159 Cook Street -the Hampton Court Apartments

159 Cook Street, the Hampton Court Apartments, built in 1913 by architect George C. Mesher for Dr. Arthur Pallant

Here is a map showing the location of 159 Cook Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of 150 Cook Street:

Additional Information About 159 Cook Street

• Assessed Value (July 2019): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $479,300 to $828,300;
• Assessed Value (July 2018): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $489,600 to $816,700;
• Assessed Value (July 2017): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $457,600 to $824,700;
• Assessed Value (July 2016): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $382,600 to $688,700;
• Assessed Value (July 2015): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $321,600 to $579,600;
• Assessed Value (July 2014): 16 residential strata condominiums ranging from $255,900 to $437,000;
• Victoria Heritage Foundation
• Canadian Register of Historic Places

Recent Condo Sales History

• #15 – sold on 18 August 2015 for $480,000
• #12 – sold on 29 May 2015 for $565,000

A Brief History of 159 Cook Street

159 Cook Street was designed and built in 1913 by architect George C. Mesher for Dr. Arthur Pallant. a retired dentist who intended to live in one of the apartments while renting out the other apartments to upscale tenants.

The building was originally called the Park Mansions. By 1915 the name had been changed to the Hampton Court Apartments, which it still called today.

Architect George C. Mesher designed this building with 18 apartments. The original owner, Dr. Arthur Pallant, intended the building to attract wealthy tenants. Servants quarters were built in the basement, with electric buzzers connecting the individual apartments to the servants’ quarters.

Dr. Pallant was killed in a motor vehicle incident in 1915 and ownership passed to his son and daughter, who kept the building as rental apartments until 1958, when they sold the building to the Duke of Westminster.

The Duke of Westminster owned several properties in British Columbia during the 1950’s and 1960’s, including Mayfair Mall. The Duke of Westminster’s estate sold this building in 1968.

In 1970 it was purchased by Elton Murphy who decided to demolish the building. In 1976 Elton Murphy actually obtained a demolition permit from the City of Victoria but his tenants found out about the planned demolition and quickly contacted Victoria City Hall. One of the tenants was Violet Mesher, daughter of the original 1913 architect, George C. Mesher.

In response to the tenants’ complaint, Victoria Mayor Mike Young visited the building with members of City Council. Two days later, the City of Victoria issued a stop work order on the demolition permit and took steps to prevent the demolition by making a Heritage Designation on the building and placing it on the City of Victoria Heritage Building Registry.

The Hampton Court Apartments was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 1977.

The Hampton Court Apartments was converted to residential strata (condominiums) in 1984. As part of the strata conversion, the original 18 rental apartments were reduced to 16 strata units.

For more history of 159 Cook Street see Victoria Heritage Foundation.