The historic Layer Cake Hall is a hidden gem of the beautiful Village of Bath. This unique building, which dates back to 1859, is the proud home to the Bath Branch of the Lennox & Addington Public Library. With support from various granting partners, an extensive rehabilitation project was carried out in 2022, focusing on structural and architectural repairs.
The Grand Reopening of the Bath Library in the historic Layer Cake Hall was March 8, 2023! Thank you to the Bath Museum for helping people to collect/return their book loans during this project.
Rehabilitation Project
| Overview |
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Loyalist Township was awarded funding in 2021 to assist with the costs of an extensive rehabilitation of the Layer Cake Hall. The detailed restoration project was awarded to Ecclesiastical Refinishing and the work took place in 2022. Rehabilitating the Layer Cake Hall was necessary to both stabilize the structure and protect the beautiful and unique historic gothic revival architecture. |
| Budget Information |
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Budget Year: 2022 Total cost: Budget was $545,000 with $461,995 funding received through the following programs:
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| Project Details |
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Rehabilitation focused on renewing the historic building's exterior and correcting structural issues. After assuming ownership of the building in 2019, the Township commissioned a detailed condition assessment of the building in 2021. As a result of the condition assessment, the scope of work to rehabilitate the building included:
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Location
193 Davy Street, Bath. Take a stroll around the exterior of the building anytime and pop inside during the library's opening hours after the grand reopening on March 8, 2023.
Accessibility
Please note that as an historic site, the space does have some physical barriers.
History of the Layer Cake Hall
There is nothing that evokes a sense of heritage more than a building with a story.
- Originally built in 1859, the Layer Cake Hall is an excellent example of Carpenter's Gothic Revival architecture, and the only one of its kind in Bath. Examples of this architecture style are not widespread in Ontario.
- This unique structural design movement began in England and draws distinctive features including finials, scalloping and lancet mouldings.
- The Bath Chapter of the Mechanic's Institute commissioned the building but unfortunately ran out of funds for its completion.
- Abraham Harris, a village carpenter, took ownership in 1859 and finished the beautiful structure that stands today.
- Over the years, ownership of the Hall passed through many hands and the facility served as home to multiple religious denominations and groups, such as the Ladies Auxiliary, before providing a space for the Millhaven Women's Institute (WI). In 1981, work was carried out on the building in an effort to restore and preserve this historical Bath landmark.
- In 2019, ownership was transferred to Loyalist Township who continue to place dedicated effort towards the restoration and preservation of this unique building.
- Loyalist Township was awarded funding in 2021 to assist with the costs for the restoration of the Layer Cake Hall. The detailed restoration project was awarded to Ecclesiastical Refinishing, and the restoration work took place in 2022.
How the Layer Cake Hall got its name
It is evident that Layer Cake Hall has a unique name! Have you ever wondered where it came from?
Local historians found two stories at the Lennox & Addington Archives on how this charming building got its name. You be the judge!
- On October 31, 1973, the Napanee Beaver explained it all saying, "the Layer Cake Hall is so called because it once housed two different religious denominations at different levels." Abraham Harris had leased the upper storey to the masonic Order and the lower storey to the Presbyterian Congregations of Bath. In 1890 the Masons left and the St. John's Anglican Church began to use the second storey as their church hall. The Presbyterians continued to use the ground floor until their congregation dissolved and they vacated the premises in 1925, after which the Anglican Church took over the entirety of the building.
- The other explanation comes decades later when June 7, 1994 Sunday Beaver printed, "The Layer Cake Hall is aptly named since its ornamental details, at various levels, make it a visual treat."
It can be agreed that the distinctive features of the Layer Cake Hall make it special no matter how it got its name!
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