Bringing 17th-Century Gothic Limestone Back to Life: Our Work at Oldfield Estate in Saanich

Some projects stay with you long after the scaffolding comes down. The Oldfield Estate — also known as Norfolk Heritage Lodge — in Saanich was one of those. In 2017, we were asked to restore and rebuild a collection of 17th-century limestone architectural remnants — doorways, archways, and a rounded window — originally from an Italian Gothic cathedral and later imported from France. These pieces had been disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic, eventually landing on this sprawling Arts & Crafts estate designed by Samuel Maclure in 1914.

The Oldfield family, originally from Norfolk, England, had settled in the Saanich Peninsula during BC’s early 20th-century boom, drawn to its rural beauty near Victoria. Maclure’s design — with assistant Ross Lort — created a warm, handcrafted mansion integrated with the landscape. By 2017, after passing through several owners, the property was overgrown and the limestone remnants were scattered and unstable. The new owners wanted to revive the gardens and make these ancient features the centerpiece — freestanding sculptures in a lush 17-acre setting.

The challenge was immense. These stones were irreplaceable — carved by hand centuries ago — and any damage would be permanent. They were heavy (some pieces a ton or more), incomplete (missing sections in the arches and window), and originally designed to be supported by buttresses and surrounding architecture, not standing alone in a garden.

We approached it with deep respect and a lot of planning. We excavated deep to bedrock for each feature, poured reinforced concrete footers, and compacted aggregates for a stable base. Missing pieces were hand-shaped from spare limestone to match the original profiles and patina. Cranes and forklifts lifted the massive elements into place while we used a custom lime-based mortar — breathable and flexible — to bond them without overpowering the soft stone.

The archways and rounded window were the trickiest. Without their original buttresses, we added hidden steel strapping and ties — screwed discreetly into concrete walls behind — to provide modern stability while keeping the look authentic. The doorways required careful crane work, with straps and steady hands to align everything perfectly during curing.

The three-month project was equal parts challenging and rewarding. Every lift, every joint, every steel tie felt like a conversation between centuries-old craftsmanship and today’s techniques. When the last piece was set and the mortar cured, the garden came alive — those Gothic remnants now standing as romantic, timeless focal points amid the new landscaping.

The owners were thrilled: the estate gained elegance and historical depth, and the project qualified for potential heritage incentives. For us at Stone & Trowel, working alongside Lennox Masonry on this rare commission deepened our appreciation for ancient stonemasons and sharpened our skills for handling priceless materials.

If your heritage property in Saanich, Greater Victoria, or Vancouver Island has unique features needing care — from stone restoration to full masonry work — we’d love to help.

Read more about the techniques we used:

• Heritage Repointing Guide

• Full Oldfield Estate Case Study

Contact us for a consultation — let’s bring history back to life.