Larke also drew a wide variety of other buildings—from civic landmarks to rural outbuildings—each rendered with the same care, precision, and attention to detail. His drawings are more than artistic studies; they are intimate narratives of time and place, shaped by a deep curiosity about the built environment in all its forms. Larke frequently engaged with the communities surrounding these sites, sometimes selling his work on the spot—forming meaningful connections with the people and places that inspired him. Through this exhibition, we honor his legacy by preserving and sharing these remarkable works with future generations, inviting viewers to experience the enduring beauty of historical architecture through Larke’s discerning and deeply human perspective.

Title: Abandoned Brick Works
Location: Cheltenham, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1976
Medium: Pencil on paper, pc
Size: 12" x 8.5"
Book: 2
No details on the back*

Title: Bogarttown School
Location: York Cty, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1857
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper, pc
Size:
Book: 2

Details on the back: Moved to park in Vandorf village to make room for #404 highway

Title: St. Lawrence Cement Co.
Location: Clarkson, Ontario, Canada
Date: July/20/1976
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 12" x 8.5"
Book: 2

Details on the back: July 20/76

Title: CPR Station
Location: Locust, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1975
Medium: Pencil on paper, PC
Size: 8.5" x 5.5"
Book: 1
No details on the back*

Title: Beaverton Ontario
Location: Beaverton, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1975
Medium: Pencil on paper, PC
Size: 8.5" x 6"
Book: 1
No details on the back*

Title: Old Emporium
Location: Goodwood, Ontario, Canada
Date: May/ 13/ 1975
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 8" x 5.5"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
Goodwood Ont. May 13/75
Con #47 Hwy & Conc. 3 Uxbridge
This usually quiet hamlet is now the crossroads of heavy sand & gravel trucks going in all directions from the pits nearby/ This old store is an antique store now.
Was once a post office.

Title: Egbert Post Office
Location: Village of Egbert, Essa Rd. 10
& Con 9 Ontario, Canada
Date: March/ 5/ 1974
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 9" x 6"
Book: 1

Details on the back: March 5/ 74
Village of Egbert. Essa Twp.
One of many small hamlets that abound in the land, which served our pioneers.

Title: Globe Hotel. C 1880
Location: Rosemont, Ontario, Canada
Date: maRCH, 11/ 1974
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1

Details on the back: MARCH 11/1974
Globe Hotel Rosemont Ontario
circa 1860
Situated on 89 Hwy. Junct of Mono and Tosorontio Line.
Seven miles west of Alliston.
The well in front of the hotel was the main supply of water for the village years ago.
The owner refused the fire brigade the use of her well when another hotel across the road was burning, thus eliminating her compitition.

Title: "Vallentyne". A small hamlet. Ontario
Location: Vallentyne, Ontario, Canada
Date: April 23, 1982
Medium: Pencil/pen and pencil crayon on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1

Details on the back: April 23, 1982
Hamlet of Vallentyne
Durham '23 Ont.
West of Sunderland.

Title: Flood control gates over the speed river
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1987.
Medium: Pencil/Pen PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
no details on the back*

Title: "Barrie Hill" Cemetery
with Hitching wall (circa 1830)
Location: Eramosa Township, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1987
Medium: Pencil/Pen PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
no details on the back*

Title: Drayton Ontario. Town Hall (1902)
Location: Drayton, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1987
Medium: Pencil/Pen PC with pencil crayon
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
no details on the back*

Title: Old Store Main street.
Location: Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
Date: Oct, 8 1988
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*

Title: Health of Animals Laboratory Agriculture Canada
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Date: May, 29/1990
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*

Title: Old General Store.
Location: Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada
Date: 1987
Medium: Pencil on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*

Title: Children's Railway, Children's Miniature
Stanley Park Vancouver B.C
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date: March, 22/ 1979
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 5" x 8"
Book: 1

Details on the back: March 22/79
Children's Railway Stanley Park Vancouver B.C


Details on the back: March 20/79
The "Bastion" Hudson Bay Fort 1853.
Nanaimo B.C.
Operated under the auspices of the "Native Sons of Canada". as a museum.
Title: The "Bastion". Hudson Bay Fort . 1853
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Date: March, 20/ 1979
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 5" x 8"
Book: 1

Title: The Flats Mc. Pherson and Portland
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Date: May, 27/ 1988
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*

Title: "Spirit Catcher" By Rob Baird.
Erected in 1987 in the hopes that the City of Barrie would build n Art Gallery here.
Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Date: Aug, 2/ 1988
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper
Size: 8" x 11"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
Aug. 2 /88

Title: 6630 Turner Valley Road.
Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1980
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper PC
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*

Title: Loyal Orange Lodge 165. and Store and Post
Office
Location: Hornby, Ontario, Canada
Date: Dec, 7/1979
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper
Size: 8" x 4.5"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
L.O.L #165
Post Office. Hornby Ontario.
Steeles Ave. West from Trafalgar Rd. Halton Hills.
5


Title: SS No 6. Eldon (1901)
Location: Bolsover, Ontario, Canada
Date: Sept, 15 /1981
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper
Size: 9" x 5.5"
Book: 1
Note: I'm unsure what this building is. It appears to be a school house.

Details on the back:
Sept. 15. 1981
Title: Community Center
Location: 3rd Line, Adjala Twp. 5 Side Rd. Connor, Ontario, Canada
Date: Aug, 15/1979
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper
Size: 8" x 5"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
Connor Ont. Community Hall.
Recently restored exterior. North windows are boarded up. A quite crossroads in the Caledon Hills
Not outside privy

Title: Eden Mills Ontario
Location: Eden Mills, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
Date: March 9. 1979
Medium: Pencil and Pen on paper
Size: 8" x 5"
Book: 1 (SB #1)

Details on the back:
March 9/1979
Eden Mills Ontario
A lovely bit of old Ontario's history

Title: Inns of Court
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
Date: June 18/1987
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 8" x 5"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
June 18/87

Title: Old Roadhouse 1834
Location: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1972
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
AD 1834 Old Roadhouse 6th Line & 18th Ave Markham Ont.



Title: "The Tannery"
Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Date: Oct , 3 1985
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Oct 3 /85
Title: Old Town Hall (1883)
Bell Tower restored in 1984
Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Date: Jan 30/85
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1

Details on the back:
Jan 30 /85
Old town Hall (1883)
Newmarket Ontario
Bell tower rebuilt 1984
from public subscriptions

Title: The Old Sawmill
Location: Campbellville, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1986
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*

Title: Old School House (1879) Sec. 7 .
Location: chinguacousie Twp. , Ontario, Canada
Date: Mar, 1985
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1

Details on the back: Mar 1985
Old school house
Sec. No 7. (1879)
Creditview Rd. 5 Old School Rd.
Chinguacousie Twp.
Peel County Ontario.

Title: Tottenham Hotel. (c. 1880)
Destroyed by Fire. Jan 7. 1983
Location: Tottenham, Ontario, Canada
Date: Jan 4/ 1983
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1
Note: This building was destroyed by fire only 3 days after this sketch was completed*

Details on the back: Tottenham Hotel. (c. 1880)
A great landmark.
Destroyed by Fire. Jan 7/83

Title: Old Keleher Foundry
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1987
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC with pencil crayon
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*

Title: #40 Fife Road
Former Pickle Factory
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Date: Sep 14 /88
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*

Title: Snider's School
A.D. 1874
Location: 9th Line & Burnhamthorpe Rd. E, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1980
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*


Title: Old Mt. Carmel School (1864)
Location: W. Garafraxa 6th Line and Queen Mary road, Ontario, Canada
Date: July, 6 /1990
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*
Title: Harriston R.R. Station.
Now a Senior Citizens Club.
Location: Harriston, Ontario, Canada
Date: July, 2 /1990
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*

Title: The Armouries
Location: Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
Date: July, 2 /1990
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*

Title: Seneca's "King Campus" The former Eaton Hall.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 1978
Medium: Pencil and pen, pencil crayon on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
nothing on the back*
Note: This drawing features some highlights in blue pencil crayon. A unique feature of this particular drawing.

Title: Manilla Ontario
"Manilla Vanilla anyone"
Location: Manilla, Ontario, Canada
Date: Nov. 29/84
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1

Details on the back: Nov. 29/84
General Store Manilla Ontario
Manilla Vanilla anyone


Title: Pioneer Memorial Tower
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Date: Oct 22/1972
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 9" x 6"
Book: 1
Details on the back: Names from the adjacent graveyard* the details have been cut with scissor so some details harder to read*

Details on a second page: inscription off the plate attached to the monument.
Interestingly I have made art of the same subject matter many years before seeing Great grandpa Larkes work. It amazes me how our paths cross beyond the gulf of time and space. Althought we only met when I was so small a child I barely remember. Only in a single fleeting vague memory. I'm now meeting and getting to know him through his art work.
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