1975 – Scadding House and foundation for the Eaton Centre with Dundas Square in the background, looking northeast (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 24)
The Scadding House is located at 6 Trinity Sq (beside the Eaton Centre, on the west side, at the centre entrance) in Downtown Toronto. The heritage home is tucked away next to one of Canada’s largest and busiest shopping complexes. It was once home to Reverend Henry Scadding.
Reverend Henry Scadding – Toronto’s First Historian
Born in Devonshire, England, in 1813, he came to Canada with his family at the age of 8. He attended the Home District Grammar School and was the first student enrolled at Upper Canada College. In 1833, Henry Scadding travelled to England to attend Cambridge University, returning to Canada four years later.
In 1838, he became an ordained Anglican priest at St James Church. In 1847, Rev. Scadding became the first rector at the newly built, The Church of the Holy Trinity – a position he held until 1875.
The Scadding House
1897 – Reverend Dr Henry Scadding (Library and Archives Canada/Canadian Intellectual Property Office Fonds c003536)
Also known as Dr Scadding, the townhouse he lived in was built in 1862. It was designed by William Hay and is a fine example of Toronto’s early residential architecture. The yellow-brick house, which complements the church, is four storeys plus an attic. The first floor is partially underground. On the south side of the top floor is a small balcony with decorative woodwork. There are also gable windows and a chimney in the centre of the house. While the pre-Confederation home once had a mansard roof, it now has a hip roof.
Along with being a reverend and scholar, Henry Scadding was also one of Toronto’s first and most important historians. He wrote Toronto of Old (1873), the first book of significance about the history of Toronto. With JC Dent, he also wrote Toronto: Past and Present (1884).
Haunted Tales
Reverend Dr Henry Scadding passed away in 1901. It’s thought that his calm and kind presence remains in the home. Click for more haunted tales.
The Move & Restoration
2022 – Looking north towards the Scadding House located at 6 Trinity Square, between The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Eaton Centre. Built in 1862, Dr Henry Scadding once lived in the historic home
In 1974, when the Eaton Centre was being constructed, the Inner City Angels saved the Scadding House from demolition. They sponsored $350,000 not only for its restoration but also for a 46 m or 150 ft move to the southwest.
The historically significant house received heritage status in 1973. It’s sandwiched between a space to the east of The Church of the Holy Trinity and the west of the Eaton Centre. From Bay St, take the walkway east between Marriott Downtown and Bell Trinity Square Building and head to the area behind the church. Or, from Queen St W, walk north on James St. It can also be reached through the west entrance of the Eaton Centre.
The Historic House Today
The basement under 6 Trinity Sq can be rented from the church for meetings, classes, workshops and more for up to 25 guests.
Did You Know?
The Toronto City Directory listed the address of the Scadding House as 10 Trinity Sq until 1889. After that year, the address was shown as 6 Trinity Sq.
If the Scadding name sounds familiar, that’s because Henry’s father was John Scadding, an early settler of the Town of York. Their home was the Scadding Cabin, Toronto’s oldest known surviving house. It was built in 1794 and is located on Exhibition Place grounds.
Scadding House Photos
2022 – Looking north towards the Scadding House located at 6 Trinity Square, between The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Eaton Centre. Built in 1862, Dr Henry Scadding once lived in the historic home2020 – Scadding House is located at 6 Trinity Sq in Toronto. Once the residence of Dr Henry Scadding, the home received heritage status in 19732022 – Looking southeast towards the Scadding House located between The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Eaton Centre in Downtown Toronto. Dr Henry Scadding once lived in the heritage-designated home. The house was moved to its current location, 46 m or 150 ft southwest in 19742020 – The heritage home of Dr Henry Scadding is located at 6 Trinity Sq, between The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Eaton Centre. Dr Scadding was one of Toronto’s first historians1978 – Church of the Holy Trinity, Scadding House and the Eaton Centre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 24, Item 30)1977 – Scaffolding on the Scadding House, directly beside the west entrance of the Eaton Centre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 24, Item 24)1977 – An overhead view of the Scadding House (upper right) and the Rectory directly beside the west wall of the Eaton Centre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 24, Item 11)1975 – Scadding House and foundation for the Eaton Centre with Dundas Square in the background, looking northeast (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 24)1974 – Scadding House and view of excavation/foundation of the Eaton Centre, looking north (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 61)1974 – Scadding House. Rectory, Church of the Holy Trinity and view of excavation of the Eaton Centre with construction of CN Tower, looking southwest (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 53)1974 – Scadding House, view of excavation for the Eaton Centre and construction of CN Tower, looking southwest (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 26)1974 – Scadding House, Church of the Holy Trinity, Rectory and Eaton’s Warehouse, looking west (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 34)1974 – Scadding House, Church of the Holy Trinity, Rectory and view of excavation for the Eaton Centre, looking northwest (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 38)1974 – Scadding House, Church of the Holy Trinity, Rectory and Eaton’s Warehouse, looking west (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 37)1974 – Scadding House, Rectory, Church of the Holy Trinity and construction of CN Tower, looking southwest (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 45)1973 – Scadding House (on the left) in its original location, looking east towards Yonge St and before the Eaton Centre was built (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 50)1973 – Scadding House at its original location at 6 Trinity Sq, looking northeast (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 83, Item 39)1960’s – Dr Henry Scadding’s Home at 6 Trinity Sq, its original location, looking northeast (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1465, File 119, Item 146)1936 – Rectory (on left) and Scadding House (near right) on Trinity Sq, looking east towards Yonge St (Toronto Public Library r-5724)1900 – Scadding House, east side of Dr Henry Scadding’s library (Toronto Public Library r-5475)1900 – Scadding House, west side of Dr Henry Scadding’s library (Toronto Public Library r-5474)1897 – Reverend Dr Henry Scadding (Library and Archives Canada/Canadian Intellectual Property Office Fonds c003536)2021 – Decorative woodwork on the balcony of the Scadding House2021 – The Reverend Henry Scadding heritage plaque2021 – The space between the Scadding House (on left) and the Eaton Centre (on right)2021 – The Church of the Holy Trinity, which is located directly west of the Scadding House2021 – The Church of the Holy Trinity Rectory, which is located directly north of the Scadding House1880 – Goad’s Insurance Plan of the City of Toronto (Toronto Public Library)1896 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address as the Rev Dr Henry Scadding (Toronto Public Library)
