Early History
The north side of Brock Street was a strategic commercial area because it was close to the Market. By 1815, buildings filled the entire block. Many of the early owners were, or became, important local figures. James Beyman first built on the site of the Brock Street Common in 1803. John Watkins, known today through the Watkins Wing of Kingston General Hospital, later owned the lot, as did the Coy family and James Richardson, owner of Kingston's then most important mercantile company.
Development of the Brock Street site of began very early, and there have been many changes to the original structures overtime. Some owners renovated to reflect their growing local influence, and others had to rebuild following devastating fires in 1840 and 1855. The Brock Street Common we know today is a Victorian block dating from 1865 to 1903.
Historical Owners and Occupants
The Brock Street Common has housed a variety of occupants, both commercial and residential, and undergone multiple reconstructions. Records indicate the following historic details:
Robert Morrison, a sawyer, occupied #63 in 1855.
Samuel Jenkins, a carpenter, occupied #67 in 1855.
The H.H. Day Fish Company occupied #63 at the turn of the 20th century.
McKelvey and Birch Hardware Merchants bought #65-71 in 1869, occupied #69-71 and leased the rest to various merchants, including W.P. Flour and Seed.
The store was substantially rebuilt in 1903.
Today’s Brock Street Common
Kincore Holdings Limited’s restoration efforts, completed in the fall of 2001, sought to preserve evidence of the earlier structures throughout. The renewed Brock Street Common includes the following features:
Recreated original storefronts and upper residential windows
A reconstructed copper-clad upper cornice
A reintroduced carriageway, with previous rear shed additions removed.
A limestone-walled public courtyard with restaurant patio and grade-level ramp to historic Rochleau Court and Artisans Alley.
13 residential suites above four storefronts.
Refurbished carriage houses with 7000 square feet of prestige office space.
Kincore’s redevelopment of the Brock Street Common has helped re-establish Brock Street as a vibrant retail, office and residential district.
See the picture gallery under Kincore Properties for a pictorial collection of the restoration of Brock Street Common.
Recent and Current Occupants
Recent occupants of the Brock Street Common have included:
63-65 Brock - Independent Office Machines and Kingston Gallery of Clocks
69 Brock - Cromwell Appliances and then Black's Appliances
71 Brock - Kingstonian's Restaurant – later the Rose and Crown
Current occupants of the Brock Street Common include:
63 Brock - Cybil Scott
65 Brock - Trugs
67 Brock - KEDCO and The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce
69 Brock - Le Chien Noir
71 Brock - Atomica
71A - 13 residential suites
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