160 Leeder Lane in Southampton. Image courtesy of southamptonheritage.org.
Hub Staff | 21 August 2026
Saugeen Shores Council is aiming to designate 160 Leeder Lane in Southampton "for reasons of cultural heritage value or interest" under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The property is home to a one and a half storey Gothic Revival cottage built in 1880 and is seen as representative of the Gothic Revival style. Key elements include the cottage being L-shaped, a steeply pitched gable roof, a central front gable with a window and a symmetrical façade including a front verandah supported by simple posts.
The property is said to have historical value through its builder, James Fleming, an early Southampton settler, carpenter and Customs Officer and James Augustus Watton who grew up in the house and later served as Bishop of Moosonee and Archbishop of Metropolitan Ontario.
"The property also contributes to an understanding of Southampton's early development, civic history, and cultural heritage," the release said, adding that it also possesses contextual value as part of Southampton's nineteenth-century streetscape due to its location on one of Southampton's historic lanes.
"The property is visually and historically linked to nearby heritage properties on Leeder Lane, Grosvenor Street South, and Morton Lane, including 24 Grosvenor Street South and 30 Grosvenor Street South," the release said.
Objections may be sent to the Town in writing, including reasons for objection and all relevant facts, on or before 4:30 p.m. September 30 and can be submitted via email to clerk@saugeenshores.ca, dropped off in person to 600 Tomlinson Dr in Port Elgin, or posted to PO Box 820, Port Elgin, Ontario N0H 2C0.
